Category: Herbaceous perennial

Another Early Spring Surprise

This wasn’t found until I was back to my cabin, checking on the photographs. Buds on the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).

Virginia Bluebells, a herbaceous perennial plant, generally blooms at the beginning of April.

A variety of bees, butterflies, skippers and hummingbird moths help to pollinate the flowers.

A spring ephemeral. By mid-summer the above ground portions of the plant, the stems and leaves, will fade and disappear. Leaving the tap root to prepare for the next spring.

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Appalachian Bellflower

Appalachian Bellflower (Campanula divaricate). An herbaceous perennial that can grow to 28 inches tall.

This Bellflower is found mainly in the Appalachian Mountains, and is native to the eastern US. Bloomtime is July, August and September. Those flowers, of just 1/3 inch, can be found in shades of white, pink and blue.

Totally enchanting.

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White Wood Asters

Like many things early in April, White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) is emerging from the soil to greet spring.

I’m thrilled to see it in many places in the woods up here. An herbaceous perennial found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada but most often found in the Appalachian Mountains.

One of the first asters to bloom in autumn densely covering the plant with small, white, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers that fade to dull purply red. These charming blossoms top dark purple stems.

The nectar of the White Wood Aster is attractive to butterflies and the American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) seems particularly drawn to the flowers. A butterfly, much to my delight, that seems to enjoy being a model for my photos.

American Germander

Native to all 48 of our contiguous states and a good bit of Canada too. An herbaceous perennial in the mint family American Germander (Teucrium canadense).

Opposite leaves, squarish stem. Typical of the mint family.

You’ll find Bees of the long-tongued sort, Hummingbird Moths, and Hummingbirds them selves, as pollinators. And if you’re looking for a word to impress someone, the flowers are said to be zygomorphic. Meaning there’s only one line along which the flower can be divided into equal halves – creating a mirror image.

American Germander being in the mint family, I would think that the plant’s leaves are edible. But first off, the leaves are bitter. That certainly helps if you have problems with critters browsing in your gardens. And as is so often the case with plants that surround us, it presents a danger. American Germander has high levels of neoclerodane diterpenoid, which causes liver damage. Look but don’t eat!