Sean Bradley, Staff

As the growing season winds down, there are several native flowers that bloom to take advantage of the last warm days as well as to support pollinators. There are various native, early fall flowers found on campus.

The first flower on campus is Black-eyed Susan. Native to eastern and central North America and a member of the aster family, this iconic annual gets its name from its flower head that consists of a black, dome-shaped cone consisting of tiny disc florets surrounded by bright, yellow ray florets. Its stems and alternate, oval-shaped leaves are both covered with bristly hairs. The flower’s showy blossoms have made it a popular landscape choice. Here on campus, it can be found growing in large colonies in the Woodland Garden on the quad near College Hall. Not only is it used aesthetically, but Black-eyed Susans are also used for traditional medicines by Native Americans. One known, traditional, medical use of the plant was to take its dried roots and boil them in water to make a tea that boosts immunity,fights colds and aids digestion. Additionally, Black-eyed Susans attract pollinating insects. The seeds from the flower heads also feed seed-eating songbirds. Lastly, it is the state flower of Maryland.

  

Via Sean Bradley

The next flower here at La Salle is the Blue Mistflower. Like Black-eyed Susan, it is also in the aster family and is native to eastern and central North America. This perennial can be identified by its flat-topped clusters of lavender flower heads, which can have about 40-50 disc florets, as well as its opposite, triangular, toothed leaves. Here on campus,Blue Mistflowers tend to grow in isolated clumps, especially in partly shady areas with moist soil, in the Woodland Garden on the quad. However, with less competition, it can spread quickly and colonize an area. Additionally, it attracts bees and butterflies.

  

via Sean Bradley

Finally the Late Boneset is native to the eastern United States and a member of the aster family. This perennial can grow from 3 to 6 feet tall and consists of clusters of tiny white flower heads with 9-15 disc florets. Unlike the previous two flowers which are found on the quad, Late Boneset is found growing behind the Communication Center. It tends to grow in disturbed areas, where it forms dense colonies and out-competes other plant species. But despite its weedy nature, Late Boneset is a pollinator magnet and attracts a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, wasps, flies, moths, and butterflies.

 

Via Sean Bradley