Native Wildflowers of Wisconsin
Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)
Sawtooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)
Canadian Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Photo by Gary Kurtz
Canadian goldenrod is a herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 6 feet tall. Its small, vibrant yellow flowers form large clusters at the top of the stem, with each cluster reaching up to 5 inches long. The flowers bloom from late summer to early fall, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. The stems are erect and rigid, covered with fine hairs towards the top and mostly smooth lower down, ranging from 2 to 6 feet in height. The leaves are alternate on the stem, lanceolate to broad-linear in shape, and range from 2 to 5 inches long and about 1 inch wide. The margins can be sharply serrated or slightly serrated with small teeth. The upper side of the leaves is medium green with small white hairs, while the underside is smooth and light green. Canadian goldenrod thrives in moist soil with medium texture and moderate levels of organic matter, commonly found in damp meadows, along waterways, and in ditches along roadsides and railroads. (SF)
Cream Gentian (Gentiana alba)
Tall Boneset (Eupatorium altissimum)
Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)
Flat-top Aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)
Elm-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia)
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)
Stiff Sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus)
Photo by Gary Kurtz
Stiff sunflower is a native, perennial wildflower in Wisconsin that grows up to six feet tall. The flowers are yellow and measure 2 to 3-1/2 inches across. They have 10 to 25 petals (ray flowers) surrounding a usually purplish-brown center disk. The bracts are short, wide, and flattened, usually with a dull point at the tip and short hairs around the edges. The stems are bristly and turn reddish-brown with age. They are mostly naked and branching. The leaves are two to 10 inches long and 3/4 to 2-1/4 inches wide. They are typically shaped like the tip of a spear, with a very rough texture. The leaves are short-stalked to stalkless and have shallow, widely spaced teeth along the edges. Stiff sunflowers are are commonly found in dry or drying prairies, roadsides, and open woods. They prefer full sun and well-drained soils. (SF)