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2008 |
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| October | Jerusalem Artichoke |
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| September |
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| August |
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| July |
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| June |
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| May | Foamflower |
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| April | Golden Ragwort |
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| March | Red Maple |
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| February | Winterberry |
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| January | Witchhazel |
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2007 |
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| December |
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| November |
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| October |
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| September | Joe-Pye-Weed |
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| August | Cardinal Flower |
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| July | Black-eyed Susan |
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| June | Sundrops |
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| May | Jamestown (Atamasco) Lily |
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| April | Common Blue Violet |
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| March | Bloodroot |
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| February | Skunk Cabbage |
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| January | Yaupon Holly |
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2006 |
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| December | Wax Myrtle |
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| November |
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| October | Maryland Golden Asters |
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| September | Ironweed |
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| August | Meadow Beauty |
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| July |
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| June | Blue False Indigo |
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| May | Wild Columbine |
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| April | Virginia Bluebells |
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| 2008 | |
 JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE Helianthus tuberosus Photo by Phillip Merritt
October 2008 Wildflower of the Month
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE Helianthus tuberosus Photo by Phillip Merritt
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October 2008Wildflower of the Month
JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE Helianthus tuberosus
This large sunflower is one of the few food plants that grow wild in the great prairies of northern United States and southern Canada, and one of the plants the Native Americans gathered for the nutritious tubers. In 1805 Lewis and Clark reported seeing the squaws collect them from the burrows of gophers or prairie dogs, where they had been hoarded. Imported to England in the early 1600’s, they were usually boiled, peeled, sliced and stewed with butter and a little wine.
Growing to a height of 3 feet, and blooming from August through October, Jerusalem artichoke is a nice addition as drifts in the back of a perennial border or in a wildflower garden. The golden rays of the 3” wide flowers are long and pointed; leaves are egg-shaped, coarsely toothed, very rough and thick, stems are rough and hairy. The plant grows wild in moist thickets and fields in nearly every county in Virginia, every state in the U.S. except for the southwest and eastern and central Canada. It is good weed eradicator, as it makes so dense shade that few other plants can compete. [It spreads to form a large colony quickly and can be considered aggressive.]
Jerusalem artichoke is a suitable crop in any soil and climate where corn will grow. It survives in poor soil and tolerates hot to sub-zero temperatures. The first frost kills the stems and leaves, but tubers withstand freezing for months. It grows best in a loose loam, and in full sun, but can tolerate some shade. Jerusalem artichoke is one of the best of our wild food plants. Easily located in the fall by the flowers, an abundance of tubers will be produced in the fall and winter before the ground freezes. To propagate, plant whole tubers or pieces as early as possible in the spring. The large, crisp tubers, often as large as a medium-sized potato, begin to form in August and terminate slender runners or branches radiating from the base of each plant. Fresh tubers can be substituted for potato in most recipes, or sliced thin and added to salads, or boiled briefly and pickled with wine vinegar. The flavor of the tubers somewhat resembles that of the Globe artichoke, Cynara scolymus, grown in California for its edible flower buds. [If Jerusalem artichoke tubers are soaked in cold water in the refrigerator for a few hours, the tubers become very crisp and can be sliced and served in salads like water chestnuts. If harvested after the first frost, they are said to be nuttier in taste.] Both plants are members of the Aster family, but the globe artichoke is more closely related to thistles than to sunflowers.
Jerusalem artichoke is a folk remedy for diabetes and rheumatism. Native Americans drank leaf and stalk tea or ate flowers to treat rheumatism. The edible tubers may aid in treating diabetes. Like those of beans, the roots are known to induce intestinal gas.
“Jerusalem” is from the Italian girasole, the sunflower which “turns to the sun”; it has nothing to do with the city of Jerusalem. Helen Hamilton |
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FALSE SUNFLOWER Heliopsis helianthoides Photo by Helen Hamilton
September 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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September 2008Wildflower of the Month
FALSE SUNFLOWER Heliopsis helianthoides
“A glorious salute to the sun” is one way of describing these relatives of sunflowers which burst into bloom in July and continue well into autumn. On stout stems, 2-4” flowers with 10-16 bright yellow ray flowers surround orange disk flowers. Unlike sunflowers, both the ray flowers and the disk flowers of false sunflowers will set seed. And the centers are domed as in Black-eyed Susans while the centers of sunflowers are flat.
The flowers are excellent for cutting. Not only are they undemanding but they will bloom the first year from seed with a floriferous output. If the spent flowers are removed, false sunflowers will continue to bloom until frost.
These plants are found in woods and woodland margins, largely in the mountain and Piedmont provinces. Overall, the plant is large and coarse with dark green leaves; varieties are smooth or rough-leaved. Very undemanding, false sunflowers do best in full sun with good, well-drained loam, but will tolerate clayey soils. Butterflies love the blossoms, and the plant is deer and vole resistant. Insect pests are negligible; a strong burst from a hose will dislodge visiting aphids.
Propagation is by seed, and division in spring or early fall. False sunflowers will self-sow and while some gardeners consider them invasive, they are easily removed when young. Cultivars are available in local nurseries, with variations in the color of the flowers and leaves. The leaves were often used in folk remedies, especially for lung congestion or fever reduction.
Helen Hamilton |
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ROSE-MALLOW Hibiscus moscheutos Photo by Phillip Merritt
August 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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August 2008Wildflower of the Month
ROSE-MALLOW Hibiscus moscheutos
The wide showy flowers of Rose-Mallow signal the start of summer, as they bloom profusely in moist areas until September. Each flower is open for only a day, but they follow sequentially over time. The bloom is a larger version of okra, cotton or hollyhocks which are also members of the mallow family. The flowers are usually white or pink, but may be a pale yellow. All have a red or maroon center and a projecting column of stamens. Many cultivars are available at nurseries, with color variations.
“Hibiscus” is the Greek name for mallow, and “moscheutos” means “scented like the musk rose”. Many of the hibiscus are called “marshmallow” because of their family relationship to Althaea officinalis, a plant introduced from Europe from which marshmallows were made (now produced from corn syrup and gelatin).
In folk medicine, a poultice of the leaves and roots was used on breast tumors and for gastrointestinal, lung, and bladder problems, as it produces a locally soothing effect.
Rose-mallow grows in all regions of Virginia, and is found in the coastal plain. The plant prefers full sun, and moist to average soil, but will tolerate clay soil. Propagation by seed is easiest, as division requires a cleaver or machete and a person with a strong back.
Many species of butterflies and hummingbirds seek nectar from hibiscus. Rose-mallow is deer resistant.
Helen Hamilton |
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ELDERBERRY Sambucus canadensis Photo by Helen Hamilton
July 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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July 2008Wildflower of the Month
ELDERBERRY Sambucus canadensis
A large, sprawling shrub growing 5-12 feet tall, elderberry or American elder is a showy ornamental ideal for the garden, producing attractive flowers and berries all season long. It will tolerate a wide range of soils, but prefers moist, humusy soils in full sun to part shade. The yellow compound leaves turn golden in the fall, if planted in full sun. The plant will spread by root suckers to form colonies, so is best massed in naturalized areas or in shrub borders, roadside plantings, or as a screen, particularly in wet or low areas. Elderberry is found in all counties of Virginia, and is native throughout eastern U.S. and south to Mexico.
Large, flat-topped clusters of fragrant, star-shaped white flowers appear in June through July and are followed by clusters of reddish-purple to black, berry-like fruits (drupes) in late summer to fall. Ripe fruits are eaten by 43 species of birds, including pheasant, mourning dove, and wild turkey.
In West Virginia, concentrated fruit syrup is made as a wintertime remedy for colds and flu. Studies in Israel and Germany reinforce the fruit extracts for treatment of colds and flu. The bark, root, leaves and unripe berries are toxic, producing hydrocyanic acid, which causes cyanide poisoning and severe diarrhea. The fruits are edible when cooked, and may be used to make preserves, jellies, pies and wine. The flowers, not toxic, can be eaten in pancakes and fritters.
Helen Hamilton |
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BUTTERFLY WEED Asclepias tuberosa Photo by Helen Hamilton
June 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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June 2008Wildflower of the Month
BUTTERFLY WEED Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed is a favorite food source for both adult and larva forms of the Monarch butterfly, which is reason enough for adding this species to your garden! Definitely not a weed, this 2-foot tall, sturdy plant bears wide, flat-topped clusters of vibrant orange all summer. Other butterflies such as tiger, spicebush, eastern black and pipevine swallowtails and the giant sulphur also love the nectar. Bees use the plant for a food source and are important pollinators.
Beware of planting the popular “butterfly bush” – Buddleja [Buddleia] sp. While this shrub attracts many butterflies, it is non-native and on the noxious weed list in several states. Buddleja has a tendency to spread and can become invasive, out competing native plants. Further, as with many nectar-producing plants, the adult butterflies must find other sources of food for their eggs and growing larva.
Cut off the flower heads before setting seed and a second bloom will result. In autumn, the seedpods break open to release ranks of seeds, each with a powder-puff of silky threads which the wind carries to new locations.
Because of their long taproots, butterfly weed should only be moved when a young plant. Once established, you can forget most care because this plant is extremely drought-resistant. It will do well in ordinary well-drained garden soil, poor or rich, in sun or shade, forming vigorous clumps.
Helen Hamilton |
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FOAMFLOWER Tiarella cordifolia Photo by Helen Hamilton
May 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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May 2008Wildflower of the Month
FOAMFLOWER Tiarella cordifolia
A very pretty flower, with a light, airy character, foamflower blooms across Virginia from April through July, in habitat simulating its native moist woods. It can tolerate sun to shade, but needs moisture and rich, loamy soil. Using a few rocks at the site helps to maintain cool roots. If the plant appreciates its site, there will soon be a colony of foamflowers thanks to wandering rhizomes. A perennial with maple-like leaves, in the spring the flowers bloom in a spike up to six inches long on a leafless stalk up to 14 inches high.
Foamflower makes a great groundcover for the shade garden. The white flower spikes are pyramidal and float above the leaves, which are mostly clustered at the base of the plant. When planted in mass it resembles a sea of foam. This semi-evergreen perennial has great fall interest when its leaves have turned to burgundy hues. Plant it in moist shade with ferns and colorful counterparts such as cardinal flower, geranium, phlox, fire pink, celandine poppy and crested iris.
In the 1850s, country people used its leaves for healing purposes, placing them on scalds and burns. The Shakers prepared the herb for sale as a diuretic and tonic. Native Americans prepared a tea for use as a mouthwash and treatment of eye discomforts.
The genus name is Latin for “little tiara”, referring to the shape of the fruit and the species name refers to the heart-shaped leaf base.
In Virginia, foamflower is well-represented in the mountain provinces and adjacent Piedmont. It has been documented only from James City Co. in the coastal plain, where it grows along creek banks in deep ravines.
Helen Hamilton |
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GOLDEN RAGWORT Senecio aureus Photo by Phillip Merritt
April 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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April 2008Wildflower of the Month
GOLDEN RAGWORT Senecio aureus
Golden ragwort is a welcome sign of spring, covering swampy areas with bright yellow from mid-March through early summer. The buds are purple, and open to display yellow disc and ray flowers, unusual for the genus Asteraceae, where the rays are white. Growing naturally in bogs, wet woods, floodplains and meadows in eastern North America, golden ragwort thrives in acid, rich soil, zones 3 to 9. It will also grow in drier soils. The plant can be aggressive, and will grow under trees where nothing else thrives.
A smooth perennial growing from one to three feet tall, the long-stalked leaves are deeply cut. When the blossoms are gone, the heart-shaped basal leaves spread to form a nice groundcover, persisting over most of the winter in the south. Butterflies love the nectar. Propagation is by seed and division.
The genus name “Senecio” for “old man” refers to the hoariness of many species or the white hairs around the flower buds, and the species name for its golden flower. “Ragwort” means a plant with ragged leaves, and “wort” is an Old “English word for “plant”.
Also known as “squaw-weed”, the plant was used in Aboriginal medicine to control bleeding, and for various forms of uterine trouble.
Helen Hamilton |
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RED MAPLE (female) Acer rubrum Photo by Helen Hamilton
March 2008 Wildflower of the Month
RED MAPLE (male) Acer rubrum Photo by Helen Hamilton
February 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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March 2008Wildflower of the Month
RED MAPLE Acer rubrum
Truly a spectacular sight in winter – long whips of red berries against a white background, or any place where a spot of bright red is welcome. This holly loses its leaves in late fall and until eaten by songbirds, the sharp red
One of the first signs of spring is the red haze over the bare limbs of our local maple trees. This would be the male and female flowers of red maple. Typical of many species, the male flowers appear first as a yellowish pink, closely followed by the darker pink blossoms of the female trees. When fertilized, the familiar maple “keys” form and drop from the twigs like miniature helicopters.
Red maple is a medium-sized tree with smooth gray young trunk bark and broken darker older bark. The highly variable leaves have 3 to 5 lobes and are whitened underneath. It is aptly named, as its flowers, petioles, twigs and seeds are all red to varying degrees. However, this tree is most well known for its brilliant deep scarlet foliage in autumn. Many cultivars are available with varying shades of red and leaf shapes.
One of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern North America, red maple ranges from Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to Florida, and southwest to Texas. Usually occurring in low, wet sites, this tree is adaptable to a very wide range of site conditions. It can be found growing in swamps, on poor dry soils, and most anywhere in between.
Red maple will tolerate some air pollution and is easy to transplant. With striking fall foliage and pleasing form, it is often used as a shade tree for landscapes. Maple syrup and lumber production occur on a small scale from red maple.
This is the State Tree of Rhode Island.
Helen Hamilton |
 WINTERBERRY Ilex verticillata Photo by Phillip Merritt
February 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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February 2008Wildflower of the Month
WINTERBERRY Ilex verticillata
Truly a spectacular sight in winter – long whips of red berries against a white background, or any place where a spot of bright red is welcome. This holly loses its leaves in late fall and until eaten by songbirds, the sharp red berries are a standout in the winter landscape. Winterberry likes soil somewhat wet and grows to 15 feet tall. It does well in light shade to full sun. Tiny white flowers appear in June, hidden among rich green leaves with coarse teeth.
Helen Hamilton |
 WITCHHAZEL Hamamelis virginiana Photo by Helen Hamilton
January 2008 Wildflower of the Month
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January 2008Wildflower of the Month
WITCHHAZEL Hamamelis virginiana
A crooked, multi-trunked, low-branching shrub or small tree, 15-20 feet tall, witchhazel is grown mostly for its winter flowers. Common witchhazel blooms after the leaves fall, usually in deep winter. Depending upon the location, blooming occurs November through February. The strap-like yellow blossoms are often the only color in a snowy landscape. Vernal witchhazel, Hamamelis vernalis, produces coral flowers in February.
Witchhazel leaves are aromatic, and in the fall show yellow, orange or purple colors. This plant likes rich, acid soil and moist to dry drainage. Seeds are eaten by ruffed grouse and squirrels. Witchhazel is pollinated by winter moths that fly when temperatures are above freezing. Leaf litter protects the moths during cold nights.
A widely used medicinal herb, the North American Indians used witchhazel bark to heal wounds, treat tumors and for eye problems. The bark is astringent and hemostatic; a homeopathic remedy is made from fresh bark and used to treat nosebleeds, hemorrhoids and varicose veins. The bottled witchhazel is a steam distillate, used as an external application to bruises, sore muscles, and inflammations.
Helen Hamilton |
| 2007 | |
 VIRGINIA CREEPER Parthenocissus quinquefolia Photo by Helen Hamilton
December 2007 Wildflower of the Month
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December 2007Wildflower of the Month
VIRGINIA CREEPER Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper is often confused with poison ivy which has three leaflets. The species name quinquefolia refers to its five palmately compound leaflets. A vigorous climber, the stems’ aerial rootlets have disks that fasten onto wood or masonry. Trimming is necessary to keep it away from windows and roofs.
A member of the grape (Vitaceae) family, this native perennial woody vine is found in mature forests in nearly every county of Virginia.
The flowers, which appear in late spring, are tiny and inconspicuous. But all spring and summer the vine is covered with bright green leaves. In late summer the leaves turn brilliantly red, and the blue-black “berries” (drupes) are fed upon by a wide variety of songbirds during fall and winter.
Virginia creeper also functions as an important groundcover, especially in post oak woods. It grows well in any soil, including slightly salty, moist to dry, and prefers part shade.
Helen Hamilton |
 GROUNDSEL TREE Baccharis halimifolia Photo by Helen Hamilton
November 2007 Wildflower of the Month
More photos of
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November 2007Wildflower of the Month
GROUNDSEL TREE Baccharis halimifolia
The groundsel tree, also known as sea-myrtle or silverling, has silky white tufts which appear on the female shrub in late summer. Earlier, the male shrub was covered with small golden flowers which disappear as the female tree produces the cottony fruit. The long white tufts help the seeds disperse by wind.
A small upright shrub, growing to 15 feet, groundsel tree has numerous branches forming a rounded crown. Tolerant of drought, heat, and salt spray, this is a plant of coastal areas, along with marsh elder (Iva frutescens) to form the “saltbush zone” on the margin of marshes. The shrub will grow in poor soils and wet sites. In Virginia, groundsel tree is found only in the eastern counties.
Leaves are alternate, wedge-shaped and semi-evergreen, with a few coarse teeth. Twigs are green and angled. While the leaves do not change color in the fall, the striking silvery appearance of the female plant persists into winter, as the colors goldenrods and other fall flowers fade.
Groundsel tree is called oil-willow because in Texas oil has been found by drilling in the areas where these bushes are abundant. Early in South Carolina, the plant was used as a palliative in consumption and cough, and known as “consumption-weed.”
Helen Hamilton |
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SWITCHGRASS/PANIC-GRASS Panicum spp., 'Dallas Blue' Photo by Helen Hamilton
October 2007 Wildflower of the Month
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October 2007Wildflower of the Month
SWITCHGRASS/PANIC-GRASS Panicum spp.
These native clump-forming grasses are in full bloom in October, with showy loose flower clusters. Like all grasses, they are deer resistant. Switchgrass was one of the dominant species of the tallgrass prairie that once blanketed the middle of the continent. As such, this North American native is extremely easy to grow and is well adapted to the vagaries of our climate, tolerating both wet and dry sites. Switchgrass will withstand poor drainage and flooding, so it makes a great erosion control, and can tolerate salt spray.
Growing 3 to 7 feet tall in narrow, erect clumps, these sturdy plants can screen undesirable views. They also add rich, long-lasting fall color and winter interest to perennial borders. This grass is simply magnificent in the fall after a touch of frost, and the seedheads make great additions to dried bouquets.
Many cultivars can be found in local nurseries. The shortest and most colorful is the 3-foot tall ‘Shenandoah’ with reddish leaves and stems; other red cultivars have originated in Germany, with foliage from orange-red to deep burgundy.
‘Heavy Metal” grows in a straight stunning column of metallic blue foliage and yellow fall color, maintaining its form all winter. The seed heads of ‘Dallas Blue’ are a feathery, powder blue that is stunning against pine woodlands or a white fence.
As a perennial, when switchgrasses are planted in the fall, they can make root growth over the winter, and form nice growth the first year. Subsequent years will see an increase in the height and width of the plant. In March when the new growth appears, the tan stems and leaves can be cut off, and left as mulch around the plant.
Helen Hamilton |
 JOE-PYE-WEED Eupatoriadelphus (Eupatorium) spp. Photo by Jan Newton
September 2007 Wildflower of the Month
Eupatoriadelphus (Eupatorium) spp.
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September 2007Wildflower of the Month
JOE-PYE-WEED Eupatoriadelphus (Eupatorium) spp.
These tall, majestic plants are real butterfly magnets. Blooming in late summer until frost, they range from 3 to 10 feet tall with dense heads of fluffy pinkish flowers that are usually covered with butterflies, bees, beetles and wasps, all feeding and pollinating. When in flower, Joe-Pye-weeds can be the star of the garden, but a little rough for a formal garden. These plants can grow very large and are great in a wild garden, or placed to the rear or where a strong accent is needed.
Joe-Pye-weeds are meadow plants; most require full sun, acid, rich soil and moist drainage, although some can tolerate shade, less moisture, coastal conditions and clay soil. Clump-forming, they will not form extensive drifts.
The genus Eupatorium was name for Eupator, king of Parthia, 120-63 B.C. who was supposed to have discovered the medicinal virtues of these plants. “Joe-Pye Weed” comes from a tale about a North American Indian called Joe Pye, who walked the streets of Boston, selling a cure for typhus, using an elixir of this plant to induce profuse sweating, thus breaking the fever (although this story is in some doubt among authors).
Several species are called Joe-Pye-weed. Leaves of the Joe-Pye-weeds are lance-shaped to ovate (E. dubium), toothed, and generally in whorls of 3-6. Generally, the flower cluster of Joe-Pye-weeds is rounded on top.
Helen Hamilton |
 CARDINAL FLOWER Lobelia cardinalis Photo by Helen Hamilton
August 2007 Wildflower of the Month
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August 2007Wildflower of the Month
CARDINAL FLOWER Lobelia cardinalis
One of the most spectacular and beloved of all our wildflower species, cardinal flower was named for its resemblance to the intense red worn by cardinals of the Catholic Church. Each flower is about one and a half inches long, with the lower lip of each flower divided into three spreading lobes while the upper lip is two-lobed. The blossom is unusual among our native wildflowers, producing a true red color. The flowers are sources of nectar to butterflies and attract hummingbirds which are the principal pollinators.
Cardinal flower needs moist rich soil. While it will tolerate average garden soil and moderate moisture, it loves to have its roots bathed in the wet, and will grow taller with optimum conditions. However, only one blooming stalk will develop per plant, so they should be clustered together. In rich soil with lots of water, as many as 50 flowers will bloom on each stalk. Planted with a continual source of water, such as a little stream in the garden, and plenty of mulched organic material, cardinal flower will bloom from midsummer to frost.
Although neat gardeners like to remove the spent stalks, always leave at least one to set seed and self-sow. Then in the fall or early spring, transplant the seedlings to new sites.
A relative, the blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), is an even bigger favorite of the hummingbirds; it grows where conditions are a little drier. Red cardinal flower can be planted at a pond’s edge, while blue lobelia thrives a little distance from the edge of a pond.
The brilliant red flower was one of the first plants sent back to France by the French colonists. It has been reported that “The root has been chiefly employed in decoction by the Cherokee Indians in syphilis and against worms.” But be careful – the plant can be deadly! It contains at least fourteen alkaloids similar to those found in nicotine, and can cause vomiting, sweating, pain, and death.
Helen Hamilton |
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BLACK-EYED SUSAN Rudbeckia hirta L. Photo by Phillip Merritt
July 2007 Wildflower of the Month
More photos of Rudbeckia hirta L.
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July 2007Wildflower of the Month
BLACK-EYED SUSAN Rudbeckia hirta L.
Would you like to see flocks of goldfinches in your garden? Growing Black-eyed Susans is a sure guarantee of their presence. One author says they are as American as hot dogs, root beer, and the dog days of summer. Goldfinches love the brown-black centers and will feed on the seed heads long after the yellow rays have fallen. This biennial or short-lived perennial sometimes blooms the first year and drops so many seeds that you never know where it will come up next year. A close relative, Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), behaves better for those who want a more orderly garden.
Black-eyed Susan usually grows 2-3 feet tall. It is a tough, drought-resistant species that revels in full sun and seems to bloom forever. It works well with ornamental grasses either in the formal border or the wild garden. This workhorse species ranges throughout the eastern U.S.
The genus name honors Olaf Rudbeck (1660-1740), and his son, both professors of botany at Upsala University in Sweden. Species names often describe characteristics of the plant: hirta means “hairy”, referring to the stems and leaves, fulgida indicates the shining and brightly colored flowers. Many cultivars are available; ‘Goldstrum’, 1999 Perennial Plant of the Year, has large golden-yellow flower heads 3-5 inches across, blooming on 2-foot high stems.
Helen Hamilton |
 SUNDROPS Oenothera fruticosa Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) Photo by Helen Hamilton
June 2007 Wildflower of the Month
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June 2007Wildflower of the Month
SUNDROPS Oenothera fruticosa Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae)
This bright little early summer plant blooms in the morning and closes in the evening. It is one of those “pass-alongs”—perennials that are easy for everyone to grow and so get passed from one garden to another. The 2-inch four-petaled flowers are lemon yellow, start to appear in early June and will continue blooming until August; they look marvelous planted with orange butterfly weed and dark-blue spiderwort.
The scientific name of the family is derived from onager, the Greek word for wild ass, beasts who threw stones with their hind legs when agitated. In ancient times, a stone-throwing catapult became known as an onager. The biennial sundrop flings its seeds far and wide. The genus name Oenothera comes from a Greek word meaning wine, since extracts from the roots of some members of this family were combined with wines.
Sundrops prefer moist, well-drained soil in full to part sun. Colonies of the basal rosettes will eventually form colonies.
Helen Hamilton |
 JAMESTOWN (ATAMASCO) LILY Zephyranthes atamasca Photo by Helen Hamilton
May 2007 Wildflower of the Month 2007 VNPS Wildflower of the Year
More photos of Zephyranthes atamasca
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May 2007Wildflower of the Month
JAMESTOWN (ATAMASCO) LILY Zephyranthes atamasca
Found in most of the counties in Virginia, and widely distributed across eastern and central U.S., this bright little plant often grows in lawns that are not mowed too often nor too high. While Virginia Tech lists this violet as “primarily a weed of turfgrass and landscapes”, their deep purple-blue color is a welcome sign of spring. Jamestown lilies were among the first of many beautiful wildflowers to be noticed by the Jamestown colonists. A writer in 1629 reports: “The Indians in Virginia do call it Attamusco, some among us do call it Lilionarcissus Virginianus, because of the likeness of the flower to a Lilly (sic), and the leaves and root to a Daffodil.” The Indian name refers to the location of the bulb under grass-like leaves. The genus name comes from the Greek, zephyros, meaning west wind, a reference to their origin in the Western Hemisphere from which they were first introduced to European gardeners in the 1800's.
Many species of Zephyranthes live in dry regions where they emerge from dormancy and quickly burst into bloom after infrequent heavy rainstorms. Hence, other common names are “rain lily”, “fairy lily”, and “zephyr lily”. With a flower form like a trumpet, an alternative common name is “Easter lily”, although it is not closely related to the Easter lily of florist shops. A member of the amaryllis family, the Jamestown lily is related to the familiar daffodils, amaryllis, and snowdrops.
The bulb may have been used medically by some southern Native American tribes for toothache but all parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten. It is also called “stagger lily” because horses eating the leaves or bulbs succumb to a cerebrospinal disease.
The fragrant flowers are white with a yellowish center, growing and may reach a length of 12-18 inches long. They grow well in shade to part shade to full sun, preferring a low, damp location. Rafts of these lovely white lilies announce the arrival of spring in moist open woodlands, meadows and along country roads throughout the southeastern U.S. from Virginia to Mississippi and the northern half of Florida. Another of its habitats is on low ground adjacent to brackish marshes, such as at Jamestown Island.
Jamestown lily is hardy in zones 7-10. To propagate, divide the small bulblets from the mother bulb. The seeds can be planted as soon as they ripen, and will germinate quickly, but it will be 2-3 years before seedling plants produce their first flowers. Jamestown lilies look best in masses. They can be grown right in the lawn where they will rise and flower in early spring before you have to begin mowing the grass, or in a woodland garden.
Helen Hamilton |
 COMMON BLUE VIOLET Viola sororia Photo by Helen Hamilton
April 2007 Wildflower of the Month
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