Virginia Pepperweed

Is that the same weed you asked about on Name That Plant, four?

And I can't think of anything starting to flower right now, other than some Asian mustards that are beginning to bolt. Everything else is either continuing, or winding down.

Or do oak trees count? Geez - the pollen here is crazy, and my yard is covered in catkins...

>"you asked about on Name That Plant" ___ Yes. I will post it there.

>"can't think of anything starting to flower right now, other than some Asian mustards" ___ Sure, show them. And the month is young.

Linaria canadensis Blue toadflax

Note: Unrelated to flax, notwithstanding the derivation of the genus name.

Chaya opened.

This amaryllis has been outside with its roots in water since 2/2022. A month or so ago I potted it and this week... voila! And it has "babies"? at the base.

This and a red one were Christmas presents in 2021 and I'm ashamed I treated them so badly - except for keeping them wet. Now I'll pot the red one.

Maybe it's an Easter cactus 😃

And blue toadflax has always been a sign to me that spring is here.

Hi Carol, it's definitely closer to Easter than Christmas Lol... I actually had an Easter Cactus several years ago, the blooms are quite different. I have been looking to buy another one but haven't seen them lately...I might check Publix this year.

I went nursery hopping trying to find the Florida Cracker Rose and I came home with such a pretty vine. It is a Queens Wreath.

If it is happy here I will have purple spring flowers in my future. I have a nice spot with morning sun I just need to figure out how to support it. I don’t want a standard trellis. I have seen examples of it growing almost as a standard in Fl on youtube. The nursery has a mature one in front of a fence and it appears sort of free standing and strong so I am encouraged.

As far as blooming in my yard goes.

Has anyone tried eating these Fruits? My sister sent me a tiktok video months ago of a woman eating a tropical fruit in Miami that looked like a corn on the cob. I told her that I remembered seeing it somewhere once. Turns out it is in my own driveway. Who knew? LOL

Pretty plant and very drought tolerant. But is it really edible?

Fruits are edible. Eaten ripe; mouth irritation if unripe.

Zinnia

Climbing Dayflower

Firebush (dwarf)

Pineapple flowers

Lantana camara

Florida Hedgenettle Stachys Floridana

Joan, here's my Queen's Wreath this mid-January 2023. I planted it 15 or more years ago from a purchase the size of yours...probably moved it to a larger pot first.

It's in lightly shaded sun. It seems to bloom significantly only when the weather has been cool. I water it only if we're having a long dry spell. Its surrounded by asiatic jasmine. I can't recall having fertilized it.

I love it... the downside is keeping it trimmed on top. ..those sandpaper leaves require a long-sleeved blouse and gloves!

Good luck with yours and let us see it as it grows!

Joan - 2 views of the Queen's Wreath today, March 21, 2023, to show the trunk + branches. I didn't train this woody vine at all, except probably to support it in the beginning with those short metal H frames (from yard political, etc, signs) to keep it off the ground. Hope this helps you in growing yours.

That it so pretty! Exactly what I was hoping for, a mulit-trunk free standing shrub. It is great to hear that it does not need a lot of water. Mine might have to stay in the pot for a little while I get large stump ground up and some fill brought it.

How does it look when not in bloom? I like the shape of the trunks so I probably will like it in all states.

Irma, in your observarion, how does it rate with butterflies?

Joan, (thanks!). When not in bloom is looks like this week's photos. When rain is scarce, older leaves at the base of a branch turn yellow but cling tightly so I may pull or cut them off (not necessary, but I go for "pretty"). If that continues with no rain coming, I may soak it by laying the hose at its drip line. Since it's a vine, topmost branches extend vine-like - that's when I trim. I cut the ends off the many little branches to keep it a manageable size. I wonder how it would look if I just left it alone... probably eventually lean over?

Four, I've never seen any insect near my Queen's Wreath. Maybe because it blooms best in January before the butterflies are in my yard. Also, it is not in view of my windows, so if a butterfly did find the odd bloom that resulted from rain or a cooler week, I would probably not happen to see it.

Rhexia mariana Meadowbeauty

The Virginia Pepperweeds at full development

Thanks Irma, I noticed the last photo was mostly green after I looked a little closer. I think I will love this plant.

I have a first of the season flower from yesterday.

Also, since we always share the pretty pictures I thought I would share a nasty picture that shows brand new first of the season Pickerel Weed. Last summer I picked up some pond plants at a big box store and then I researched how to plant them so that the Koi fish would not eat them (they ate everything I just plopped in there previously). So I ordered some fabric bags and some aquatic planting media and found some large rocks to hold them under water. I had them all ready to go into the pond when my Mom had a heart attack. She is doing well now but those plants have been sitting in a bucket of water since July. I keep topping it off because I see baby water lilies in there but I thought the Pickerel was dead for sure. Now that it has poked its head out, I think I should get my waders out and get it placed in the pond somewhere.

That pickerel picture was so nasty LOL that I will also share another from today.

These re-open every single morning 365 days per year. Amazing!

Four, is the Virginia Pepperweed photo from your yard? Asking because FL Wildflower Fedration says, "The plant is a larval host for the Checkered white (Pontia protodice) (pictured above) and Great Southern white (Ascia monuste) butterflies." I'm wondering if you see these bfs.

I know this weed from childhood here but I haven't noticed it recently. If I find it in my yard, I'll encourage. Thanks for the nudge!

Irma yes, in my yard, for white butterflies. Many plants this year, no whites this year. Few plants in past years. On any occasion on which I have seen a white, less than once a year, it has made one quick excursion through the yard.

The whites that I could identify were Great Southern and Cabbage.

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Well today, three days later, a Great Southern White passed through, pausing to taste a flower. The event was special because the flower was of Oaklieaf Fleabane; never before have I seen any butterfly pay attention to those.

Here are a few blooms from March.

Summer Romance

Boscobel

I just found a volunteer out in the middle of my yard, all by itself. It has the prettiest purple flower and I have no idea what it is called. It must be pretty common to just pop up here like this. Then again, there was a fence near this area once upon a time. Can anyone ID this?