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What’s Blooming Now - September 29, 2009
 Summer’s end. Asters and goldenrods and falling leaves. A stroll through White River Gardens will show you all three. Make a special trip to the end of the Ruth Lilly Shade Garden to see them.
What? Asters and goldenrods in the shade? Yes, Indiana boasts several species of woodland asters and goldenrods. They tolerate dry soil in part shade and bloom late in the season, a boon in any shade garden.
 Planted together at the southern end of the Shade Garden are blue-stem goldenrod (Solidago caesia) and Short’s aster (Symphyotrichum shortii). Short’s aster grows to 3-4’. The weight of the flower clusters often makes the plant a bit floppy. To compensate, this species boast some of the largest flowers of the woodland asters. A search for this plant on the web will find many native plant sites listing this species, but none give USDA hardiness zone information. We are left to draw conclusions from the distribution maps. This aster should be hardy in all of Indiana and as far north as southern Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.
Blue-stem goldenrod grows to 3’. It is hardy throughout Indiana and further north, to zone 4. The overall effect of the flowers is akin to a fireworks display, with small clusters of yellow flowers appearing on long, slender stems at the top of the plant. Unlike the aster, this goldenrod will grow in full sun. It flowers well in part shade and, as we have done, combines well with asters.
 There is another gem hidden at the southern end of the Shade Garden, this time on the side nearest the parking lot. Toad lily (Tricyrtis sp.) has lovely purple-splotched flowers that are often compared to orchids. The flowers are usually held at the base of each leaf, producing an arching “spray” of flowers. Make sure to locate this plant where you can easily see the flowers. They are fascinating but not bright and showy. Toad lilies grow in moist soil in part s hade. Hardy to zone 4.
Special Note: The Seven Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) is blooming in the Zoo in a bed past the entry plaza and across from the Party Pavilion tent. The white flowers will soon fall but showy rose-purple sepals will remain for several weeks. This is a small tree, 15-20’, best grown in sun or just a little shade with average moisture. Hardy to zone 5.
Mary Welch-Keesey
Consumer Horticulture Specialist
Purdue University
Dick Crum Resource Center
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