Hello! 

When I think of fall-blooming native plants, I picture purple and yellow flowers — New England Asters, Ironweed, Sneezeweed, and Goldenrod. But as nightfall moves ever closer to daytime, white flowers can be a treat because they reflect moonlight. Here are a few white native flowers to plant and enjoy after the sun goes down. 

Turtlehead 

Chelone glabra 

In late summer and into fall, Turtlehead bears clusters of white, snapdragon-like flowers that resemble a turtle’s head. It thrives in full sun to part shade and moist conditions. The more sun it gets, the taller it grows. So, if you want a plant that’s only two to three feet tall, plant it in a shadier spot. Like Pink Turtlehead, it supports butterflies and hummingbirds and makes a lovely late-blooming addition to any cottage-style pollinator garden.

Late Boneset 

Eupatorium serotinum

As Turtlehead wanes, Late Boneset takes over. Late Boneset is a taller plant, three to five feet tall, with flat, umbel-shaped clusters of flowers that are pollinator magnets—expect to see butterflies, bees, and moths all over it, just in time to gather nutrients to support fall migration. Typically grown from seed and used in restoration projects, it can also fill the back of borders in the home landscape. You can control height and stagger bloom time by cutting it back by half or two-thirds in June or July. 

Small White Aster 

Symphyotrichum racemosum

Small White Aster is a free plant. When you see it popping up in your garden—as it inevitably will—leave it be or transplant it to a more suitable spot. It typically grows about three feet tall and has half-inch white flowers with golden centers. Besides being free and a friend to bees and butterflies, the best part is that it often still blooms in late October.  

Elsewhere: 

Tis the season for a good owl story: Did you hear the one about a family of Barn Owls that moved to Manhattan? After a brief house hunt, they chose the Upper West Side.  

Have a good week, 

Julie