Host plant of Silvery Checkerspot

Today’s Favorite Flower

September 2, 2026

Volunteers of native Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) are growing in the gardens of my yard. That brings me great pleasure as I walk about, here on the mountain. Many cool flowers attracting many pollinators. Among many things that I love about this plant is that deer are not really interested in eating it, though we know that they’ll eat anything if they’re hungry.

Wingstem is a host plant of Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis).

Pure charm in a brilliant shade of yellow.

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Aromatic Aster Time

I was thinking that it was about bloom time for the Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) and sure enough this afternoon I came upon a few flowers. Just the beginning.

It’s an herbaceous perennial, native to parts of the eastern and central United States, grows 2 to 4 feet tall. It’s the host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). Many pollinators seek out the nectar, bees, butterflies and skippers.

Actually the flowers don’t have a scent but rubbing the leaves will give the aroma of balsam.

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