My North Creek Nurseries Wish List

'Bluebird' is a superlative selection of the native smooth aster introduced by Dr. Richard Lighty of the Mt. Cuba Center. This tall, vase-shaped wildflower has large 1" diameter blue flowers held in cloud-like clusters at the tips of the arching branches. You can pinch back the young shoots in June for denser habit and more flowers, but it is not essential. Staking is helpful by late summer if you forget to pinch. Perfectly clean foliage makes for easy maintenance in production and in the landscape. Aster laevis is a great source of nectar for migrating monarchs and other late season butterflies. Ranked #1 in Mt. Cuba Center's aster evaluations.

Carex amphibola is a widely adaptable native sedge naturally occurring from Texas to Quebec and Georgia to New Hampshire. Its forms a compact and semi-erect mound. Proven to be semi evergreen (zone 6b) and prefers deciduous shade in upland or even floodplain conditions; easily adapts to fine or medium textured soils. Creek sedge lends itself well to native shade gardens, along wood paths or as a slope stabilizer. It is a vigorous clump former with shiny, narrow green foliage 1/8" wide by up to 12" long. C. amphibola is an excellent companion for Phlox divaricata, Chrysogonum and Polygonatum...among others!