UGA Cooperative Extension

Union County Extension Office:
Agriculture & Natural Resources

Native Plants Bloooming

WEEK OF JUNE 11, 2010

1.  Pipsissewa, Chimaphila mcaulata, is a small evergreen shrub only 609 inches tall. It is found widely scattered in acid woodlands up to 4,000 feet in elevation. Leaves are toothed with grayish white stripes. The plant has 1-3 pendant flowers. This photograph was taken at an elevation of 2,000 feet.

2. Butterfly-weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is in the milkweed family. The plant has orange flowers and can be found on dry soils in sunny locations up to 2,000 feet in elevation. The leaves of the plant are opposite. It grows up to about 2 feet tall. The plant should not be transplanted because it has an “s” shaped root system that tends to break during the digging process.

3. Indian Pipes, Monotropa uniflora, is in the wintergreen family. The plant is a parasite and has nor chlorophyll. It actually lives off the roots of other plants. Each plant has a stem 5-8 inches tall with a single, nodding white flower. This photograph was taken at an elevation of 2,200 feet.

4. Crimson Bee-balm, Monarda didyma, is a brightly flowered plant in the mint family. It usually occurs in beds that are a few to several feet in diameter.  The plant likes rich, wet, acid soils and will grow up to 6,500 feet in elevation. The plant will grow to a height of 2-3 feet tall. It has bright red blooms that usually occur in June and July.