Aster - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Asters are native to many parts of the world especially the New World. They have been a cottage garden favorite for centuries because of their incredible colors and late summer and fall blooms. Thomas Jefferson loved the China aster varieties and cultivated many of them at Monticello. Breck noted in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, that the original China Aster was known as The Double China Aster. According to Breck, within a few years, because of work by German florists, and others, the Double China Aster had been so improved "so that it is hardly to be recognized as the same flower as the old China Aster...". Aster Crego, a China aster, a hardy annual, was introduced in
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Armenian Basketflower - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Armenian Basketflower is a robust perennial which is probably native to Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. It is also known as Giant Knapweed and its Latin name is Centaurea macrocephala which tells us that it is related to Bachelor Buttons and Cornflowers. The large yellow flowers and the base which holds them are reminiscent of thistle flowers. The plants form clumps of thick, stiff, leafy stems and flowers are borne on the ends of each stem. Armenian Basketflowers are mildly easy to grow if given the proper conditions. The plants need full sun and will not tolerate evenly mildly wet conditions. On the other hand they seem to be both drought and heat tolerant. They will self
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Amaranthus - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Amaranthus comprises a family of about 60 species of annuals or short-lived perennials that were originally native to parts of South America, Africa and India. The plant was introduced into the United States during the 1700's. In his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, Joseph Breck was already describing Amaranthus as "an old favorite of the flower-garden". Amaranthus Caudatus Red also known as Love-Lies-Bleeding, Velvet Flower or Tassel Flower, Amaranthus Tricolor also known as Summer Poinsettia, Chinese Spinach or Joseph's Coat, and Amaranthus Hypochondriacus known as Prince's Feather are three of the most famous species Amaranthus Caudatus Red was popularly known as "Love-Lies-Bleeding" by 1665. The name Amaranthus means "never waxing old" and referred to the beautiful, chenille-like plumes
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