Plants

The blue false indigo can be recognized by its blue-purple f lowers that form a dense and upright cluster on its stem. Despite being a member of the pea family (Fabaceae), you wouldn’t want it on your dinner plate - it is toxic! Due to its toxic nature, some Native American tribes brewed indigo tea to induce vomiting. The plant was also used as an anti-inflammatory and a treatment for toothaches. The f lowers have been used as a dye substitute for a similar flower, old world indigos, hence one of its common names, the false indigo. Native to much of the central and eastern United States, this species is susceptible to attack by the Baptisia weevil which can have negative effects on its germination. This species is a bumblebee favorite, one of the first to bloom in the spring, and has a shrub-like appearance. It forms seed pods once flowers have matured. Those seeds are simple to collect, but I could take up to five years for blue false indigo to establish and bloom in a native garden.

Columbines are unmistakable with showy red, drooping, bellshaped flowers. These flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, insects, and other animals that have long tongues, suitable for reaching the flower’s nectar. Native American men are reported to have used its crushed seeds to attract romantic attention - a real life love potion. The plant’s genus “Aquilegia” comes from “aquila” which means eagle. This name refers to the flower’s spurred petals which some people believe resembles the talons of an eagle.  Despite being a relatively shortlived plant, columbines can self-seed to increase or maintain its populations. While its flowers are safe to eat, its stems and roots contain toxins. At the Poplar Bluff District office, this plant has been used by monarch caterpillars as sites where metamorphosis occurs.

One of five coneflowers in Missouri, this species can be identified by its yellow pollen and drooping pink/purple f lowers. Its seeds are a favorite of goldfinches whose breeding season corresponds to when the plant’s seeds are most abundant.  Coneflowers are used to treat the common cold although scientists and doctors debate the effectiveness of this treatment. Due to its medicinal value, the species has been subject to overharvesting by collectors. This overcollection has led to state laws restricting the collecting of plants on Missouri’s highways. Coneflowers are a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), the world’s largest plant family with more than 30,000 species. Glade coneflower is not nearly as aggressive as its relative, the Purple Coneflower.

Golden Alexanders are a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae). Members of this family can be identified by their small flowers that form a flat or curved surface. Other members of this family include celery, parsley, and carrot. Golden Alexanders have a wide habitat range, stretching from Montana in the west to Novia Scotia and the Atlantic coast in the east. It can survive in a variety of climates but does best in wetter areas. Golden Alexanders serve as a host plant for the Ozark swallowtail, an endemic butterfly that is only found in Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky. The bright yellow flowers also serve as an attractor for other insects including various bees and wasps. 

Butterfly weed is a species of milkweed, named for the butterflies attracted to its bright orange flowers. Milkweeds get their name due to the latex like substance it emits when damaged. The milky sap contains cardenolides, a toxin that protects the monarch butterfly from predators. Milkweeds, including the butterfly weed, serve as host plants for monarch butterflies. This makes the plant extremely important and necessary for the development from larvae into the beautiful butterflies we all know and love. Native Americans chewed on the plant’s tough roots to treat pleurisy, bronchitis, and other pulmonary ailments. This explains the plant’s other common name, the pleurisy root.  While the plant itself is not edible, it is only toxic to humans in very large doses. Butterfly weed can be seen blooming along Missouri roadsides and open fields. Its large taproot allows it to easily tolerate dry conditions. In 2011, butterfly weed plants in the garden were decimated by an overabundance of monarch caterpillars. Some were observed being carried off by a predator, the red wasp.

The Missouri primrose can be identified by its large and showy bright yellow f lowers. The flowers can grow to be 4 inches wide. The flowers will last for only one day, usually opening in the late afternoon and only staying open until the next morning. That is why the flower is also known as the Missouri evening primrose. Because it is only open at night, the primrose is pollinated by species that are active in the evening. This includes many species of moths and night-feeding bees. Missouri primrose are found on the limestone glades and bluffs of the Ozarks, but they are also a popular plant for gardening and roadside beautification efforts. Also an early bloomer, paired with Rose Verbena makes a stunning sight.

Despite its potentially confusing name, this species is a mallow and not a poppy. Its name is a reference to the fact that its f lowers look like poppies from a distance. A member of the mallow family (Malvaceae), this species counts hibiscus, okra, and cotton among its diverse cousins. Like many members of the family, the huge, bulbous roots of purple poppy mallow are both edible and known to have a pleasant taste. Many Native Americans and early European settlers made the plant an important part of their diet. They were also used as a pain reliever. They are principally pollinated by bees and are eaten by many creatures, including woodchucks, rabbits, and deer. Although extremely beautiful, this species can become aggressive if left unchecked. It stays relatively low to the ground, creeping along and filling voids in the garden but has also popped up in the nearby turf!

Seeing this plant, you might think it would be more at home in the arid deserts of the Southwest instead of the hills of the Ozarks, but it has made its home here- just like us! Despite its resemblance to the yuccas, it is a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae). Each plant can have up to 40 heads, each with 100 flowers - that’s a lot of flowers! The flowers attract many pollinators, particularly predatory wasps, which serve an important ecological niche and help to reduce the number of nuisance insects in an area. This species was used by Native Americans for a variety of medical purposes, leading early European settlers to falsely believe that it was a treatment for rattlesnake bites - hence the common name. 

Rose Verbena is a low-lying plant that has hairy stems and leaves. The small flowers tend to be either pink or purple. It is thought that the type of soil plays a large role in the color of flower that an individual plant produces. This species thrives in rock gardens and pots, making it a favorite of gardeners throughout Missouri. The species’ nectar is an important food source for bees, butterflies, and skippers. Its seeds are consumed by birds and mice, which also play an important role in helping to spread the seeds. Rose Verbena can be propagated from the stem and will develop roots at the leaf nodes. This species is very beautiful and blooms all season. Like all low-lying plants, it can disappear from the garden if other plants are allowed to overtop and shade it out.