timberwalkers: Weed or Wildflower?

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

In my college weed science classes, I learned that one definition of a weed is "a plant growing where it's not wanted". In my work as a horticulturist in the ensuing years, I've counseled hundreds of clients on how to get rid of those unwanted plants. However, in my recent studies of native plants I have come to the surprising realization that many of the plants we attempt to banish from our lawns, flower beds and bean fields are in fact indigenous species. I had been working under the mistaken assumption that for a plant to have "weedy" tendencies, it most likely was introduced from another country. Of course, this is true for many of the worst offenders, e.g. kudzu and microstegium. But perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to eradicate every wild plant from our yards, maybe pausing long enough to determine if they perhaps have a role to play for some insect or forest creature.

Which brings me to my first photo. My goal is to post a photo when the plant first begins to bloom. This one, however, has been blooming for weeks without mention here, as I assumed it was the common dandelion (brought here from foreign lands). Turns out it is a native, the Carolina falsedandelion (Pyrrhopappus caolinianus).

As I've noted before, many of the flowers I find are small to miniscule, and such is the nature of our native flora. We simply lack the "charismatic" blossoms of tropical environs. But there is something to be said for looking closely and admiring subtle beauty.

A fast hiker would barely notice the small blossoms of St. Andrew's Cross, Hypericum hypericoides. Worth slowing down for, wouldn't you say?

In my last post I included a skullcap flower, but it turns out we have two species! Is that exciting or what?! Here is Scutellaria integrifolia.

I wouldn't blame you for ridding your landscape of Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana). It has a rather imposing and unkempt look, and it's poisonous if ingested. Later in the summer, however, it forms striking blue-black berries that are enjoyed by birds.

This next one I believe to be White Topped Aster, Aster paternus. [Update: My ID was correct, but the scientific name has been changed to Seriocarpus asteroides]

Rosinweed, on the other hand, is a real eye catcher (Silphium compositum). Not only are the flowers bold and bright, the leaves at the base are quite handsome being large and deeply lobed with dark red to purple veins. It would look terrific in any garden.