If you’ve got a spot for big, bold, and bodacious in your garden, it’s hard to think of a better choice than Verbesina olsenii. This giant North American (Northern Mexico) native frostweed would be great even if it didn’t flower, which it does in mid-October with giant yellow corymbs that smell like tootsie rolls.

I love this plant! I bought mine from Plant Delights many years ago, and was struck by the pollinators on those flower heads. Add in that they smell like Juicy Fruit gum, and I was hooked. Frostweed bumped up a notch.