Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor)
Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor)
Field thistle, often confused with its aggressive relatives, plays a crucial role as a native perennial in the ecology of eastern and central North America. Reaching heights of three to five feet, it bears soft lavender flowerheads—two inches across, perched atop bristled green cups that nourish late-season pollinators.
Its long, lobed leaves, spined at the tips and stretching up to a foot, catch sunlight and offer shelter to a host of creatures. Despite its formidable appearance, field thistle is a generous host: bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds flock to its nectar-rich blooms, while goldfinches feast on its seeds and line their nests with its silky down. Among its many visitors, the painted lady butterfly lays eggs on field thistle, its caterpillars feeding on its leaves.
Thriving in dry, open spaces—fields, roadsides, and prairie remnants—field thistle plays a quiet but essential role in restoration. It reseeds readily, anchoring disturbed soils and stitching together fragmented habitats. In native gardens, it offers both beauty and ecological function, though it’s often overlooked due to confusion with aggressive non-native thistles like Cirsium vulgare. Unlike those invaders, field thistle blends into the community without overwhelming it.
Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor)
Field thistle typically grows 3 to 7 feet tall, with upright, hairy stems that may branch near the top. Its flower heads are 1½ to 2 inches across, composed entirely of tubular disc florets in shades of pink to lavender, rarely white. Each head is surrounded by fish-scale-like bracts tipped with bent spines. Leaves are deeply lobed and spiny, up to 9 inches long and 3 inches wide, with a distinctive white underside due to dense hairs. The stems are also hairy but not spiny. This biennial thrives in open habitats—moist to dry prairies, pastures, savannas, roadsides, and forest edges—especially in areas with reduced competition and full sun (SF)
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)
Cup plant is a powerhouse of prairie biodiversity. Its water-holding leaf cups offer a rare resource for birds and insects during dry spells, while its abundant nectar and pollen support a wide array of native bees, butterflies, and beetles. The plant’s sturdy stems and late-season blooms provide critical structure and forage in restored prairies, wetlands, and riparian buffers. As a deep-rooted perennial, it also contributes to soil stabilization and carbon sequestration, making it a valuable ally in ecological restoration and climate resilience.
Cup plant is a native of eastern North America, including Wisconsin. It can grow up to nine feet tall, bearing numerous three to four-inch, yellow flowers. Each flower head has 20 to 30 yellow rays and darker yellow disks. Leaves often more than ten inches long are joined at the stem to form a small cup. Cup plant thrives in moist, sunny habitats like floodplain woods and prairie edges, in rich, loamy soils. (SF)
Meadow Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis)
Meadow Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis)
Meadow blazing star typically reaches 2 to 5 feet in height, with slender, erect stems that may be green to reddish and lightly hairy. Its feathery, thistle-like flower heads are 1 to 1.3 inches wide, composed of 30 to 100 pinkish-purple disc florets per head, arranged in a loose raceme along the upper stem. Leaves are lance-shaped, alternate, and vary from 4 to 8 inches long and up to 1.5 inches wide, with sparse white hairs and a smooth texture. The basal leaves are larger and more oblanceolate, while upper leaves are narrower and sessile. Meadow blazing star prefers full sun and well-drained soils—especially sandy, loamy, or rocky substrates—and is most at home in prairies, meadows, and streambanks across the Midwest.
Purple Giant Hyssop
Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia)
Purple giant hyssop grows up to 6 feet tall, forming upright clumps with square stems that may be purplish and lightly hairy. Its flower spikes range from 1 to 6 inches long, bearing numerous ¼-inch tubular flowers in pale purple to lavender hues. Each flower has a two-lobed upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip, with four stamens that extend beyond the corolla. Leaves are opposite, stalked, and sharply pointed—up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide—with coarsely toothed margins and short hairs on the petioles. This mint-family perennial prefers moist, sandy or loamy soils in dappled shade or woodland edges, thriving in thickets, upland woods, and disturbed floodplain margins. It’s sensitive to competition and benefits from occasional habitat disturbance.
Wild Cucumber
Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)
In late summer, when the woods and roadsides of Wisconsin begin to soften into autumn colors, a curious spectacle often appears: trees and shrubs draped in garlands of pale, starry flowers. Look closer, and you’ll find the source is not the woody plant itself, but a vigorous vine with leaves and blooms that resemble those of a cultivated cucumber. This is Echinocystis lobata, commonly known as wild cucumber or balsam-apple—a native annual in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) that slowly weaves its way into the landscape until it bursts into view.
The genus name Echinocystis comes from the Greek echinos (hedgehog) and cystis (bladder), a nod to the plant’s spiny, inflated fruit. Though often overlooked in its early stages, wild cucumber grows rapidly from seed each spring, germinating after the last frost. Its cotyledons resemble those of garden cucumber, and its fleshy, grooved stems soon give rise to large, palmate leaves with three to five pointed lobes. These leaves alternate along the vine, each borne on a long petiole, and from their axils emerge curling, three-pronged tendrils that grasp onto nearby vegetation with remarkable tenacity. In ideal conditions, the vines can stretch up to 30 feet, climbing trees, fences, and anything else in reach.
By mid-summer, wild cucumber begins to flower. Its pale yellowish-white blooms are fragrant and abundant, arranged in long racemes that rise from the leaf axils. The plant is monoecious, producing separate male and female flowers on the same vine. Male flowers cluster in showy spikes, each with six slender petals that give a star-like appearance. Female flowers are fewer, nestled among the males, and distinguished by a small, spiny ovary beneath their petals. Pollinated by insects, these ovaries quickly swell into the plant’s signature fruit: a puffy, green pod covered in soft spines, superficially resembling a small cucumber.
Despite its name, wild cucumber’s fruit is not edible. In fact, it can cause skin irritation in some people. As the season ends, the pods dry and turn brown, eventually bursting open at the base to eject their seeds with surprising force. Each capsule contains four large, flat seeds—two per chamber—propelled outward by hydrostatic pressure. For those wishing to collect seed, bagging the pods before they mature is essential, lest the seeds vanish into the underbrush.
Wild cucumber thrives in moist, sunny habitats—streambanks, swamps, thickets, and roadside ditches—and is found throughout Wisconsin. Though rarely planted intentionally, it may appear in home landscapes, especially near rural edges. Its ornamental potential is undeniable: the vines can elegantly cover arbors, fences, and walls, creating a lush, ephemeral curtain of foliage and flowers. It grows best in rich, moist soil and full sun, and can be started from seed either indoors or directly in the garden once the soil warms. However, seed availability is limited, so gardeners often collect their own in fall.
Yet caution is advised. Its aggressive growth can overwhelm small trees and shrubs, earning it a reputation as a weed in cultivated settings. Fortunately, it is easily controlled by pulling or hoeing young plants before they flower. Because it self-seeds readily, early intervention is key to preventing unwanted spread. In the shifting light of late summer, wild cucumber offers a fleeting spectacle—an exuberant native vine that climbs, blooms, and bursts with life, often admired for its ornamental charm and just as often managed for its too vigorous growth. (SF)
Thinleaf Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)
Thinleaf Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)
A native perennial of eastern and central North America, including Wisconsin, thinleaf sunflower typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall, forming loose colonies through rhizomes. Its bright yellow flower heads measure 2 to 3 inches across, each with 8 to 12 ray florets surrounding a central brownish disc. Flowers bloom in loose clusters from late summer into early fall, attracting a wide range of pollinators. Leaves are lanceolate to ovate, thin-textured, and rough to the touch. They range from 3 to 6 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide. Upper leaves are arranged oppositely, while lower leaves may be alternate. Stems are slender, often smooth or slightly hairy, and branch gracefully near the top. Thinleaf sunflower thrives in partial shade to dappled sun, favoring moist, well-drained soils in woodland edges, thickets, and shaded slopes. It is a valuable species for pollinator support and naturalistic plantings in restoration and garden settings.
Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale): A Keystone of Late-Season Biodiversity
Despite its name, common sneezeweed won’t make you sneeze. The misnomer stems from historical use—its dried leaves were once used as snuff, prompting sneezing to supposedly rid the body of evil spirits. In reality, this vibrant native wildflower is a boon to Wisconsin’s late-season pollinators, not a trigger for allergies.
Thriving in moist, sunny habitats such as wet meadows and streambanks, Helenium autumnale grows three to five feet tall and bursts into bloom from late summer into fall. Each plant can produce up to 100 flower heads, each one to two inches wide, with 10 to 15 fan-shaped petals tipped in three distinct lobes. These surround a protruding, ball-like center of yellow-green disk florets. Its lance-shaped, stalkless leaves—up to two inches wide and six inches long—add to its robust presence in riparian and prairie-edge ecosystems.
The ecological value of sneezeweed is huge. Its nectar-rich flowers attract a diverse array of native pollinators, especially long-tongued bees like bumblebees and leaf-cutting bees. Syrphid flies and native wasps also frequent its blooms, contributing to pollination while offering pest control in surrounding habitats. Additionally, the plant serves as a larval host for the rigid sunflower borer moth (Papaipema rigida). In wet meadow communities, sneezeweed complements the needs of butterflies such as Duke’s Skipper (Euphyes dukesi), which rely on nearby native sedges for reproduction but benefit from the late-season nectar sneezeweed provides. (SF)
Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
Harebell
Sometimes mistaken for creeping bellflower, harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) is a native perennial wildflower found in Wisconsin and across much of North America. It thrives in a variety of sunlit environments, including rocky outcroppings along rivers, meadows, and prairies. Despite its fragile appearance, harebell is well-adapted to dry, sandy, and gravelly soils, making it a common sight in rugged landscapes.
It grows up to 20 inches tall, with thin, wiry stems that support its nodding, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is less than an inch long and consists of five fused petals, forming a soft, pale bloom that sways gently in the breeze. The basal leaves are round, measuring between half an inch to one inch wide, while the upper leaves are grass-like, reaching about three inches in length and only 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide. These leaves alternate along the stem, contributing to the plant’s airy and delicate structure.
In garden settings, harebell is an excellent choice for rock gardens, borders, and naturalized landscapes. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soils. Once established, it requires minimal maintenance, as it is resistant to deer and drought. Its long blooming period, from late spring to early autumn, ensures a continuous display of delicate flowers throughout the growing season.
Harebell’s historical and cultural significance adds to its charm. In folklore, it has been associated with fairies and enchantment, earning names such as "witch’s thimble" and "bluebell of Scotland." Despite its whimsical reputation, it remains a tough and adaptable plant, capable of thriving in challenging conditions. (LS)
Purplestem Angelica (Angelica atropururea)
Purplestem Angelica
Purple-stemmed Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) is a perennial native to eastern and central North America—including Wisconsin. It can grow up to ten feet tall. Its flowers are small, only about a quarter inch across, but they bloom in large umbrella-like clusters called umbels that span 8 to 10 inches wide. The flowers are typically white to greenish-white and bloom from late spring into summer. The leaves are compound and can reach up to 24 inches in both length and width. Each leaflet grows to about 4.5 inches long and 2.5 inches wide, with a toothed, oval shape. The stems are hollow, smooth, and purple. They are typically 1 to 2 inches thick. Purple-stemmed Angelica prefers moist to wet soils that are rich and well-drained, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is most commonly found in marshes, wet meadows, and along streambanks, especially where the soil has some lime content.
Ecologically, purple angelica—as a member of the carrot family—plays a valuable role in supporting biodiversity. Like many other Apiaceae species, it features umbels of flowers that are especially attractive to a wide range of pollinators, including bees and flies. While specific larval host associations for purple angelica remain under-documented, related species in the family are known to support caterpillars of butterflies and moths. By offering nectar, pollen, and shelter, purple angelica contributes to the ecological richness of the wetland environments where it thrives.
In the garden, purple-stemmed Angelica can be a striking ornamental, especially in rain gardens or near water features. It offers height, interesting structure, and purple stems that contrast beautifully with its blooms. It’s generally deer-resistant and supports pollinators. While it may only live a few years as a biennial or short-lived perennial, it can reseed naturally if conditions are right. (LS)
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)
Cow parsnip
Cow parsnip, or Heracleum maximum, is a wildflower native to North America, including Wisconsin. It can reach heights of 4 to 10 feet. It bears large, flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, with each cluster—or umbel—spanning 4 to 12 inches across. Each tiny flower is about a quarter inch wide, with larger ones often framing the edges of the cluster in a lacy display. Its leaves are massive and divided into three parts, with the largest basal leaves stretching up to 18 inches long and wide; their surfaces are softly hairy and toothed at the edges. The stem is thick, hollow, ridged, and covered in fine white hairs, measuring up to 2 inches in diameter. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soils, commonly growing along streambanks, forest edges, and damp meadows. While striking, cow parsnip contains sap that can irritate the skin when exposed to sunlight—making it beautiful, but best admired at a respectful distance. Beyond its striking appearance, cow parsnip plays a key ecological role by supporting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles with its abundant nectar and pollen. (LS)
Sessile-leaf Bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia)
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Sessile-leaf bellwort is a delicate woodland wildflower that grows between 4 to 12 inches tall. It produces drooping, pale yellow flowers about an inch long, with six slightly curved petals. The plant's leaves are up to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, attaching directly to the stem without stalks, while the main stem forks near the top, giving it a distinctive zig-zag growth pattern. The lower stem is sheathed, and as it matures, the upper portion takes on a reddish-purple hue. This species thrives in moist, rich, acidic soils with good drainage and prefers shade to partial shade. It naturally spreads through underground stolons, making it well suited to shaded forests and thickets where it forms small colonies in undisturbed areas. (LS)
American Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)
American fly honeysuckle is a flowering, deciduous shrub that typically reaches a height of 24 to 72 inches. Its light yellow, tubular flowers bloom in late spring, appearing in pairs and measuring about ½ to ¾ inch long. The leaves are simple, light green, and range from 1½ to 3½ inches in length, growing in opposite pairs along the branches. The shrub’s stems are loosely branched, with light brown to brownish-gray bark, while its twigs can vary from green to purplish. This honeysuckle thrives in moist, well-drained soils but can tolerate rocky or gravelly conditions. It prefers partial shade to full sun, making it adaptable to different environments. It is commonly found in shady woodlands, stream banks, forest edges, and rich understory areas. (LS)
Seneca Snakeroot (Polygala senega)
Seneca snakeroot, or Polygala senega, is a perennial herb that grows between 10 to 18 inches tall. Its flowers are arranged in spike-like racemes at the tip of the stem, with each flower measuring about 1/6 inch long and featuring white to greenish-white petals with a fringed crest. The leaves range from 1 to 3 inches long and 1/3 to 1 1/3 inch wide, appearing linear to lance-elliptic and widest at or below the middle, with a hairless or minutely hairy surface. This plant thrives in full or partial sun and prefers dry to mesic conditions with sandy or rocky soil. Seneca snakeroot is commonly found in prairies, stream banks, and woodland openings, particularly in areas with well-drained soils.
Senega snakeroot has traditionally been used as a cure for snakebite by native Americans. It was used for earaches, toothaches, sore throats, croup and colds. Its main use today is as an expectorant in cough syrups, teas and lozenges, and as a gargle for sore throats. It has also been used in larger doses as an emetic and cathartic. To propagate from seed requires cold stratification for 60 days before planting, and shows a 60 - 80 percent germination rate. It can also be propagated from cuttings. (LS)
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