Category Archives: Know Your Natives

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

Know Your Natives – Butterfly Pea

Posted on August 10, 2017 by

Butterfly Pea (Clitoria mariana) of the Pea/Bean (Fabaceae) family, the only species of the genus occurring in Arkansas, has large pea-shaped flowers. In the U.S., it occurs from New Mexico to Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, east to New York and … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Showy Partridge Pea

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

Showy partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata)* of the Pea/Bean (Fabacaceae) family is an annual forb with asymmetrical flowers. It occurs in the U.S. from New Mexico and Kansas to South Dakota and Minnesota to Maine, thence south and east … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Tall bellflower

Posted on July 10, 2017 by

Tall bellflower (Campanula americana*) of the Bellflower (Campanulaceae) family is an annual or biennial forb. In the U.S., it occurs from Louisiana and Oklahoma north to South Dakota and Minnesota, east to New York, thence southward into states that border … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Whorled Milkweed

Posted on July 2, 2017 by

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) in the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family, formerly in the Milkweed (Asclepiadaceae) family, is a perennial herbaceous forb. The genus name relates to the Greek god of medicine (Asklepios, alternatively spelled Asclepius). The specific epithet is from a … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Self-Heal

Posted on June 14, 2017 by

Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata*) of the Mint (Lamiaceae) family is a perennial herb found in generally moist soils.  It occurs as a native species throughout the lower 48 states and Alaska.  In Arkansas, it occurs throughout the state.  The … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – New Jersey Tea

Posted on May 31, 2017 by

New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) of the Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) Family is a small, deciduous, thorn-free shrub.  The genus name originates from a Greek word for “spiny plant” or a Latin word for “thistle”.  The specific epithet relates to its occurrence … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Western Daisy

Posted on May 12, 2017 by

Western Daisy (Astranthium ciliatum) (formerly Astranthium integrifolium*), of the Aster (Asteraceae) family, is an annual species with daisy-like flower heads. In the U.S., it is found in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, southern Nebraska and southwestern Missouri with greatest concentrations in eastern … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Hairy Phacelia

Posted on May 1, 2017 by

Hairy phacelia (Phacelia hirsuta) of the Borage (Boraginaceae) family [formerly of the Waterleaf (Hydrophyllaceae) family] is a beautiful annual forb with blue flowers.  In the U.S., it is found naturally in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, as well … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Wild Geranium

Posted on April 18, 2017 by

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) of the Geranium (Geraniaceae) family is an herbaceous woodland perennial that blooms in early spring.  In the U.S., this species is found from Louisiana and Oklahoma to Florida and north to North Dakota and Maine.  In … Continue reading →

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Know Your Natives – Fire Pink

Posted on March 31, 2017 by

Fire pink (Silene virginica) of the Pink or Carnation (Caryophyllaceae) family is an herbaceous woodland perennial with bright red flowers.  In the U.S., fire pink is found from Florida to New York and westward to northeast Texas, Kansas and Minnesota.  … Continue reading →

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