Height: 3’ to 7’ Spread: 1’ to 4’ Light Needs: full sun to partial shade Water: average to moist (grows larger in a moist site) Flower color: white Bloom time: July to September
This wildflower is named for the "frost flowers" that it sometimes produces in winter. Frost flowers are ribbons of ice that form at the bases of the old stems in late winter or early spring when the soil is not frozen and the roots push moisture up into freezing air. During the growing season, it develops tall stalks that are topped with large clusters of white flowers. Its height and ability to spread with seedling volunteers makes it a high maintenance plant in a formal garden. Its height can be controlled by cutting it back in summer. Seedling volunteers can be controlled by removing seed head before it matures. The plant is great for a pollinator garden and for naturalizing. The flowers attract butterflies and a wide assortment of insect pollinators. Birds feed on the seeds. It is considered to be deer resistant.
