Switchyard Park Field Guide Parks and Recreation City of Bloomington
Prairie Moon Nursery
Maps Plant Lists Seed Mixes Shrub Identification Graminoid Identification Forb Identification
2–4 5 – 12 13 – 15 16 – 25 26 – 44 45 – 76 1
Table of Contents
Map
Walnut Entrance (pg. 9)
Rogers St. Entrance North Side (pg. 10) Rogers St. Entrance South Side (pg. 10)
Dog Park (pg. 8)
2
Map
Gateway (pg. 5)
Basketball Court (pg. 5)
Tennis Court (pg. 6)
Bocce Ball Court (pg. 6)
Fitness Equipment (pg. 7) Community Gardens (pg. 7)
North Lawn (pg. 7) 3
Sidewalk
Map
Skate Park (pg. 8)
Jordan River Wetland (pg. 9)
Pavilion/Spray Plaza (pg. 11) North Great Lawn (pg. 11)
Play Environment
South Great Lawn (pg. 8) 4
Plant List
Gateway
Gateway (con’t)
Mix/Seeds
Forb (con’t)
Woodland Mix (pg. 9) B-Line Mix (pg. 9) Gateway Mix (pg. 9) Prairie Dropseed Wild White Indigo Purple Coneflower ‘Prairie Splendor’
Trees Buckeye ‘Autumn Splendor’ Hornbeam ‘Native Flame’ Multi-stem Heritage River Birch ‘Cully’ Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac ‘Lacinata’ ‘Crimson Sprite’ Oak Star Power Juniper ‘Select Blue’
Joe-pye Weed ‘Little Joe’ Wild Geranium Blue Flag Iris Tickseed ‘Crème Brulee’ Spiderwort ‘Mrs. Loewer’
Basketball Court Mix/Seeds Woodland Mix (pg. 9) B-Line Mix (pg. 9)
Prairie Dropseed Wild White Indigo Purple Coneflower ‘Prairie Splendor’
Shrubs
Trees
Fragrant Sumac ‘Gro Low’ American Beautyberry Witch Hazel Summer Wine Ninebark ‘Seward’ Arrowwood ‘Chicago Luster’ Dwarf Witch Adler ‘Mt. Airy’ Inkberry ’Compacta’
American Yellowwood Scarlet Oak Littleleaf Linden ‘Corinthian’ Quaking Aspen ‘Prairie Gold’
Graminoids
Graminoids
Northern Sea Oats Prairie Dropseed Bristle-Leaf Sedge
Switch Grass ‘North Wind’ Palm Sedge
Forbs
White Turtlehead Beardtongue Black-eyed Susan ‘Little Suzy’ Arkansas Blue-Star
Beardtongue Anise Hyssop ‘Blue Fortune’ Arkansas Blue-star
Shrubs Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’ Sweetspire ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Forbs
5
Plant List
Tennis Court
Bocce Ball Court (con’t)
Mix/Seeds
Trees
Woodland Mix (pg. 9)
American Yellowwood Sugar Maple ‘Green Mountain’ Juniper ‘Star Power’ Serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Tupelo ‘Wildfire’ Quaking Aspen ‘Prairie Gold’ Littleleaf Linden ‘Corinthian’
Trees American Yellowwood Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’ Buckeye ‘Autumn Splendor’
Shrubs Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’ Bloodtwig Dogwood ‘Winter Beauty’
Graminoids Switch Grass ‘North Wind’ Palm Sedge Prairie Dropseed
Forbs Beardtongue Arkansas Blue-Star Sneezeweed ‘Mariachi Salsa’ Sweet Coneflower ‘Little Henry’ Blazing Star
Bocce Ball Court Mix/Seeds Woodland Mix (pg. 9) Sedge Meadow Mix (pg. 11) Storm Water Plant Mix (pg. 10) Medium Stature Prairie Mix (pg. 11) Prairie Dropseed Wild White Indigo Purple Coneflower ‘Prairie Splendor’
Shrubs American Beautyberry Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’ Sweetspire ’Henry’s Garnet’ Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac ‘Lacinata’
Graminoids Switch Grass ‘North Wind’ Switch Grass ‘Shenandoah’ Palm Sedge Little Blue Stem ‘Carousel’
Forbs Aromatic Aster Wild Geranium White Turtlehead Arkansas Blue-Star False Indigo Spiderwort ‘Mrs. Loewer’
6
Plant List
Fitness Equipment
Community Garden
Trees
Shrubs
Littleleaf Linden ‘Corinthian’ American Yellowwood
Elderberry ‘Adams’ Clethra ‘Ruby Spice’ Chokeberry American Hazelnut
Shrubs Witch Hazel Sweetspire ’Henry’s Garnet’ Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’
Graminoids Bristle-Leaf Sedge
Graminoids
Forbs
Palm Sedge Switch Grass ‘Heavy Metal’
Wild Geranium Bee Balm ‘Jacob Cline’ Tickseed ‘Crème Brulee’
Forbs Star Flower ‘Blue Ice’ Aromatic Aster Sweet Coneflower ‘Little Henry’ Arkansas Blue-Star Blazing Star Spiderwort ‘Mrs. Loewer’ Sneezeweed ‘Mariachi Salsa’
Community Garden Mix/Seeds Gateway Mix (pg. 9) Garden Mix 6 (pg. 10) Medium Stature Prairie Mix (pg. 11)
North Lawn Mix/Seeds Skate Park Mix (pg. 9)
Trees Hybrid Elm ‘Triumph’ Hybrid Elm ‘Frontier’ Sweet Gum ‘Round-lobed’ Juniper ‘Star Power’ Tulip Tree Scarlet Oak
Graminoids
Trees
Switch Grass ‘North Wind’
Paw Paw Sourwood Hawthorn ‘Winter King’
Forbs Blue Flag Iris Tickseed ‘Crème Brulee’ 7
Plant List
Skate Park
Skate Park (con’t)
[West of the Sidewalk] Mix/Seeds
Trees (con’t)
Skate Park Mix (pg. 9)
Trees Sugar Maple ‘Green Mountain’ Chinkapin Oak Tulip Tree Osage Orange ‘White Shield’
Hackberry Allegheny Serviceberry Swamp White Oak Bald Cypress ‘Green Whisper’ Osage Orange ‘White Shield’
Shrub Sweetspire ‘Henry’s Garnet’
Graminoids
Shrub
Switch Grass ‘North Wind’ Bristle-leaf Sedge
Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’ Sweetspire ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Dwarf Winged Sumac
Jordan River Wetland
Graminoids Switch Grass ‘North Wind’ Prairie Dropseed
Forbs Tickseed ‘Crème Brulee’ Arkansas Blue-Star Wild Geranium
[East of the Sidewalk] Mix/Seeds Skate Park Mix (pg. 9) Shallow Water Emergent Mix (pg. 10) Sedge Meadow Mix (pg. 11)
Trees Hybrid Elm ‘Triumph’ Burr Oak Eastern Redbud
[East of the Sidewalk continued] Mix/Seeds Shallow Water Emergent Mix (pg. 10) Medium Stature Prairie (pg. 11) Sedge Meadow Mix (pg. 11)
Trees Eastern Redbud Honey Locust Thornless ‘Skycole’ American Beech Silver Linden ‘Sterling’ Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’
[Between B-Line & Sidewalk] Mix/Seeds Sedge Meadow Mix (pg. 11) Medium Stature Prairie (pf. 11) 8
Plant List
Jordan River Wetland [Between B-Line & Sidewalk con’t] Trees Hackberry Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’ Shagbark Hickory
[West of B-Line] Mix/Seeds
Play Environment Trees Paw Paw Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’ Sassafras Hybrid Elm ‘Triumph’ Heritage Oak Sourwood Kelsey Dogwood Heritage Oak
Shrubs
Sedge Meadow Mix Medium Stature Prairie
Blackhaw Vibernum Winterberry ‘Southern Gentleman'
Trees
Graminoid
American Yellowwood Sweet Gum ‘Happidaze’
Spray Plaza
Little Bluestem Whitetinge Sedge Bristle-leaf Sedge Northwind Switchgrass
Trees
Forbs
Swamp White Oak London Plane Tree ‘Morton Circle’
White Turtlehead Purple Coneflower Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulee’ Spiderwort Bee Balm ‘Jacob Cline’ Anise Hyssop Joe Pye Weed ‘Little Joe’ Little Henry Coneflower Wild Geranium False Indigo Blue Ice Star Flower Nodding Wild Onion Blue Flag Iris
Shrubs Inkberry ‘Compacta’
Graminoids Prairie Dropseed Switch Grass ‘North Wind’
Forbs Wild Geranium Blazing Star Coreopsis ‘Crème Brulee’
9
Dog Park
Plant List
Mix/Seeds
South Great Lawn
Shortgrass Prairie (pg. 10) Medium Stature Prairie (pg. 11)
Mix/Seeds
Trees
Sedge Meadow Mix (pg. 11)
Northern Catalpa Hackberry Chinkapin Oak Tupelo ‘Red Rage’ Tupelo ‘Wildfire’ Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’
Trees Tulip Tree London Plane Tree ‘Morton Circle’ Chinkapin Oak Tupelo ‘Wildfire’ Tupelo ‘ Red Rage’ Shagbark Hickory American Beech Black Walnut Sweet Gum ‘Happidaze’ Swamp White Oak Osage Orange ‘White Shield’ Hackberry
Trees (con’t)
Inkberry ‘Compacta’
Eastern Redbud, multistem Easter Redbud Sourwood American Elm ‘Valley Forge’ Juniper ‘Star Power’ Sassafras Eastern White Pine Swamp White Oak Sugar Maple ‘Green Mountain’ Nannyberry Tulip Tree Burr Oak American Yellowwood Shagbark Hickory Serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ American Beech
Graminoid
Shrubs
Prairie Dropseed
Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’ New Jersey Tea
Pavilion Trees Red Maple ‘Armstrong Gold’ Lacebark Elm ‘Burgundy’ Shagbark Hickory
Shrubs
Graminoids Switch Grass ‘North Wind’ Prairie Dropseed
10
Plant List
North Great Lawn
Walnut Entrance
Mix/Seeds
Mix/Seeds
Medium Stature Prairie (pg. 11) Storm Water Mix (pg. 10)
Sedge Meadow Mix (pg. 11) Medium Stature Prairie Mix (pg. 11) Storm Water Mix (pg. 10)
Trees Chinkapin Oak London Plane Tree ‘Morton Circle’ Tulip Tree Dawn Redwood Sugar Maple ‘Marmo’ Swamp White Oak Sourwood American Beech Bitternut Hickory Red Maple ‘Redpointe’ White Fringetree
Shrubs Clethra ‘Ruby Spice’
Graminoid Pennsylvania Sedge
Forbs Solomon’s Seal Christmas Fern White Turtlehead
Trees Hybrid Elm ‘Triumph’ Sassafras Dawn Redwood American Beech Canadian Hemlock American Yellowwood Eastern Redbud Tupelo ‘Red Rage’ Red Maple ‘Frank Jr.’ Buckeye ‘Autumn Splendor’ White Fringtree Sugar Maple ‘Green Mountain’ River Birch Heritage ‘Cully’ Northern Catalpa Hackberry Littleleaf Linden ‘Corinthian’ Honey Locust Thornless ‘Skycole’
Shrubs Chokeberry Buttonbush ‘Sugar Shack’
11
Plant List
Roger Street Entrance
Roger Street Entrance
[South of Entrance]
[North of Entrance] Mix/Seeds
Mix/Seeds Storm Water Mix (pg. 10) Medium Stature Prairie Mix (pg. 11) Gateway Mix (pg. 9) Native Seed Mix (pg. 9)
Trees Sugar Maple ‘Green Mountain’ Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’ Littleleaf Linden ‘Corinthian’ American Elm ‘Jefferson’ Osage Orange ‘White Shield’ Red Maple ‘Redpointe’ Bald Cypress ‘Whisper Green’ Sourwood American Yellowwood River Birch Heritage ‘Cully’
Shrubs Buttonbush ‘Sugar Shack’
Graminoids Blue Joint Grass Riverbank Tussock Sedge
Medium Stature Prairie Mix (pg. 11) Gateway Mix (pg. 9)
Trees Hybrid Oak Heritage ‘Clemons’ Northern Catalpa Osage Orange ‘White Shield’ Sugar Maple ‘Green Mountain’ Tupelo ‘Wildfire’ Tupelo ‘Red Rage’ Weeping Willow ‘Golden’ America Yellowwood Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’ River Birch Heritage ‘Cully’
Shrubs Buttonbush ‘Sugar Shack’ Eastern Red Cedar ‘Grey Owl’ Inkberry ‘Compacta’ American Beautyberry
Graminoids Prairie Dropseed
Forbs Swamp Milkweed Swamp Rose Mallow
12
Mixes
Native Plug Mix
B-Line Mix
Graminoids
Graminoids
Grass, Bluejoint Sedge, Riverbank Tussock
Prairie Dropseed
Forbs
Milkweed, Butterfly Mint, Narrow Leaf Mountain
Milkweed, Swamp Rose Mallow, Swamp
Native Seed Mix Graminoids
Forbs
Dog Run Mix Graminoids Prairie Dropseed
Grama, Side-oat Sedge, Prairie Oval Sedge, Plains Sea Oats, Northern Wild Rye, Virginia Little Bluestem Prairie Dropseed Sea Oats
Forbs
Woodland Mix
Aster, Aromatic ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Coreopsis, Lanceleaf Coneflower, Pale Purple Goldenrod ‘Golden Fleece’ Hoary Vervain
Graminoids Sedge, Oak
Forbs Aster, Aromatic ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ Fern, Christmas Easter Shooting Star Phlox, Garden ‘Jeane’
Clover, Purple Prairie Blazingstar, White ‘Floriston White’
Gateway Mix Graminoids Grama Grass, Blue ‘Blonde Ambition’
Forbs
Skate Park Mix Forbs Anise Hyssop ‘Blue Fortune’ Rattlesnake Master 13
Mixes
Garden Mix 6
Shortgrass Prairie Mix
Forbs
Graminoids
Coneflower, Purple ‘Ruby Star’ Culver’s Root
Side Oats Grama Plains Oval Sedge Canada Wild Rye June Grass Switch Grass Little Bluestem
Garden Mix 7 Graminoids Little Bluestem ‘The Blues’ Poverty Grass
Forbs Butterfly Milkweed Anise Hyssop ‘Blue Fortune’ Nodding Onion Coneflower, Purple ‘Mangus’ Rattlesnake Master
Storm Water Mix Graminoids Yellow Fox Sedge Frank’s Sedge Fox Sedge Torrey’s Rush Joe Pye Weed ‘Phantom’
Forbs Iris, Blue Flag Coneflower, Purple Lobelia, Cardinal Flower Swamp Milkweed
Shallow Water Emergent Mix Graminoids Sedge, Bristly Sedge, Riverbank Tussock Sedge, Lake Sedge, Tussock Rush, Creeping Spike Rush, Soft Bulrush, Hardstem Bulrush, Three-Square Bulrush, Softstem
Forbs Sweet Flag Water Plantain Loosestrife, Swamp Swamp Rose Mallow Iris, Blue Flag Water Horehound Arrow Arum Pickerel Weed Arrowhead Burrseed, Giant
14
Mixes
Sedge Meadow Mix
Medium Stature Prairie
Graminoids
Graminoids
Sedge, Yellow Fox Sedge, Crusted Sedge, Frank’s Sedge, Meadow Sedge, Common Hop Sedge, Fox Reed, Wood Grass, Fowl Manna Rush, Soft Rush, Torrey’s Bulrush, Dark Green Woolgrass
Side-oats Grama Prairie Oval Sedge Plains Sedge Virginia Wild Rye Little Bluestem Prairie Dropseed Purpletop
Forbs Swamp Milkweed Aster, Shining New England Aster White Turtlehead Boneset Queen of the Prairie Bottle Gentian Sneezeweed Swamp Rose Mallow Iris, Blue Flag Lobelia, Cardinal Flower Lobelia, Great Blue Money Flower Beardtongue, Calico Obedient Plant Mint, Virginia Mountain Black Eyed Susan, Showy Golden Ragwort Goldenrod, Riddell’s Aster, Golden
Forbs Milkweed, Butterfly Aster, Sky-Blue False Indigo, White Mint, Downy Wood Partridge Pea Coreopsis, Lanceleaf Coneflower, Pale Purple False Sunflower Blazingstar, Dense Wild Bergamont Beardtongue, Fox glove Coneflower, Yellow Black Eyed Susan Compass Plant Prairie Dock Goldenrod, Grey’s Hoary Vervain Golden Alexander
15
Shrubs Identification
Shrubs A multi-stemmed woody plant typically less than 25 feet in height.
American Beautyberry
Wisconsin Horticulture
(Callicarpa americana)
• 5 – 8 feet tall and almost as wide • Opposite, elliptical to ovate shaped leaves with saw toothed margins • Stems are slender, gray to reddish brown and four sided • In August – September small bead-like blue or purple berries that clustered encircling the woody stems • Prue the plants in the fall/winter to maintain its form. Cut away the old stems since the berries are present only on new growth Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
16
Shrubs Identification
American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
• • • • • •
10 – 16 feet height and 8 – 13 feet wide Deciduous, rounded, multitstemmed shrub Blooms from March – April Full to part sun and well drained soil Commonly called an American Filbert Leaves are ovate, double-toothed, dark green and 3 - 6 inches long
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Arrowwood (Vibernum dentatum)
•
Cultivar ‘Chicago Luster’ 6 - 8 feet, sometimes taller than wide Flowers are white, flat-topped flower clusters After flower dark blue berries form Leaves are coarsely toothed and dark-green during the growing season Leaves turns color in fall, yellow to red-wine Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• • • • •
17
Buttonbush
Shrubs Identification
• • •
Cultivar ‘sugar shack’ Deciduous shrub with an open-rounded habit, typically grows 6 – 12 feet Grows in wetlands, high water needs Flowers appear in dense, spherical, long stalked flower heads Leaves are ovate to elliptic glossy bright green
Chokeberry
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
(Aronia melanocarpa) • • • • • •
Typically 3 – 6 feet tall Grows in an open, upright and spreading structure Grows well in wet, boggy soils Flowers grow in clusters of 5 – 6 white flowers that bloom in May Leaves are glossy elliptical to ovate and dark green leaves 2 – 3 inches long with finley toothed margins Leaves turn to purple/red in fall
Missouri Botanical Gardens 18
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
(Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Shrubs Identification
Cultivar ‘Ruby Spice’ Commonly called Sweet Pepperbush 3 – 8 feet in height and 4 – 6 feet in width Flowers in July to August, blooms white to pink Prefers part shade and consistent moist, acidic and sandy soil Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules Leaves are serrate, obovate to oblong, glossy and dark green Promptly remove root suckers unless naturalized look is desired Missouri Botanical Gardens
• • • • • • • •
Bloodtwig Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) • •
•
• •
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Cultivar ‘Winter Beauty’ Upright, round-topped, spreading, multistemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8 -15 feet tall Leaves are broad-elliptic to ovate, 2 -4 inches long with dramatic veins curving to the tip Flowers in May to early June, dull white in loose clusters Although pruning is not required, many gardeners choose to remove 20-25% of the oldest stems in early spring of each year to stimulate growth of new stems which will 19 display the best color
Chicago Botanical Gardens
Clethra (Clethra alnifolia)
Eastern Red Cedar
Shrubs Identification
(Juniperus virginiana)
• • • • • •
Cultivar ‘Grey Owl’ is a broad, slow-growing, compact, wide-spreading evergreen shrub Typically grows up to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide Has scale-like, silver to grey foliage Female shrubs have berry-like cones Tolerates a wide range of moisture levels; swampy to dry rocky conditions Does best in full sun and well-drained soils
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• • • • • •
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Cultivar ‘Adams’ Commonly called American elder Deciduous, sprawling shrub that typically grows to 5 – 12 feet tall Flowers are white, tiny and lemon-scented Flowers give way to cluster of black elderberry fruits in late summer Horticulturalists recommend hard spring rejuvenating (selective ground pruning) for best foliage
Missouri Botanical Gardens 20
Shrubs Identification
• • • • •
Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Cultivar ‘Compacta’ is evergreen, slow-growing and compact shrub Typically grows 3 – 4 feet tall and 4 – 6 feet wide Leaves are thick, spineless, smooth, dark green to olive in color Greenish white flowers in spring, if pollinated give way to jet black pea sized berries Plants generally need minimal pruning unless used as a formal hedge, removed root suckers if spreading is not desired
Missouri Botanical Gardens
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) • • •
Compact, dense, rounded shub, typically 2 – 3 feet tall Flowers form in cylindrical clusters, 1 – 2 inches long. They are small, white and fragrant and bloom in late spring Leaves are toothed, broad-ovate and medium to dark green. Young twigs are noticeably yellow Prefer full to partial sun with well drained soil Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
21
Shrubs Identification
•
• • •
Summer Wine ‘Seward’ is a ninebark hybrid had wine-red foliage and growing in a compact mounding habit, usually reaching 4 – 6 feet in height and width Flowers in late spring, the small pink/white flowers form in a dense, flat and circular cluster Ninebark is named for its exfoliating bark (seen on mature stems) which peals in strips to reveal layers of reddish to light brown inner bark This shrub can be pruned close to the ground in winter to rejuvenate, cut oldest branches to stimulate new growth
Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
• • • •
Can grow up to 20 feet tall, acts more like a shrub than an understory tree although it rivals them in size Spreads laterally by vigorous suckering, forming dense mutistemmed thickets Flower clusters appear in June (see top left photo), these cones can 6 inches in length The flowers give wat to bunches of fuzzy, cranberry like fruit
22
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Shrubs Identification
Dwarf Winged Sumac • • •
(Rhus copallinum)
10 – 20 feet tall Blooms from July to August, flowers are tiny and greenish/yellow Grow in an open shrub form, usually in large colonies in the wild Grows best in well-drained soil with full to part shade Pollinated female flowers produce showy fruiting clusters 8 inches long
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) • • • • •
Typically 2 – 6 feet tall, 6 – 10 feet in width Deciduous low growing, dense shrub that spreads by root suckers Medium green leaves turn shades of orange, red and purple during fall (see bottom left photo) Smaller leaves resemble poison ivy, but it is not poisonous nor does it cause an irritation reaction Easily grown in dry to medium moisture soil and partial to full sun
Missouri Botanical Gardens 23
Sweetspire
Shrubs Identification
(Itea virginica)
• • • •
Missouri Botanical Gardens
•
The cultivar ‘Henry’s Garnet’ has larger flowers and better fall colors than the straight species Typically grows 3 – 4 feet tall with a similar spread Spreads by suckering, dense colonies by root if left unchecked Flowers bloom in late spring through early summer, tiny white flowers that form a cylindrical raceme (center photo) Leaves turn from dark green to red/orange from fall through winter
Dwarf Witch Adler (Fothergilla gardenii) • • • • •
Typically 3 – 5 feet tall and similar in width Prefers moist, acidic and organically rich soils In early spring Fothergillas produce white bottlebrush-like flowers Mt Airy is a hybrid that produce excellent fall color and profuse spring blooms which should last from April through May During the growing season leaves are leathery, ovate and dark green with a blue hue Missouri Botanical Gardens
24
Witch Hazel
Shrubs Identification
(Hamamelis virginiana) • • • • •
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
Typically 15 – 2- feet tall and similar width Blooms in late fall, October – December, yellow/orange spindly flowers (center photo) Best flowering occurs when the shrub is in full sun although it grows well in partial shade Prefers moist, acidic, organically rich, well drained soil with moderate moisture Little pruning is required besides removing suckers if you would like to prevent colonial spreading Leaves are oval to obovate, medium to dark leaves with wavy margins (left photo) Leaves turn yellow in fall (center photo)
Graminoids
Rush
Grass or grass-like plants. Three major subcategories most easily explained by ‘Sedges have edges, Rushes are round and Grasses have nodes all the way to the ground’ • Not all sedges are cylindrical; some are V shaped and others W
Node à
25
Grass
Sedge
Graminoid Identification
Dark Green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens)
• • •
Missouri Botanical Gardens
•
Typically 2.5 – 4 feet tall and the blades are individually up to 1.5 feet tall and 0.74 inches wide The leaves are yellow/green to dark green Bulrush is an wetland obligate, it can grow in total submersion or along sides of streams or bogs Spikelets form in late spring
Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus acutus) • • •
Wetland bulrush, generally found in areas of standing water ranging from 10 cm to more than 2.5 m in depth May reach 3 meters in height and form dense stands Terminal panicle (seen in the top left photo) is made of up to 50 or more spikelet Stems are upright gray/green, round, 1 - 2 cm thick and 1 – 3 meters tall USDA Riparian Project
•
26
Prairie Moon Nursery
Softstem Bulrush
Graminoid Identification
(Scirpus validus)
• •
Prairie Moon Nursery
• •
Wetland bulrush that grows best in standing water up to 12 inches deep If left undisturbed and in optimum conditions this bulrush will form aggressive dense colonies Typically softstem bulrush grow to 4 – 8 feet tall and 3 – 6 feet in spread Blooms from May to September, the blooms are brown (see the photos on the right)
Three-square Bulrush
USDA Riparian Project
(Scirpus pungens)
•
Typically grows 6 – 40 inches in height Found in standing water about 4 – 6 inches and will tolerate alkaline/saline conditions as well as freshwater Flowers form in clusters, they have yellowish to reddish brown scales (see the left photo) USDA Riparian Project Prairie Moon Nursery
• •
27
Graminoid Identification
Side-oat Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
• • • • •
1 – 3 feet Fruiting between June to August Dry to mesic prairie species Recognizable by the arching row of short, drooping spikes, which seem to be arranged on only one side of the stem The stem ranges from 4 – 12 inches with 12 to 70 pendulous spikes Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Blue Grama Grass
(Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’) • • • • •
8 – 28 inches tall Fruiting season; July – September Upland grass Distinctive flowering clusters (bottom right photo) on upper stem, 1 - 3 branches per stem, 1.75 inches long Densely clumping with curly leaves, which are mostly basal (close to the ground), 1 – 6 inches long
28 Missouri Botanical Garden
Bluejoint Grass
Graminoid Identification
(Calamagrostis canadensis) • •
Perennial grass that forms dense stands that are 2 – 5 feet tall The culms (seed heads) are light green or strawcolor The upper and lower leaf blades are pale green to blue-green in color and 4 – 12 inches long
Illinois Wildflowers
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fowl Manna Grass (Glyceria striata) • • • •
Typically reaches 40 – 70 inches in height Flowerheads are loose, broad, pyramidlike 0.25 – 0.5 inches wide and 0.5 – 1 in tall Grows in wetland, preferably shady and irregularly to seasonally inundated It may grow as a single plant/small colonies, or larger stands that dominate understories USDA Riparian Project
•
29
Graminoid Identification
June Grass (Koeleria macrantha) • • • •
12 – 20 inches Fruiting season; June Flower; narrow branching cluster up to 6 inches (bottom center photo) Plants grow in loose to dense tufts
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Poverty Grass (Danthonia spicata) • • • • •
8 – 30 inches Fruiting season; July to August Loose, erect branching clusters up to 2 inches long (left most photos) Sheaths have tufts of long white hair Clump forming with curly basal leaves
30 Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Little Bluestem
Graminoid Identification
(Schizachyrium scoparium) • • • • • •
1 - 3 feet tall Upland grass Fruiting season from August – September During the growing season the grass is multicolored; blues, purple and greens During the winter the grass is tan and pink Clump forming
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Missouri Botanical Garden Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Prairie Dropseed
(Sporobolus heterolepis) • • • • •
1 – 3 feet Fruiting season; August – October Upland grass Panicle (seed head) is eplliptic to pyramidal in outline (bottom right photo) Clump forming; low mounds of fine dense, hairlike leaves Missouri Botanical Garden Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
31
Graminoid Identification
Purpletop (Tridens flavus) • •
Typically grows 3 - 5 feet tall The panicle (flowering top) has an airy appearance and it is pyramidal in outline; the lateral branches occur individually or in whorls of 2 – 4 The spikelets (flowering heads on the panicle) are 5 – 10 mm long, red/purple, occur from the middle toward the tip of the lateral branches Grows in dry to medium moisture areas with moderate amounts of sun; woodland openings, boarders and fields
Illinois Wildflowers
• •
Creeping Spike Rush (Eleocharis palustris)
• •
Typically grows 2 – 4 feet tall and has a 1 – 2 feet spread Grows best in full sun to part shade and in either seasonally or permanently flooded sites Round, upright, green stems rising singly or in clusters Each stem is topped by a solitary terminal spikelet (center photo) that is greenish-brown Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
32
Graminoid Identification
Soft Rush (Juncus effuses) • •
2 – 4 feet in height and spread Wetland rush; found along side lakes/river or in wetland Prefers full sun and standing water near 4 inches deep Stems are smooth, upright, cylindrical, unjointed and bright green
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
Torrey’s Rush (Juncus torreyi) • • • • • •
12 – 40 inches Fruiting season; July to October Wetland sedge 1 – 23 flowering heads in a tight cluster at the top of the stem; 1 – 1.5 cm in diameter Red to green colored flowers Stems are round, smooth, erect and unbranched
33 Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Canada Wild Rye
Graminoid Identification
(Elymus canadensis)
1 – 5 feet Fruiting season; July – August Upland grass Single drooping thick spike 3 – 10 inches long at the tip of the stem • Blue-green spike at flowering time, fades to a tan once dried
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
• • • •
Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus)
Missouri Botanical Garden Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• 1 – 4 feet • Fruiting season is between July – September • A single erect spike ranges from 1.5 – 6 inches long at the tip of the stem (bottom two photos)
34
Graminoid Identification
Sea Oats (Avena sativa) Annual grass that reaches 1.5 – 3 feet tall
•
Oats will adapt to full sun, moist to dry conditions and either barren or fertile soils
Illinois Wildflowers
•
Northern Sea Oats
(Chasmanthium latifolium) • • • •
2 – 5 feet tall Flowering season August to September Clump forming, upright, mesic grass Flat, dropping seed heads which hang in terminal cluster on thread-like pedicels (stem like structure)
Missouri Botanical Garden
35
Bicknell’s Sedge
Graminoid Identification
(Carex bicknellii)
1 – 4 feet tall Fruiting season June to July Mesic sedge V-shaped alternate leaves, 3 – 6 leaves on the lower third of the stem • 3 – 7 spikes 10 – 18 mm long, overlapping on the stem (bottom left photo) Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
• • • •
• • • •
3 – 12 inches tall Bases are wrapped in a light brown sheath that is not fibrous Stems are erect to ascending, slender weakly 3-sided, and mostly smooth Facultative upland sedge; found in both dry and moist sandy locations
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Bristle-Leaf Sedge (Carex eburnean)
36
Graminoid Identification
Crested Sedge (Carex cristatella) 12 – 40 inches in height
•
6 – 15 spikelet each about 1/3 inch long (top left photo) all at the top of them stem, overlapping and usually tightly crowded
•
Facultative wetland sedge; found in both meadows and marshes
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
•
Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)
• •
1 – 3 feet Fruiting season; June to July Wetland sedge Bases wrapped in a brown sheath (top left photo) Spikes; a cluster 2 – 4 inches long at the top of stem (bottom right photo) Leaves are hairless and V shaped when young Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
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37
Graminoid Identification
Frank’s Sedge (Carex frankii)
• 1 – 2 feet • Flowering season; May to September • Blooms are green until they dry, then they are brown • Wetland sedge Missouri Botanical Garden USDA Plant Database Maryland Biodiversity Project
Minnesota Wildflowers
Lake Sedge (Carex lacustris) •
•
Typically 20 – 25 inches in height Wetland sedge; found on shores, in swamps and ditches Leaves are hairless though rough along the edges, M-shaped in cross section when young (top left photo) Develops frutits in late-spring midsummer (left bottom photo) Minnesota Wildflowers
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38
Graminoid Identification
Meadow Sedge (Carex granularis)
• • •
Typically 6 - 24 inches Stem leaf sheaths loosely wrap the stem and are papery, spotted, streaked or tinged reddish-brown on the front (third photo from the left) Plants typically form dense clumps Not all plants produce flowering stems Fruits (second and fourth photo) develop in late spring through mid-summer
Minnesota Wildflowers
• •
Oak Sedge (Carex albicans) • •
1 – 1.5 feet Bloom in May Upland sedge Narrow, grass-like, upright-arching, bright green leaf blades, 16” – 1’10” Grows in dense tufts or loose colonies of tufts Staminate (male) scales are green to strawcolored, often tinged with reddish purple and white-margined Minnesota Wildflowers
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39
Palm Sedge
Graminoid Identification
(Carex muskingumensis) •
Minnesota Wildflowers
•
Typically 12 – 40 inches in height Obligate wetland sedge; only found in frequently inundated sites Leaves are alternate, spiraling the stem with three leaves in a cycle (3 ranked) Leaves are hairless, flat, up to 10 inches long, bright green and rough along the edges
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• •
Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
•
•
Typically 4 – 18 inches in height Upland sedge; thrives in both part shade to full sun The base of the leaves are wrapped in a red sheath that splits and has thread-like fibers along the edges Stems are slender, 3 sided, and mostly smooth Minnesota Wildflowers
• •
40
Graminoid Identification
Plains Oval Sedge (Carex brevior) • • • • • •
12 – 40 inches Fruiting season June – July Mesic sedge; grows in both low and high moisture 3 – 7 spikes each 7 – 15 mm long Stem is flat, hairless, rough along the edges just below the spike The bases are wrapped in a brown sheath that may be somewhat fibrous
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Prairie Sedge (Carex prairea) • • • •
12 – 40 inches in height Leaves are basal (from the ground) and alternate with 3 – 5 leaves on the lower ¼ of the stem Stem lead sheaths tightly wrapped the stem and are more or less solid copper colored (furthest right photo) Obligate wetland sedge; found only in wet sites; fens, marshes, swamps
Minnesota Wildflowers 41
Riverbank Tussock Sedge (Carex emoryi) • • • • •
Graminoid Identification
12 – 40 inches tall Wetland sedge, grass-like three sided solid stem When young, leaves are V-shaped in crosssection and hairless Bases are wrapped in a papery brown to reddish-purple sheath Fruit develops starting late spring, the pistillate (female) spikes for clusters of seeds (last photo) • 3- 5 pistillate spikes form nodes, separate from staminate (male) flowers • Not clump-forming but form loose to dense colonies (bottom left photo) Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta)
• • •
2 – 5 feet tall Obligate wetland sedge; only found in frequently inundated sites Plants are clump-forming, the
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
old leaves persisting persisting and forming dense hummock, large stands are common • Fruits develop in late spring, the spikes for multitoned clusters of seeds (bottom 42 middle photo)
Yellow Fox Sedge
Graminoid Identification
(Carex annectens var. xanth) • • • • •
18 – 40 inches Fruiting season; June to August Bases are wrapped in a brown sheath (top left photo) A cluster 1.5 to 3.75 inches long at the top of the stem Wetland sedge
Switch Grass
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
(Panicum virgatum) • • • •
3 – 6 feet Mesic grass Airy pyramidal flower cluster at top of stem, 8 – 16 inches long (bottom left photo) Clump forming, floppy leaves with a long open cluster of hairless spikes (flower heads)
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
43
Graminoid Identification
Wood Reed (Cinna arundinacea) • • •
•
Typically reaches 3 – 6 feet in height Panicle at the tip of the stem is 3 – 20 inches long, pyramidal in outline (left most photos) Leaves are alternate, evently spaced (typically 5 – 10 per plant), hairless and commonly twisted near the base so the underside faces up Typically found in wet wooded habitats, but can go in open and less moisture rich sites
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus) • • •
Typically reaches 3 – 6 feet in height Obligate wetland sedge; only found in frequently inundated sites Spikelets are reminiscent of brown wool; when young they are grayer and grow darker with time Plants form dense clumps Stems are mostly erect, round in cross-section and smooth Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
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44
Forb Identification
Forbs An herbaceous (non-woody) flowering plant that is not a graminoid
Tsuyuzaki Shiro Plant Ecology
Anise Hyssop
(Agastache foeniculum x rugosa ‘Blue Fortune’) • • • • •
•
24 – 26 inches ‘Blue Fortune’ hybrid is a long bloomer that produces lavender blue, bottlebrushlike flowers on strong upright stems Bloom season; midsummer to early fall Upland forb Leaves are up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, with a rounded base, pointed tip, coarsely toothed edged and a short stem Square stem (in the mint family)
Wisconsin Master Gardener Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide High Country Gardens
45
Forb Identification
Arkansas Blue-Star (Amsonia hubrichtii) • •
Missouri Botanical Gardens
•
Typically 2 – 3 feet in height and spread Flowering occurs in April to May, the blooms are powdery blue, ½ inch flowers that form clusters (bottom left photo) Leaves are feathery, soft-textured, needle-like, alternate and bright green in spring/summer (bottom right photo) and turn bright gold in autumn (third photo from the left)
Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica) • • •
1.5 - 2 feet in height and spread Aquatic plant, requires wet soils, usually found in swamps, marshes and pond-lake-river margins Plants will for dense expanding clumps over time Leaves are arrow shaped and typically 12 inches long Develops small green/white flowers in April Missouri Botanical Gardens Illinois Wildflowers
• •
46
Forb Identification
• • • •
Typically ranges from 1 – 4 feet in height Obligate wet species; grows in shallow waters like lakes, ponds and streams Blooms from July to September, white, three-petaled flowers with yellow centers Leaves are toothless, hariless and arrowhead shaped with the basal lobes at least ½ of the leaf, they grow up to 16 inches long
Aromatic Aster
(Symphyotrichum oblongifolius ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) • • • • •
Branching clusters of stalked flowers at the top of the stem 1 – 2 feet Bloom season; September to October Ray type flower with 20 – 35 petals ranging from lavender to purple to deep violet Leaves are mostly oblong, up to 2.5 and less than 0.5 inches wide • Basal (near ground) leaves are more spatula-shaped and typically wither away by flowering time but may persist • Fruit is a dry seed with a tuft of light brown hairs 47 Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
Forb Identification
New England Aster
(Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) • • • • • •
Typically reaches 3 – 6 feet in height and 2 – 3 feet the spread Blooms from August to September Flowers are deep pink-purple, daisy-like asters with purple rays and yellow centers Leaves are rough, hairy, lace-shaped and 4 inches long Easily grown in average, medium or well-drained soil in full sun Flowers are attractive to butterflies
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Shining Aster
(Symphyotrichum firmum) • • • •
Ranges in height from 3 – 8 feet White or pale blue flowers that bloom from August to October Plants form large colonies, spreading by rhizomes Attracts many bee species
48 University of Michigan Herbarium
Prairie Moon Nursery
Forb Identification
Sky-Blue Aster
(Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)
• •
1.5 – 3 feet tall Central stem is light green, circular in cross section and smooth Leaves are oblong and smooth, lower leaves larger than the upper leaves The flowering head has a central stalk with secondary and tertiary branches that terminate in daily-like flowers The rays (flowers) are lavender or light blue, the centers are yellow and fade to purple-red, then to brown Illinois Wildflowers Missouri Botanical Gardens
• • •
Smooth Aster
(Symphyotrichum laevis ‘Bluebird’) • • • • •
Upright with arching branches, typically 3 feet tall Extremely hardy, blooms into November, surviving frost Leaves are smooth to the touch, unlike most of the other asters Attractive to butterflies seeking nectar in the fall, it is also a larval host for the Pearl Crescent butterfly Flowers are lavender-blue and star-like, they bloom in late autumn
49
Forb Identification
Calico Beardtongue • • • •
New Moon Nursery Ironweed Native Plant Nursery
(Penstemon calycosus)
Typically 2 – 3 feet in height and 1 – 2 feet in spread Blooms are lavender and/or white, bloom in June and July Leaves are opposite, bright green, glossy and serrated Grow best in moist, well drained soils and in partially sunny sites
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
•
At maturity they reach 3 feet in height Flowers are pink and/or white Penstemons are called ‘Beard Tongues’ because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs (bottom left photo) Color of flower is the main distinction between calico and foxglove beardtongue Prairie Moon Nursery
• • •
50 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Forb Identification
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) • • • • • •
Typically reaches 2 – 4 feet in height and 2 – 3 feet in spread Part of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, has square stem Grows well in wet/occasionally inundated sites Flower is tubular, two-lipped, bright scarlet-red, globular, terminal flowerheads Blooms from July to August Spreads by rhizomes and through self seeding, typically form clumps
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) • •
All characteristics are the same as Bee Balm besides the color of the bloom Wild bergamot blooms pink/lavender
51 Missouri Botanical Gardens
Black-Eyed Susan
Forb Identification
(Rudbeckia hirta)
2 – 3 feet in height and 1 – 2 feet in spread Blooms from June to September with yellow to orange-yellow rays (daisy-like) with brown centers Grows well in full sun with medium soil moisture content Biennial or short-lived perennial, sometimes grown as an annual because it blooms the first year Rudbeckias self-seed and will usually remain in the garden through the process of self-seeding
• • • • •
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Missouri Botanical Gardens
• • • •
Ranges from 2 – 4 feet in height at maturity and 0.75 – 1.5 feet in spread Blooms in July and August Flowers are red-purple and occur on a terminal spike about 6– 12 inches long Leaves are grass-like, medium green about 12 inches long Missouri Botanical Gardens
52
Boneset
Forb Identification
(Eupatorium perfoliatum) 4 – 6 feet tall and 3 – 4 feet in spread Blooms from July to September Flowers are white appear as flat-topped cluster, the individual flowers are small (similar to queen anne’s lace) Typically boneset grows in wet soils; stream banks and depressions in wooded areas Boneset was commonly included in medical herb gardens, all parts of the plant are quite toxic and bitter
• • • •
Missouri Botanical Gardens
•
Bottle Gentian
(Gentiana andrewsii) • • • • •
1 – 2 feet in height and 1 – 1.5 feet in spread Blooms in October Grows in moist soil conditions and does not do well with hot nights Flowers for as tight clusters of tubular deep blue flowers which never open Leaves are ovate, lace-shaped about 4 inches long with parallel veins Missouri Botanical Gardens
53
Giant Burreed
Forb Identification
(Sparganium eurycarpum) • • • •
2 - 6 feet in height Obligate wet forb; found typically in lakes, rivers and wetlands Round flower heads in a pike-like arrangement at the tops of the stem, blooms in June through August Leaves are alternate and basal (meet the ground), 5 feet long and 0.5 inches wide, They are hairless, toothless and has a triangular cross section
Minnesota Wildflowers
Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) • • • •
1 -3 feet Flowering season: June to August Leaves are small and compound, 1.5 – 3 inches long with 3 – 7 linear leaflets each up to 1 inch long and less than 1/8 inch wide Flowers are thimble-shaped 0.5 – 2.5 inches long, tiny 5 petaled purple petals with orange or yellow-tipped stamens are densely packed around a cone
Missouri Botanical Garden
54 Minnesota Wildflowers
Forb Identification
White Prairie Clover (Dalea candida)
• • • • • •
Typically reaches 1– 3 feet Flowers are tightly packed on a cylindrical spike 1 – 3 inches long Individual flowers are about 0.25 inches across, have 5 petals and 5 protruding white stamens in the center Leaves are compound in groups of 5 – 9, alternately attached Leaves are generally elliptical, hairless and toothless and have glandular dots on the underside Besides the flower color difference between white and purple prairie clover, the leaf size in white prairie clover is larger with broader leaflets
Minnesota Wildflowers
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) • • • • •
Ranges in height from 3 – 10 feet Blooms from July to September Flowers are 2.5 – 4 inches across with anywhere between 17 – 35 yellow ray (daisy-like) petals The bracts (structure that holds the flower to the stem) and the stem are densely covered in long, spreading, white hairs Leaves are deeply divided in linear-oblong lobes, similar in structure to a sensitive fern
55
Forb Identification
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) • • •
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
•
2 – 3 feet tall Flowering season; May – July Flower are single on end of stout hairy stem, with 15– 20 purple/pink to nearly white petals, each 1.5 to 3 inches long and less than 0.25 inches wide Petals grow out and up, hanging down in maturity • In the center is a large round reddish brown disk covered in tiny brown disk flowers with white pollen • Leaves are mostly basal (close to the ground) • Stems and leaves are hairy and rough to the touch • Stems may be green or purple tinged, rarely branched
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Mangus’) • • • • • •
2.5 – 3 feet tall Flowering season: June to August Flower is rosy purple Mangus’ defining characteristics are their petals, they are nondrooping and generally shorter Daisy-like purple coneflowers atop stiff stems clad with coarse, ovate to broad, dark green leaves The dead flower stems will remain erect well into winter, and if flower heads are not removed, the blackened cones may be visited by goldfinches or other birds that feed on the seeds 56
Missouri Botanical Garden
Forb Identification
Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Ranges from 3 - 5 feet in height and 1.5 – 2 feet in spread Long bloomer; June to August Flowers are yellow petals surrounding a dull-grey central cylindrical disk, somewhat resembles a sombrero When bruised, the center disk smells like anise Leaves near the base of the plant are pinnately divided into 3 – 7 lobes (see photo to the right) Notice, not in the Echinacea genus
• • • • • •
Illinois Wildflowers Missouri Botanical Garden
Coreopsis
(Coreopsis sp.)
• •
1 – 2 feet Bloom season; May to June Flowers; solitary, yellow, daisy-like, 1 -2 inches in diameter with eight yellow rays (toothed at the tips) and flat yellow center disks. Leaves; narrow, hairy, 2 – 6 inches long Sometimes called tickseed; seeds resemble black bug or tick Missouri Botanical Garden
• • •
57
Culver’s Root
Missouri Botanical Garden
(Veronicastrum virginicum) • • • •
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
• • • •
Forb Identification
3– 6 feet Bloom season; June – August Flowering spike clusters up to 10 inches long densely packing with 4 parted white tubular flowers about 0.25 inches long with 2 yellow or reddish brown-tipped stamens Leaves are whorled (radiate from a single point)
Eastern Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia)
0.75 – 1.5 feet Blooms in May Flowers are white, pink or purple, five swept-back (reflexed) petals, 8– 20 per stem Leaves are basal rosette (top left photo), from the rosette comes 1– 4 sturdy, leafless, stems with flowers on the top
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
58
Forb Identification
White False Indigo (Baptisia alba)
• • •
Missouri Botanical Garden
Typically reaches 2 – 4 feet in height Blooms from May to July Flowers are arranged on a loose spike-like head, which is 18 inches long with many pea-shaped white flowers • Leaves are compound in groups of three (see top photo), each leaflet is 1 – 2 inchles long • Leaves are toothless, hairless, oblong, rounded at the tip and tapered at the base • The fruit pods ripen from green to dark purplish black (bottom left photo)
False Sunflower
(Heliopsis helianthoides) • • •
•
Reaches 3 – 4 feet in height and 2 – 4 feet in spread An upright, clump-forming, nearly smooth, sunflower-like, short-lived perennial Daisy-like flowers, 2 – 3 inches in diameter, with yellow-orange rays surrounding brownish-yellow center cones Not a true sunflower (Helianthus genus)
Missouri Botanical Garden
59
Forb Identification
Christmas Fern
(Polystichum acrostichoides) • • • • • •
1 - 2 feet in height and spread Non-flowering, reproiduces through spores. These develop on the underside of the leaves Grows in part shade or full shade in dry to medium moisture soils Typically grows in a fountain-like clumps Fronds are leathery, lace-shaped and evergreen, giving it the name Christmas fern Young fiddleheads in spring are silvery and scaled (bottom right photo)
Missouri Botanical Garden
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) • • • •
Typically 1.5 – 2 feet in height and 1 – 1.5 feet in spread Blooms in April and May Flowers are 1.25 inches in diameter, pink/lilac, saucer-shaped, upward facing, 5-petaled flowers Leaves are deeply cut, palmately 5 –lobed, dark green and about 6 inches across
Missouri Botanical Garden University of Wisconsin Master Gardener Program
60
Forb Identification
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) • • • • • • •
3 feet in height Blooms from April to June Zizia is important to a number of shorttongued insects that are able to easily reach the nectar Part of the the carrot (Apiaceae) family with yellow umbel flower Each tiny flower, less that 1/8 inch, has 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 stamens Short-lived perennial that self-seeds Golden Alexanders will tolerate a lot of shade but prefer full sun or light shade
Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) • • • • •
'Golden Fleece’ is a compact cultivar only 15 – 18 inches Small rounded leaves with sprays of tiny yellow flowers Bloom season; August to October Blooms in a dense plume-like panicles on stiff, alternateleaved , multi-branched stems Rosettes of toothed, heart-shaped foliage which form a somewhat tall mat-like, dark green cover when plants are not in flower
61 Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden
Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Forb Identification
Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)
• • • • • •
1 – 3 feet Bloom season; June – September Upland forb Densely packed spike clusters of 1.5 inch purple to blue-violet flowers with 5 petals Stems are square, short-hairy, and may be a reddish color Leaves are opposite, nearly erect, 2 – 3 inches long, oval to egg shape and pointed at the tip
Blue Flag Iris
(Iris virginica var. shrevei)
Missouri Botanical Garden
• 1.5 – 2 feet • Bloom time; June • Flower is a non-fragrant violet-blue with yellow and white crest • Wetland forb • Leaves are bright to medium green, sword-shaped leaves often lie on the ground or in the water
62
Forb Identification
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum) • • • •
USDA Plant Database
• • •
2 – 4 feet Fruiting season; July to September Clump forming herbaceous perennial Flowers; terminal, dome shaped, with tiny compound wine-red flowering ‘Phantom’ is a dwarf cultivar of Joe Pye Weed Seed heads persist into winter Dark green leaves on sturdy stem
Missouri Botanical Garden
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
•
1 – 5 feet Bloom season; July – September Wetland forb Flowers are crimson red, 1 – 1.5 inches long and tubular arranged in a spike-like pattern 2 feet long Leaves are up to 6 inches long, coarsely toothed and tapering to a sharp point Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide Missouri Botanical Garden
• • • •
63
Great Blue Lobelia
Forb Identification
(Lobelia siphilitica)
• • • • •
From the same family as cardinal flower and similar in characteristics, but the flowers are blue rather than bright red 2 – 3 feet in height and 1 – 1.5 feet in spread Prefers full sun to part shade with medium to wet soils Clump forming Leaves are finely-toothed, lance-shaped, bright green and about 5 inches long
Swamp Loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) • • • • •
2 – 4 feet in height Blooms from July to September Flowers are pink/purple, whorled in a dense cluster, 4 – 7 crinkled petals Leaves are opposite/whorled, 2 - inches long, loothless, finely hairy on the underside and the mid-vein is reddish near base Water intensive plant; grows primarily on lakeshores
64
Forb Identification
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) • • • • •
1 – 2 feet Flat-topped clusters 2 – 3 inches across of up to 25 flowers Blooms from June to September Leaves are 2 – 6 inches long and about 1 inch wide, toothless, finely hairy A host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and a favorite of many other butterflies as well
Swamp Milkweed • • • • • •
(Asclepias incarnata)
1 – 4 feet tall 2 – 3 inch pink convex flower cluster Blooms between June and September Wetland forb/wildflower Has slender pods about 4 inches long Flat brown seeds with fuzzy cotton-like material attached
65 Minnesota Wildflowers Field Guide
Forb Identification
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Downy Wood Mint (Blephilia ciliata)
• • • • •
Missouri Botanical Garden
1 – 2 feet in height and 0.75 – 1.5 feet in spread Commonly called Ohio horsemint, it is a true mint, part of the Lamiacae family Stem is square and leaves are lightly-toothed and mildly fragrant when crushed Clump forming Blue-purple, two-lipped flowers that appear from May to August
Narrow Leaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
• • • •
•
2 – 3 feet Bloom season: July to September An erect, many branched mesic forb Extremely narrow, almost needle-like leaves and profuse terminal clusters of small, white flowers All parts of the plant emit a strong, mint-like aroma when crushed
66 Missouri Botanical Garden
Monkey Flower
Illinois Wildflower Missouri Botanical Garden
Forb Identification
(Mimulus ringens) • • • • • •
1 – 3 feet in height and 0.75 – 1 feet in spread Blooms from June to September Flowers are lilac-purple to pink, snapdragon-like with two-lipped, open-mouth in form, typically an inch long Leaves are sharply toothed, oblong to lanceolate and opposite Prefers moist to wet soils in full sun to part shade Reproduces by self-seeds and creeping rhizomes
Obedient Plant
(Physostegia virginiana) • • • • Missouri Botanical Garden
•
3 - 4 feet tall and 2 – 3 feet in spread Blooms from June to September Flowers are pink and/or white, tubular, two-lipped and snapdragon-like. They bloom on a spike with 12 – 18 flowers each Obedient plant is an aggressive spreader, it grows by both rhizomes and self-seeding Prefers average to moist soil and in full sun
67
Forb Identification
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)
• 1 – 2 feet • Flowering season; July to August • Pompom-like clusters, 1.5 – 2 inches across with 6 bell shaped light pink to deep rose in color
Missouri Botanical Garden
• The stems are hooked or bent, causing the flower cluster to hang • Leaves are grass-like, up to 22 inches long and 0.35 inches wide with a rib in the middle. • Nodding onion is a proper onion (allium family), it has an elongated underground bulb
Partridge Pea
(Chamaecrista fasciculata) • • • •
1– 3 feet tall and 1 – 3 feet in spread Blooms from June to September Flowers have 5 rounded yellow petals and 10 stamens (5 red and 5 yellow) Leaves fold together when touched, they are alternate and pinnately compound, has 8 – 18 leaflets
68
Forb Identification
Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) • • • •
Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) • • • • •
2 – 4 feet in height and 1.5 – 2 feet in spread Obligate wet species, only grows in persistently inundated soils or in calm waters that is 3 – 5 inches in depth Blooms from June to October Flowers are blue, tiny, tubular and densely packed into a 3 – 6 inch spike Leaves are glossy, narrow, arrowhead-shaped and about 10”
Missouri Botanical Garden Prairie Moon Nursey
Missouri Botanical Garden
•
2 – 4 feet Bloom season; July to October Mesic forb ‘Jeana’ produces fragrant tubular lavender-pink florets, 0.5 inches in diameter, densly packed in a large tiered terminal cluster, 6 inches long Leaves are 3 inches on stiff stems; narrow opposite, pointed, elliptic, deep green leaves 4 inches long
69
Prairie Dock
Forb Identification
(Silphium terebinthinaceum) • • • •
3 – 10 feet tall and 1 – 3 feet in spread Blooms from July to September Flowers are 3 inches wide, sunflower-like, with yellow rays and yellow center disks Leaves are 2 inches long and form basal (close to the ground) clumps. Leaves are ovate to heart-shaped and dark green Missouri Botanical Garden
Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra)
Illinois Wildflower
• • • • •
6 – 8 feet tall and 3 – 4 feet in spread Blooms from June to August Flowers are pale pink, astilbe-like, 6 – 9 inches wide flowering heads of tiny, fragrant blooms Leaves are deeply cut, compound-pinnate, bright green leaves with 7 9 lace shaped leaflets Grows in medium to wet soils; found along swampy meadows
Missouri Botanical Garden
70
Forb Identification
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) • • • • •
2 – 5 feet Flowering season: July – August Leaves are mostly basal, long and sword-like with parallel veins and widely spaced, fine spiny teeth The dried flower heads turn purple in the fall and eventually dry to brown The flowers are whitish green and globe-like, 0.5 – 0.75 inches wide, they are arranged in an orbital cluster at the end of a tall, smooth stalk Missouri Botanical Garden
Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) • • •
0.5 – 2.5 feet in height and 0.5 – 1.5 feet in spread Blooms in April Flowers are 1 inch in diameter, yellow and daisy-like. They bloom in flat topped clusters Leaves are oblong and finely cut Grows well in medium to wet soils and full sun to part shade. Leaves form basal (close to the ground) clumps of long-stemmed, heart-shaped, toothed, dark green leaves with a slightly purple underside Missouri Botanical Garden
• • •
71
Forb Identification
Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) • •
Mid Atlantic Herberia Consortium
• •
5 – 7 feet tall July to September bloom, saucer shaped pink, white or crimson flowers 4 - 6 inch flowers Wetland forb/wildflower Ovate, alternate, and serrated 3- 8 inch leaves
Sneezeweed
(Helenium autumnale) • • • •
3 – 8 feet in height and 2 – 3 feet in spread Blooms from August to October Flowers are yellow rays, daisy-like, with dull yellow center disks, Typically 2 inches in diameter Stems are tall and rigid, distinctively winged stems which branch near the top
Missouri Botanical Garden
72
Forb Identification
Solomon’s Seal
(Polygonatum biflorum) 1 – 3 feet in height and 1 – 1.5 feet in spread Blooms from April to May Flowers are greenish white, small, bell-shaped Flowers are followed by blue-black berries in autumn Leaves are parallel-veined, alternate, 4 inches, smooth on both sides and turn yellow in autumn
• • • • • Missouri Botanical Garden
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) • • • • •
18 – 40 inches in height Blooms from June to August Flowers are 1 – 1.5 inches across, blue to rose or white, with three egg shaped petals Leaves are long and grass-like, 8 – 15 inches and less than 0.75 inches wide T. ohioensis is the tallest of the three spiderwort species
73
Star Flower
Forb Identification
(Amsonia tabernaemontana) Missouri Botanical Gardens
• • • • •
2 – 3 feet in height and spread Blooms in May Flowers are light blue, in a pyramidal clusters of ¾ inch and starlike Leaves are narrow, willow-shaped and dull green Prefer to grow in average to medium soil moisture and full fun to part shade
Illinois Wildflowers
Sweet Coneflower
(Rudbeckia subtomentosa) • • • • •
3 – 5 feet in height and 1 – 2 feet in spread Bloom from July to October Flowers are yellow rays (daisy-like) and brownish purple centers Leaves are toothed, gray-green, lower-leaves are 3-lobed Grows well in medium soil moisture and full to part shade
Missouri Botanical Gardens
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Water Plantain
Forb Identification
(Alisma subcordatum) University of Michigan Herbarium
• • •
Small white flowers, 3 – 6 mm in diameter Leaves only grow at the base of the plant Only grows in persistently inundated soils
Native Plant Trust
Common Water Horehound (Lycopus americanus)
• • • • •
1 – 3 feet in height Blooms from July to September Flowers are in small dense cluster of 1/8 inch flowers (second photo from the right) Lower leaves are deeply lobed (third photo from the right) Obligate wet plant; required persistent inundation
Missouri Botanical Gardens
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White Turtlehead
Forb Identification
(Chelone glabra)
• • • • •
2 – 3 feet in height and 1.5 – 2 feet in spread Blooms from August to October Flowers are white with pink tinge; hooded, snapdragon-like, two-lipped and form on a spike-like terminal racemes Leaves are coarsely-toothed, lace-shaped and dark green Prefers part shade with medium to wet soils
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Shrubs
Graminoids
American Beautyberry, 16 American Hazelnut, 17 Arrowwood, 17 Buttonbush, 18 Chokeberry, 18 Clethra,19 Dogwood, Bloodtwig, 19 Eastern Red Cedar, 20 Elderberry, 20 Inkberry, 21 New Jersey Tea, 21 Ninebark, 22 Sumac Cutleaf Staghorn, 22 Dwarf Winged, 23 Fragrant, 23 Sweetspire, 24 Witchadler, Dwarf, 24 Witch Hazel, 25
Bulrush, Dark Green, 26 Hardstem, 26 Softstem, 27 Three-square, 27 Grama, Side-oats, 28 Grass Blue Grama, 28 Bluejoint, 29 Fowl Manna, 29 June, 30 Poverty, 30 Little Bluestem, 31 Prairie Dropseed, 31 Purpletop, 32 Rush Creeping Spike, 32 Soft, 33
Rush Torrey’s, 33 Rye Canada Wild, 34 Virginia Wild, 34 Sea oats Common, 35 Northern, 35 Sedge Bicknell’s, 36 Bristle-leaf, 36 Crested, 37 Fox, 37 Frank’s, 38 Lake, 38 Meadow, 39 Oak, 39 Palm, 40
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Index
Graminoids (con’t)
Forbs
Forbs (con’t)
Pennsylvania, 40 Plains Oval, 41 Prairie Oval, 41 Riverbank Tussock, 42 Tussock, 42 Yellow Fox, 43 Switch Grass, 43 Wood reed, 44 Woolgrass, 44
Boneset, 53 Bottle Gentian, 53 Burreed, Giant, 54 Clover, Purple Prairie, 54 White Prairie, 55 Compass plant, 55 Coneflower Pale Purple, 56 Purple, 56 Yellow, 57
Lobelia Cardinal Flower, 63 Great Blue, 64 Loosestrife, swamp, 64 Milkweed Butterflyweed, 65 Swamp, 65 Monkey Flower, 67 Obedient Plant, 67 Onion, Nodding, 68 Partridge Pea, 68 Phlox, Garden, 69 Pickerel Weed, 69 Prairie Dock, 70 Queen of the Prairie, 70 Rattlesnake Master, 71 Ragwort, Golden, 71 Rose Mallow, Swamp, 72 Sneezeweed ‘Mariachi Salsa’, 72 Solomon’ Seal, 73 Spiderwort ‘Mrs. Loewer’, 73 Star Flower ‘Blue Ice’, 74 Sweet Coneflower ‘Little Henry’, 74 Water Plantain, 75 Water Horehound, Common, 75 White Turtlehead, 76
Forbs Anise Hyssop, 45 Arkansas Blue-star, 46 Arrow Arum, 46 Arrowhead, 47 Aster Aromatic, 47 New England, 48 Shining, 48 Sky-blue, 49 Smooth, 49 Beardtongue Calico, 50 Foxglove, 50 Bee Balm, 51 Bergamot, Wild, 51 Black-eyed Susan, 52 Blazing Star, 52 Dense Swamp White
Coreopsis 57 ‘Crème Brulee’ Lanceleaf Culver’s Root, 58 Eastern Shooting Star, 58 False Indigo, White, 59 False Sunflower, 59 Fern, Christmas, 60 Geranium, Wild, 60 Golden Alexanders, 61 Goldenrod, 61 Autumn Grey’s Riddell’s Hoary Vervain, 62 Iris, Blue Flag, 62 Joe Pye Weed, 63 ‘Little Joe’ ‘Phantom’
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