Autumn Wildflowers

 Autumn Wildflowers

Autumn blooming natives, including Tarragon, Pineapple Sage, Orange Milkweed, and Ironweed 

The Carolinas has some of the most diverse plant communities in North America and there are thousands of wildflower species from the Highlands of Appalachia to the subtropical islands of South Carolina's Low Country. Because of the warm climate of Southeastern North Carolina, there are wildflowers present in every month of the year. Some of the most spectacular displays of color occur during the Autumn. Fields, meadows, and woodland edges become a show of yellow, orange, purple, blue, and white, along with some vivid patterns. For Wilmington NC, the autumn display can be as eyecatching as the early spring when a combination of native woodland wildflowers, trees, and the region's famous azaleas, and camellias are in flower. In this article we will explore some of the most common species or families of wildflowers that provide splashes of color in our area.  Be sure to check out the article about autumn leaves as well.

Timing  

From late July to the end of November, the meadows, roadsides, and marshes come to life with hundreds of species of wildflowers. This is one of the largest finales of the ecological year and coincides with the peak of butterfly species, autumn migration, and the changing foliage. Many plants that flower in the summer and autumn have long blooming seasons and can remain with use from the peak of summer through the first frost.  

Late Summer (Late July to August): Summer wildflowers are still blooming with Rudbeckia, Echinacea Coneflowers, Coreopsis, Meadow Beauties, Salvias, Mints, and Beebalm being common

Early Autumn (September to October): Beginning of transition with some long-lasting summer plants like coneflowers fading out, and autumn plants like thistles, early goldenrod species, and ageratums blooming.   

Mid-Autumn (October to November): Peak wildflower season with many goldenrod, aster, ironweed, sunflower, and other plants in bloom. Salvias, coreopsis, and other summer plants may go through second cycles

Late Autumn (November to December): Later species like Tall Goldenrod, Silverrod, Dogfennel, Groundsel,  Swamp Sunflower, Copper Canyon Daisy, and late salvias (Pineapple Sage) bloom. Also look for dandelions, wood sorrel, and other cool-season wildflowers. 

Highlighted Wildflowers and Plants

Goldenrods Solidago: Goldenrods are a sign that autumn has arrived in our area. From the Boreal Regions of Canada to Florida there are more than 100 species of goldenrods and even a greater number of garden cultivars to choose from. There are goldenrod species that bloom from the final weeks of summer, to after the first frost. In our area the majority of goldenrods are bright yellow or orange, although some species such as Silverrods are whitish. These flowers grow in meadows, prairies, savannas, and roadsides, and are becoming popular in gardens where their low maintenance, long lasting blooms, and pollinator benefits are welcomed. Notable Goldenrod species in our area  include the earlier blooming Early, Stiff, and Rough-leaved Goldenrod, while the Tall Goldenrod is a very late bloomer, lasting into December. Most species do well in gardens but be aware  that Tall Goldenrod is aggressive and could take over perennial beds, the Rough-Leaved,  Stiff Goldenrods or Silverrod are better choices. 

Seaside Goldenrod in a Coastal Prairie

Tall Goldenrod with Spider Wasp from my garden

Asters and Ironweeds: There are hundreds of plants in our area that could be called asters with virtually all of them being native to our area. The name aster is not to be confused with the name of  the plant family, which includes other composites like goldenrods, dandelions, thistles, and coneflowers. True asters are usually low to medium height plants with radial flowers that resemble miniature sunflowers or can recall dandelions or chicory. Our asters come in many colors including purple, violet, blue, pastel, pinkish, or white and each individual plant can vary in color (as well as hybridizing) as well making it hard to precisely tell which plant it is. In general asters bloom from late summer until the first hard frost, although some species such as Stoke's Aster, New England Aster, and many of our Pineland species bloom during the summer as well. Ironweeds are "asters" that grow up to or in excess of 3m or 10ft. Many Ironweeds are also named after regions such New York, and New England Ironweeds being examples. Oldfield Asters are bushy plants that have tiny white flowers and are often seen towards the end of the autumn bloom cycle, often with Tall Goldenrod, Dogfennel, Swamp Sunflower, and Camphorweed. Almost any aster species can be included in a garden and are a boon for bees, butterflies, and seed eating birds like goldfinches or sparrows.  

New England Aster 

Tall Ironweed 

Sneezeweeds Helenium: Sneezeweed is another dandelion like composite that is ubiquitous in our fields, meadows, and coastal areas from summer through late autumn. Once again, there are dozens of species in our area that look alike. Common Sneezeweed is a tall plant that gets 2-3m (6-10ft) tall and has a bushy structure. Bitterweed is a low-growing and abundant wildflower that rarely get taller than 10cm (4") and carpets sand dunes, fallow fields, and urban right of ways with poor, sandy soil. These plants can be mistaken for coreopsis which are more of a summer bloomer but are told by their round centers and numerous pedals. Heleniums are wonderful garden plants and pair well with Green Headed Coneflower, Tickseed or other coreopsis species, Swamp or Narrow-Leaf Sunflower, and Salvias.  

Common Sneezeweed 

Sunflowers Helianthus: Sunflowers are among the most recognizable plant species in the world and is an example of a plant native to North America that is widely planted in the Old World. We are probably familar with the Common Sunflower or Helianthus annuus which is planted in domestic gardens, used for sunflower seed production (including for birdfeed) and are frequently used along Interstates for aesthetics. These sunflowers can get as tall as 3m or 10ft and have one or more heads that can be 30cm (12") in diameter. They are native to most of North America and are usually annuals. We however, have several perennial sunflower species that typically bloom during the autumn months. These include Narrow Leaf, Swamp, and Giant Sunflower among others. These plants can still get 3-4m tall (10-13ft) but have dozens or even hundreds of smaller flowers rather than a few (or just one) large head. These sunflowers also have narrower leaves than the annual species (which are spade shaped) and bloom prolifically. There are dozens of sunflower species to  choose from and almost all of them are low maintenance, easy to grow, and are guaranteed to bring native bees, butterflies, and other good insects to the garden. Seeds from any species of sunflower will attract chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, siskins, buntings, and sparrows.  

Swamp Sunflower

Dogfennel and Boneset: Dogfennel and Boneset are plants in the aster family that are generally nondescript but still add to a field in the summer or autumn. Boneset is more of a early summer plant but can flower in the autumn and has small whitish or grey flowers. Dogfennel is a bushy plant that gets up to 3m or 10ft tall that kind of looks like a tree. This plant resembles ragweed (also in this family) but is not directly responsible for hay fever. It has small whitish or brownish flowers that appear in November or December and is one of our last plants to bloom. Groundsel is a small tree or large bush in the aster family that produces whitish flowers like Dogfennel. All of these plants are not the most attractive (except maybe Boneset) but are wonderful birdfeed plants and will bring goldfinches, buntings, sparrows, doves, and bobwhites through the winter. 

Mistflower or Ageratum: Ageratum is a common asterlike plant that  is seen in wet meadows, stream banks, or in woodland openings from late summer through the end of autumn. There are many species and varieties  in our area although Blue Mistflower is the one we see the most in our landscape and in cultivation in domestic gardens. This plant is just under 1m tall and has blue buttonlike flowers  and pointed leaves. They are very attractive to butterflies and bumblebees, and the seeds are eaten by a number of songbirds such as sparrows. The Elephant Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus) is also a similar looking plant that grows in wet meadows as well. Look for both species of plants with other asters, ironweeds, or Cardinal Flower. 

Other Composites (Aster Family): There are way too many composite or aster-like flowers to name in a single blog article. Between the coneflowers, thistles, coreopsis, and daisy species, there are thousands of yellow, white, blue, or even reddish wildflowers that could fall into this category. Some of the notable native and planted species include Yarrow, Copper Canyon Daisy (a bushy coreopsis like plant that blooms in November or December), the purple to pinkish Joe Pye Weeds, and unique asterlike species such as the Blazing Star. If you see a sunflower like plant that is yellow, purple, gold, or whitish, it is probably related to sunflowers, asters, or goldenrods. 

Copper Canyon Daisy in bloom

Salvias and Sages salvia: A notable non-aster plant that is abundant during the autumn are the salvias. These plants are in the mint family and typically bloom from early summer through autumn although some species like Lyre Leaf Sage are spring bloomers. The Pineapple Sage is a late autumn bloomer that is often one of the lasts bursts of color in my garden (along with Swamp/Narrow Leaf Sunflower, and the Copper Canyon Daisy). This is also the red flowering plant in the photograph of the habitat garden on the sidebar and on a number of articles. This sage attracts hummingbirds and pairs well with the Cardinal Flower which is the same shade of red. The plant forms a bush that gets up to 1m (3ft) tall and will still bloom after a light frost. However, unlike the other salvias featured in this blog, like Azure Sage, Black and Blue Salvia, or Lyre Leaf Sage, don't expect this plant to flower until the end of October. 

Pineapple Sage 

Cardinal Flower: Cardinal Flower is a scarlet red flowering plant that is usually seen near wetlands, flooded meadows, or swamps and flowers from late summer through autumn. Greenfield Lake is one of the best spots to see cardinal flowers. Like the salvia, this plant is pollenated by hummingbirds and long-tongued sphinx moths and is difficult to overlook. You can grow these plants in a rain garden or in a semi-wooded area. 

Cardinal Flower at Greenfield Lake 

Milkweeds: There are at least six milkweed species that are common in our area although the most familiar species is the Butterflyweed and Orange Milkweed that is often used in gardens or planted specifically for Monarch Butterflies. These plants are around a meter tall and have yellow or orange flowers and long pointy leaves. They bloom from Midsummer through frost although they are often eaten in September or October when the eggs from passing Monarchs hatch into caterpillars. Our other milkweeds can bloom from late spring through autumn but have white, purple, or even greenish flowers with broad leaves. 

Butterfly Weed with wasp

Morning Glories Ipomoea: Morning Glories are very abundant in our area and there are dozens of species that  grow in the Carolinas including native and nonnative species. The Common Morning Glory, Whitestar, and Ivy Leaved Morning Glory are nonnative species that often occur along roadsides, railway corridors, vacant lots, or near hedgerows. Our native species are just as abundant in disturbed areas with some species that were once limited to sand dunes growing successfully in sandy areas of Wilmington and other coastal communities. Moonflower is a large whitish Morning Glory that blooms only at night and is a good plant to attract hummingbirds (usually around dusk or dawn), sphinx moths, and certain bats. All species of Morning Glories are summer or autumn bloomers and usually come in white, pink, purple, or occasionally red, with some individual plants offering unique variations. I recommend using morning glories in gardens for butterflies, hummingbirds and as a host plant but stay away from the nonnative species (except the Moonflower because it is well-behaved and an annual) as they will takeover any garden. Tall or Common Morning Glory (and the Ivy Leaved species) will also choke out native hedgerows and woodlands. 

Moonflower 

Blue Morning Glory

Clematis: Several species of clematis bloom during the autumn while some species like the Marsh Clematis flower during the spring and summer as well. Most plants are purple or bluish and are delicate vines that twine along herbaceous plants or across the ground in wetlands or meadows. The most prolific autumn species is the Virgin Bower Clematis virginiana. Our native species is a delicate climbing or creeping species with ivy-like leaves and white or yellowish flowers. It is uncommon and is mostly found in deciduous woodlands or near marshes. The other clematis that flowers in the autumn is the Autumn Clematis Clematis terniflora (also called Virgin Bower). This plant is nonnative and invasive and can engulf fields, hedges, and woodland borders in no time. This vine blooms twice from late summer and autumn creating a "carpet of snow" over shrubs, trees, lawns, and fencerows, and producing thousands of seeds. Autumn Clematis grows year-round in our area and can choke out native plants and defoliate or kill trees if it takes over. Do not plant this species in your garden, instead try to hunt down the native Virgin Bower, or choose an alternative vine like Coral Honeysuckle. The Marsh Clematis Clematis crispa (native), or the Blue Clematis Clematis occidentalis are better choices although they are not necessarily autumn bloomers. 

The invasive Autumn Clematis as it flowers 

Blue Clematis  

Marsh Clematis "Leather Flower"  

This is just a sampling of the autumn wildflowers and plants you can see in Southeastern North Carolina. For wildflower watching I recommend using  a book such  as the Wildflowers of the Carolina by Nora and Rick Bowers and Stan Tekiela. This book is a good intro-level guide of wildflowers in North and South Carolina and is sorted by color and includes pictures and information such as season, flower description, and interesting tidbits.