The prairies are alive with an incredible diversity of plants, each with its own story to tell. From the towering golden blooms of bur marigold to the delicate, braided flowers of nodding ladies’ tresses, fall wildflowers offer a vibrant display of color and purpose. These plants aren’t just beautiful; they play vital roles in their ecosystems, attracting pollinators, feeding wildlife, and even serving as remedies in traditional medicine. Let’s take a closer look at some of these fall wildflowers and uncover the wonders they bring to our natural world.
Bur Marigold
This is a 3-foot-tall plant found in wet prairies and prairie marshes. Some may reach 5 feet. It’s also called swamp marigold and belongs in the sunflower family. We see them around the pond and in wet ditches. Flowers are golden yellow.
Nodding ladies’ tresses
Nodding ladies’ tresses is a small white prairie orchid. The flowers have the appearance of braided hair, hence the name. Plants are usually less than 8 inches tall. The flowers are fragrant, with a lilac- or vanilla-like scent. Native Americans used a tea from the flowers as a diuretic for urinary problems.
Goldenrod
We have several kinds of goldenrod, and, as the name suggests, all are bright yellow. The one pictured (tall goldenrod) is common throughout the tallgrass region. The flowers are a magnet for insects. Can you spot the skipper butterfly and six wasps? A few of the wasps are hard to see. A pleasant-tasting leaf tea is used to treat a variety of conditions, including stomach cramps, coughs, colds, fevers and diarrhea. It is also a diuretic and a mild astringent.
Aster
As with goldenrod, we have several varieties of aster. The two that are pictured are willow aster (purple) and heath aster (white). Both are found in upland prairies. The purple one (willow aster) is seen in moist places. We see it around the pond. We find the white one (heath aster) in the drier meadows. Native Americans used a root tea for diarrhea and fevers.
Partridge pea
Partridge pea belongs in 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.
Read more Nature Notes.
