December 9, 2020 Spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), also called striped wintergreen, is a member of the heath family and is native throughout all of Virginia. According to The Flora of Virginia, it is a commonly found perennial plant that grows in mesic to dry, acidic forests and woodlands. The whorled leaves of this low-growing evergreen can be seen year round […]
November 9, 2020 Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a small tree native to Eastern North America. With low growing arching branches, the tree can be found throughout Virginia in a wide range of habitats, elevations and community types. It does well in moist rich soils and is often found growing along forests streams. One of the most striking features of […]
October 13, 2020 American asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) are blooming throughout Virginia and provide important late-season resources to pollinators as we move into Autumn. There are almost 30 different Symphyotrichum species native to Virginia and many can be somewhat tricky to tell apart. They all have alternate leaves, some are annuals and many are perennials, and they all have the recognizable […]
September 29, 2020 Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is an attractive warm season perennial bunchgrass native to Virginia that can grow over 6 feet tall. The bright yellow panicle flowers bloom from late summer to mid fall and are cross pollinated by the wind. The species prefers well drained soils in full sun but can tolerate a wide range of conditions. […]
September 18, 2020 Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) are perennial herbs in the aster family (Asteraceae) with golden blooms that mark the transition from late summer to autumn here in Virginia. According to The Flora of Virginia (our favorite resource when surveying plants) there are over 40 different species of Solidago found in Virginia. With such a large variety of goldenrod species, […]
September 11, 2020 Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is a perennial forb native to all of Virginia. The species is tolerant of moist, well-drained soils, but not poorly-drained or droughty soils. It can be seen growing in a wide variety of meadow habitats. Mistflower grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and has leaves that are oppositely-arranged oval-shaped, toothed, 3 inches […]
September 1, 2020 Field thistle (Cirsium discolor) is a biennial herb native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. It grows in a variety of soil, sun, and water conditions and can be found in pastures, forest edges, and roadsides. During the first year of growth, field thistle appears as a rosette of leaves close to the […]