As the sunny days of summer get into full swing, an explosion of colorful wildflowers begins blooming across fields, meadows, and roadsides. These summertime blooms put on a spectacular show that lifts our spirits and reminds us of nature’s beauty. From black-eyed susans to purple coneflowers, observing summer wildflowers offers a fun outdoor activity for everyone to enjoy. Their vibrant hues and sweet scents are a treat for our senses.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular wildflowers that flourish each summer. You’ll learn how to identify common species by sight and get tips on the best places to view wildflower displays near you. We’ll also cover optimal times to see these flowers at their peak. Finally, we’ll provide ideas on responsibly photographing or picking bouquets of summer blooms to brighten up your home. With helpful facts, stunning photos, and practical advice, this guide will deepen your appreciation of summer wildflowers and where to find them. So let’s dive in and celebrate the natural wonder of these seasonal blooms!
Ashy sunflower
We see four kinds of sunflowers in our meadows, but ashy sunflower, also called hairy sunflower, is the most common. It is one of the most widespread and characteristic plants of the tallgrass prairie. Sunflowers belong to the aster family. Ashy sunflower plants are grayish green, 3 feet tall and have hairy stems and leaves. The yellow flowers are 2½ – 4 inches across and are on stalks at the top of the plant. Sunflowers follow the sun throughout the day. I guess that’s why we call them sunflowers. In the morning, they face east toward the rising sun, and as the sun moves, the flowerheads follow. The flowers bloom from midsummer to fall. Native Americans used sunflower oil, pressed from the seeds, as a topical anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. It was also used for facial cleansing and as a cooking oil.
Bitterweed
Also called sneezeweed, it belongs in the aster family. Plants grow to 24 inches tall. It is called sneezeweed because dried flowers were used as snuff by early pioneers. The plant and flowers are bitter, hence the name. It is poisonous to livestock, and cattle avoid it. If cattle eat it, the milk will be bitter. A pasture full of bitterweed is a sign of an overgrazed pasture. If honeybees feed on it, the honey will be so bitter it cannot be used. When we had honeybees, we always harvested our honey before the plants started to bloom, which is late summer to early fall. The pasture next to our property was always full of bitterweed (see attached photo). Native Americans used the dried flowers as snuff for head colds and drank tea for intestinal parasites.
Cowbane
Cowbane is in the parsley family and looks like miniature Queen Anne’s lace. It’s called cowbane because it is poisonous to cattle. Another name for it is water hemlock, one of the most toxic plants in North America. It grows to several feet tall and is common around ponds, marshes and wet prairies. In the past, a homeopathic remedy was made from the plant and used to treat epilepsy, meningitis and other ailments affecting the brain. An infusion of cowbane was prepared during Harry Potter’s “Potions” class at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was an ingredient in the recipe for making the Shrinking Solution. Cowbane blooms from mid-to late summer.
Gray-headed coneflower
Also called grayhead prairie coneflower, the plant is common throughout the tallgrass prairie. It belongs in the aster family. This native perennial grows up to 4 feet tall. The flower heads at the top of each stalk have up to 13 drooping, yellow petals surrounding a brown, oval cone. Flowers bloom from late spring to fall. Plants are easily grown from seeds and make an attractive addition to flowerbeds. Native Americans used the root to treat toothache.
Horse nettle
Horse nettle is a low-growing plant of the nightshade family. It is found throughout the tallgrass prairie region. All parts of the plant are poisonous; eating them causes fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The flower is white and has a yellow center. The stems have spines. It’s a pretty flower but a prickly plant. We see them from late spring to fall. Native Americans used the plant as a diuretic and painkiller and as an antispasmodic for treating epilepsy.
Ironweed
Ironweed is a stout perennial forb of the aster family that grows to 4 feet tall and is widely distributed in prairies and throughout the tallgrass region. The plant is common in pastures, is bitter and is not eaten by cattle. The purple flowers occur in dense, rounded clusters at the top of the plant. American Indians used the root to regulate menses and to relieve pain and bleeding. Ironweed blooms from midsummer to fall.
Obedient plant
This plant, a member of the mint family, is common throughout the tallgrass region. It can grow to 4 feet tall and has pale lilac flowers. The blossoms attract butterflies, hummingbirds and various pollinators. Another name for it is false dragonhead because the flowers resemble those of a dragonhead. It’s called an obedient plant because the flowers can be rotated around the stem and will remain where they are placed. The seeds contain an oil that can reduce blood sugar levels. We see the flowers from June to early fall.
Partridge pea
Partridge pea belongs to the bean family and is common in the tallgrass prairie. Plants are 1-3 feet tall and have bright yellow flowers with a red center. The leaves are sensitive and will fold if touched. Upland game birds and songbirds eat the seeds; deer and cattle eat the foliage, which can be mildly poisonous if livestock eat too much. The seeds are a major food item for bobwhite quail. I couldn’t find an explanation for the name Partridge. Perhaps it’s because quail and partridge are both upland game birds.
Pasture thistle
Thistles belong to the aster family. Pasture thistle is found in 33 states and four Canadian provinces. The plant usually has a single stem with a large, showy flower at the top. The purple flowers are 2½ inches across and are attractive to butterflies. The spiny leaves are green on top and white and woolly underneath. Plants grow to 5 feet tall and are common in dry pastures and prairies. We see the flowers from midsummer to fall. The medicinal use of thistle is questionable.
Pink milkwort
Pink milkwort is a slender, foot-tall plant with tiny pink flowers at the top of the stem. It belongs to the milkwort family and is found in wet and dry prairies. The plant was thought to increase milk yields in grazing cattle. Herbalists used to prescribe it to nursing mothers. We see the flowers from late spring to mid-summer.
Trumpet vine
Trumpet vine, or trumpet creeper, is native to North America and China and belongs to the Bignonia family. Most bignonias are tropical species. Becky has a bignonia, called crossvine, that she planted years ago on our front yard split-rail fence. It looks very much like a trumpet vine but has an abundance of flowers in the spring. Trumpet vine flowers are large (2-3½ inch long), showy, 5-lobed, orange-colored blossoms. The vines can grow to 30 feet. The flowers attract hummingbirds and bees. The vine, leaves and flowers are toxic and can cause irritation and rash if handled. Flowers are seen from June to August. A decoction (heated extract) of the flowers is used to treat menstrual disorders, difficulty urinating and rheumatoid pains. The last picture shows a honeybee feeding on a trumpet vine.
Until fall wildflowers.
Take care,
David
