Georgia's Fall roadside wildflowers

20 years ago

The native wildflowers that bloom in late summer and early fall are a welcome sight on the roadside. One of the most prolific is Goldenrod: Solidago canadensis. It is often mistaken for ragweed, a common allergen. But the pollen on goldenrod is too heavy to become windborne and an irritant; itÂs pollen must be spread by insects:

The flowers turn to fluffy white/grey puffs of tasty seeds for birds in the fall.

Ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia is the true culprit. It has green flowers and goes unnoticed by many. But itÂs lightweight pollen gets picked up by the wind, causing problems for those allergic to it:

One of two beautiful and majestic purple wildflowers, Ironweed, Vernonia altissima towers over most other plants, itÂs strong stem keeping it upright:

Joe pye weed, Eupatorium purpureum is the other majestic purplish wildflower. Flower colors range from pale mauve to deep rose pink. Tolerant of both wet and dry conditions, this flower is a magnet for butterflies. Growing 8-10 feet tall in the wild, it is hard to miss on the roadside. Shorter cultivars are now widely available for the home garden, where it makes a gorgeous backdrop for shorter perennials:

One of the most screaming red flowers I have ever seen is Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis. Often found in wet areas, it grows just as well in average garden soil. It even tolerates a bit of shade, itÂs electric red flowers lighting up an otherwise quiet corner of the garden. Long admired and cultivated, it is the Georgia Native Plant SocietyÂs 2006 Native Plant of the Year:

The many and varied members of the Aster family will be popping into bloom from otherwise non-descript tangled groups of foliage. Ranging from white to pink to purple/blue, they are a cheerful sight:

Peeking out from woodland edges, the shadiest member of the Sunflower family is now coming into bloom. Appropriately named Woodland Sunflower, Helianthus divaricatus blooms atop rough and wiry stems. The leaves are so rough, I think you could use them for sandpaper in a pinch! Look for it where woods give way to sunny edges:

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Comments (12)

girlgroupgirl
20 years ago
Thank-you esh. The photographs are beautiful.

Also lovely in bloom now in my garden is the blue native lobelia, and some hybridzed natives.
Aster "Purple Dome"
Solidago "golden fleece"
Helianthus "Low Down"

GGG
efam
20 years ago
You're right...that is a common misconception about Goldenrod vs. Ragweed. All this time, I thought that was Ragweed...

Thanks for the info!!
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quirkyquercus
20 years ago
I guess I should stop pulling those out then, huh?
Ever since she posted the last topic on Ragweed, I've been removing every one that I see!

Helpful post as usual, El. Keep'em comin.
woody_ga
20 years ago
I really like the look of the Cardinal flower. Does anyone know of a local source for seed. Maybe I've just overlooked it at Pike's or HD, but I don't recall seeing it.
Iris GW
Original Author
20 years ago
Well, I'll have a lot of seeds at the end of the season, so I could be a "seed source" for you! They would be easy to mail.

I don't know how often you'd find this at Pike's or HD, but the smaller nurseries might have it. On the web, it is often found listed by stores that sell aquatic and aquarium supplies. But it grows fine in a garden or a bog.
Iris GW
Original Author
20 years ago
By the way, if you are interested in native perennials, I heartily recommend a relatively new book by Allan Armitage: "Armitage's Native Plants for North American Gardens".

In addition to describing the species plant in great detail (including propagation tips), he also makes note of available cultivars that have been developed.
buford
20 years ago
I bought lobelia cardinalis, which is cardnial flower a few years ago at HD. It is not doing too well this year in the heat/drought. It usually has many amazing red flowers.
buford
20 years ago
Speaking of the roadside...what is all that red stuff I see growing now? Is it something new, or something just changing color early?
Iris GW
Original Author
20 years ago
buford, some of my cardinal flowers have been attacked by small worms that eat out the base of the stem, causing the plant to wilt, fall over and even die. That may be happening to yours.

When you say the red stuff on the side of the road, I guess you mean the leaves are red. Sumac should be turning bright colors very soon now.
buford
20 years ago
Yes that looks like what I saw. It's not poison sumac, is it? I've been finding poison ivy in my yard, and the new leaves are reddish.
Iris GW
Original Author
20 years ago
No, it's just sumac, not poison sumac.

Poison ivy can have spectacular fall color, look for vines growing up trees on roadsides this fall. Still not enough reason for me to grow it in MY yard.
buford
20 years ago
I just saw an piece in the new issue of Southern Living about Sumac (not poisonious). I may have to get one. Spectacular color. (maybe I'll just stop by the road side and dig one up)