Category Archives: Know Your Natives

A series of articles profiling the many native plants found in Arkansas

Know Your Natives – Hispid Buttercup

Posted on March 22, 2023 by ANPS Webmaster

Hispid Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus var. hispidus*) of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family is an upland perennial forb with mostly 3-part basal and stem leaves and has soft spreading (bristly) pubescence on stems and petioles. The genus name is from the Latin … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Downy Phlox

Posted on February 21, 2023 by ANPS Webmaster

Downy Phlox (Phlox pilosa*) of the Phlox (Polemoniaceae) family is a semi-evergreen perennial forb with showy flowers of variable color and shape. The genus, Phlox, is derived from the Greek word meaning flame – a reference to flower color of … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Ebony Spleenwort

Posted on January 22, 2023 by ANPS Webmaster

Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) of the Spleenwort Fern (Aspleniaceae) family is a small to medium size, once-cut, evergreen fern. The genus name is from Greek for “without a spleen” which may indicate that plants of this genus were historically thought … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Rough Leaf Dogwood

Posted on December 21, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Rough Leaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii) of the Dogwood (Cornaceae) family is a small, deciduous tree with opposite leaves, open clusters of small white flowers, and striking, decorative white fruit. The genus name derives from the Latin for “horn” in apparent … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Downy Lobelia

Posted on November 11, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula) of the Bellflower (Campanulaceae) family is a pubescent, herbaceous perennial bearing showy racemes of blue to lavender flowers. The genus name recognizes Matthias de l’Obel, a Flemish 16th-century physician and botanist who is credited with being the first … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Butterfly Weed

Posted on October 18, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) of the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family has clear sap (not milky) and showy orange (reddish orange to uncommonly yellow) flowers. The genus name honors the Greek god of medicine, Asklepios. The specific epithet is Latin for “swollen,” … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Trumpet Vine

Posted on September 17, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) of the Trumpet Creeper (Bignoniaceae) family is a non-twining, tendril-free, woody vine with spectacular, large, orange to red, trumpet-shaped flowers. The genus name is Greek for “curved,” a reference to the curved stamens. … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Stalked Wild Petunia

Posted on August 12, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Stalked Wild Petunia (Ruellia pedunculata ssp. pedunculata*) of the Acanthus (Acanthaceae) family has flowers with large, showy, trumpet-shaped, purplish corollas, similar to those of the unrelated Garden Petunia**. The genus name honors Jean de la Ruelle (1474-1537), a French herbalist. … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Purple Coneflower

Posted on July 14, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) of the Sunflower or Composite (Asteraceae) family is an erect herbaceous perennial with large, showy, terminal flowerheads. The genus name is derived from a Greek word for “hedgehog” in reference to the spiny bracts that share … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Pale Purple Coneflower

Posted on June 7, 2022 by ANPS Webmaster

Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) of the Aster or Composite (Asteraceae) family is a heavily pubescent herbaceous perennial with long lanceolate leaves and large, spectacular flowerheads. The genus name is derived from a Greek word for “hedgehog” in reference to … Continue reading →

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