This section is from the book "A Practical Handbook Of Trees Shrubs Vines And Herbaceous Perennials", by John Kirkegaard. Also available from Amazon: A practical handbook of trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous perennials.
Botanical Name | English Name | 1 Deciduous 2 Evergreen 3 Vine 4 Herbaceous Perennial | Ultimate Height in feet | Color | Time of Bloom | Remarks |
Aruncus astilboides or Spiraea aruncus var. astilboides | Goat's Beard | 4 | 3 | White | June & July | Flowers in plume-like panicles. Foliage large, rough and compound. A beautiful border plant. A.G. I. |
Arundo donaz | Reed-grass | 4 | 10 | Red | August | Reed-like perennial with broad, gracefully arching leaves. Very ornamental and good near water or among tall perennials. Flowers insignificant. B. D. F. |
Arundo donax var. variegata | Variegated Giant Reed | 4 | 10 | A golden and green variegated form of the above. B. D. F. | ||
Asclepias tuberosa | Butterfly Weed | 4 | 2-3 | Orange | July & Aug. | An excellent plant for the hardy border or for planting among low shrubs. Flowers in flat clusters, very brilliant and 6howy. A.G. I. |
Asclepias incarnata var. pulchra | 4 | 3-4 | Purple-red | July | A showy plant while in bloom. Flowers in flat clusters about 4 inches across; leaves rough about 6 inches long. A good plant for the border. A.G.I. | |
Asperula odorata | Sweet Woodruff | 4 | 1 | White | May & June | A creeping plant with foliage particularly good for bouquet work. Leaves fragrant and often used to scent clothes. Good for rockwork. A. G. |
Asphodeline lutea | Asphodel | 4 | 2 | Yellow | May & June | Foliage grass-like and fragrant. Flowers in showy spikes. Attractive in masses under trees or in the hardy border. A. G. I. |
Asters | Michaelmas Daisies | 4 | A great many species are cultivated, but following are named a few of the best and most desirable species. Asters are of the easiest culture, and worthy of a place in every garden. Good in masses with shrubs or in the hardy border. Flowers daisy-like and produced in great quantities. | |||
Aster alpinus | Mountain Aster | 4 | 9 in. | Purple | July | Leaves in dense clusters; flowers single and solitary. Good for edging of borders or for the rock-garden. A. G. |
Aster tataricus | Tartarian Aster | 4 | 5 | Purple | Sept. & Oct. | Very effective with shrubbery. Flowers and foliage very large, the latter lance-shaped, sometimes more than a foot long. A. G. I. |
Aster amellus var. bes-sarabicus | 4 | 2 | Purple-blue | August | Very showy and free-flowering. A.G.I, | |
Aster Chapmanni | 4 | 4-5 | Clear blue | September | Individual flowers small, but borne in great profusion. A.G. I. | |
Aster ericoides | 4 | 3 | White with yellow center | October | One of the best. A.G. I. | |
Aster Novae Anglian var. rosea | 4 | 4 | Rose and crimson | Oct. & Nov. | A beautiful variety of our New England aster, with exceptionally large individual flowers. A.G. I. |
 
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