American Potato Bean (Apios americana)

American Potato Bean (Apios americana)

American potato bean is a perennial wildflower that is native to Wisconsin, where it blooms from July to September. It is a vine that can grow eight to ten feet long in here in this state, even longer in warmer climates. The flowers are composed of dense racemes of pink, purple, or red brown flowers. The flowers are about an inch long, and the racemes grow three to five inches long. The leaves are pinnate with five to seven leaflets, each three to six inches long. The alternate leaves can be either smooth or hairy, lanceolate in shape, and smooth along the edges. It prefers soil that is sandy loam, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. It can be found in moist woods, along river banks, moist meadows, and wet ravines. 

American potato bean, plays a valuable ecological role in native landscapes. As a legume, it enriches soil through nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and supporting surrounding plant communities. Its fragrant, pea-like flowers attract native pollinators, particularly leafcutting bees, and may also draw in flies. The plant serves as a larval host for the silver-spotted skipper, contributing to butterfly life cycles. Its foliage is browsed by deer, offering forage that’s elevated above parasite-prone ground vegetation. With its perennial, rhizomatous growth, it helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion, especially in riparian zones and disturbed habitats.

Cultivating it involves propagation by tubers, which resemble beads on a string, though diploid varieties can be grown from seed with patience. It thrives in consistently moist, slightly acidic to neutral soil and benefits from mulching to retain moisture. In cooler climates, full sun is ideal, while partial shade suits hotter zones. The long vines require trellising to prevent smothering nearby plants. Tubers are best harvested after frost, when their flavor improves, and can be stored in moist soil for spring planting. Rich in protein, iron, and calcium, the tubers are edible when cooked and can be roasted, mashed, or turned into flour. While all parts are technically edible, some individuals may experience digestive discomfort unless thoroughly cooked. The plant grows slowly, often taking two years to produce harvestable tubers, and its scattered rhizomes make digging a challenge. (July) 

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa)

 

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia cespitosa)

Nestled in Wisconsin’s sunlit glades and rocky slopes, the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia cespitosa) is a native, perennial found in dry habitats. Rising just six to twelve inches tall and spreading in dense, turf-like clumps up to eighteen inches wide, this cespitose species forms mats of resilient pads that store water and perform photosynthesis—adaptations finely tuned to endure heat, drought, and cold winters down to USDA Zone 4.

Most specimens are well-armed: sharp, pale spines and reddish-brown glochids emerge from areoles like miniature warnings, though a few may appear deceptively soft. These glochids—barbed hairs so fine they evade sight—can irritate skin and linger long after contact, offering potent defense.

In June and July, O. cespitosa bursts into waxy yellow blooms with vivid red or orange centers—a molten eye glowing above sandy soils. Each flower lives just one day, yet draws a parade of pollinators: bumble bees, carpenter bees, butterflies, and skippers. It also hosts specialist moths such as the Arge Tiger and Julia’s Dicymolomia, adding motion and memory to the cactus’s brief floral display.

Thriving in full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic sandy or rocky soils, this cactus is adapted to glades, barrens, and prairie edges where few others dare root. Its reddish-brown fruits—known as tunas—are club-shaped and edible, offering moisture and nutrition to wildlife. While slow to expand, O. cespitosa reproduces clonally: detached pads settle into place and root quietly, a gesture of persistence rather than conquest.

Though long considered a variant of O. humifusa, O. cespitosa stands distinct—its floral centers and growth habit marking it as a tenacious resident of the Midwest’s overlooked margins. (JULY)

Twin-flower (Linnaea borealis)

Twin-flower (Linnaea borealis) grows to a height of three to six inches. The ½-inch long, pink bell flowers grow in pairs. Each flower has five fused petals. The leaves are round, ½ inch wide, and toothless. They can be found in conifer woodlands in the northern half of Wisconsin.

This delicate, evergreen groundcover is a hallmark of boreal and sub-boreal forests across the Northern Hemisphere. Its paired, nodding flowers—borne on slender Y-shaped stalks—emit a sweet fragrance and typically bloom for about a week in June or July. The plant’s name, borealis, reflects its northern distribution, while the genus Linnaea honors Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, who regarded this plant with particular affection.

Linnaea borealis spreads through trailing runners that weave loosely across the forest floor, often mingling with mosses and leaf litter beneath conifers like spruce, fir, and pine. The evergreen leaves, arranged in opposite pairs along the stem, echo the plant’s theme of symmetry. Though unassuming when not flowering, it becomes a quiet spectacle in bloom, a fleeting adornment of the woodland understory.

Ecologically, Twin-flower favors cool, moist, acidic soils and often appears in mature, undisturbed forests. Its presence can signal relatively intact woodland ecosystems. While it’s not a dominant nectar source, its blossoms do attract small pollinators, and its creeping growth helps stabilize soil and enhance the structure of the understory. (July)

Common Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)

 

Common agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala) is a perennial, Wisconsin native wildflower that can grow between 1 to 5 feet in height. It features small, bright yellow flowers arranged in elongating spike-like racemes at the top of the stem and arising from upper leaf axils. Each flower is about ¼ to ⅓ inch across, with five oval yellow petals and five to ten yellow stamens. The flowers are accompanied by green sepals that are pointed at the tip and slightly shorter than the petals. The leaves are compound, with 3 to 9 major leaflets and 1 to 4 pairs of smaller leaflets in between. The end leaflet is the largest, ranging from 1 to 4 inches long and ½ to 2 inches wide, becoming smaller towards the base of the compound leaf. The leaflets are elliptic to somewhat diamond-shaped, coarsely toothed with blunt to pointed teeth. The upper surface of the leaflets is hairless or nearly so, while the lower surface is densely covered in short, glandular hairs with sparse, long, non-glandular hairs mostly along the veins. 

It thrives in various habitats, including open woods, woodland edges, thickets, fields, and swamps. It blooms from mid to late summer, typically July through September, and its flowers are mildly fragrant, attracting a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and beetles. After flowering, the plant produces small, burr-like fruits with hooked bristles that cling to fur and clothing, aiding in seed dispersal.

(July)

     

Shining Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes lucida)

Photo by Jeff Nesta

Spiranthes lucida,  commonly known as shining lady’s tresses, is a perennial orchid native to northeastern North America, including Wisconsin. It typically grows up to 15 inches tall and produces white flowers in a spiral arrangement along a single spike, each featuring a yellow lip. The basal leaves are lance-oblong and remain during flowering.

The species blooms from late May to early July and fruits by mid-July. It inhabits saturated, calcareous soils in places such as streambanks, fens, river terraces, and old quarries. Its range extends from Nova Scotia to northeastern Wisconsin, and south to Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Pollination is primarily carried out by short-tongued bees, particularly from the Halictidae family. In some regions, including Wisconsin, it is listed as a species of special concern due to habitat sensitivity.  (LS)

Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

The Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) is a perennial wildflower native to eastern North America, including Wisconsin. It can reach a height of up to 3 feet. It bears a distinctive flower characterized by a domed, reddish-brown central disk surrounded by slender, drooping petals that range in color from pale pink to purple. The leaves of this plant are lanceolate, hairy, and rough on both sides, with most of them clustering at the lower third of the stem. This resilient wildflower thrives in a variety of habitats, including dry to mesic prairies, open woodlands, hillsides, glades, and roadsides. It prefers well-drained soils, full sun, and can tolerate a pH range of 4.5 to 7.5, making it well-suited for a range of environmental conditions.

Ecologically, the Pale Purple Coneflower plays a vital role in supporting pollinators. Bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and skippers are frequent visitors to its blooms. The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly, in particular, relies on its foliage as a larval food source. As summer wanes, the plant produces tan-colored achenes that serve as a winter food source for birds, provided the seed heads are left intact.

In restoration and garden settings, Echinacea pallida is both practical and beautiful. It can be propagated from seed, though flowering may take two to three years. Seeds benefit from cold stratification or fall sowing to ensure successful germination. Once established, the plant requires minimal maintenance and will self-seed freely if allowed. Dividing clumps every few years helps manage overcrowding and encourages healthy growth. Its early bloom period, typically June through July, makes it an excellent companion to later-blooming species such as Echinacea purpurea.

Beyond its ecological value, the Pale Purple Coneflower carries a rich cultural and medicinal legacy. Indigenous peoples used its roots to treat insect bites, snake bites, and infections. Today, herbalists continue to value its immune-boosting properties, especially those derived from its roots.

(July) 

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

I

     

Common Milkweed is a native, perennial wildflower. It can grow up to five feet tall. It bears cream-colored, pink-tinged flowers, 1/2 inch wide, that form round clusters up to two inches wide. Each flower has five downward-pointing petals and a five-part pointed crown. It has large, toothless leaves that are four to six inches long and bleed a milky sap when torn. Within its range it can be found in a broad array of habitats from croplands to pastures, roadsides, ditches and old fields. It is surprisingly rare in prairies in the Midwest, being found mostly in disturbed sites due to its inability to compete with other vegetation.

In Wisconsin alone, there are twelve native species of milkweed, and while they differ in form and habitat preference, they all play a critical ecological role as host plants for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Monarchs lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed species, and the emerging caterpillars depend entirely on the plant for nourishment. As they consume the leaves, they ingest natural toxins that deter most predators—an elegant defense mechanism passed from plant to insect. This specialized relationship makes every milkweed planting an act of conservation, supporting monarch populations that are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and environmental changes. (July)

Michigan Lily (Lillium michiganense)

 

 The Michigan Lily 

Michigan lily (Lillium michiganense) grows two to five feet tall. It is a single-stemmed wildflower with sword-like leaves arranged in whorls. Its stem often branches at the tip to form additional flower stalks. Orange flowers, up to three inches across, have petals that curve backward. Dark spots mark the inner surface of the six petals. It prefers full to partial sun, loamy or sandy soil, and moist conditions.  

Though often mistaken for its close relative, the Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum), the Michigan lily is native to Wisconsin and the Turk’s cap lily is not; but they can be easily distinguished. The Turk’s cap lily has a green star at the base of its flower that is absent in the Michigan lily. Michigan lily flower buds are slender and often reddish-orange, while Turk’s cap lily buds are plumper and sometimes hint at a green star early on. Also, Michigan lily leaves feel slightly rough, while Turk’s cap lily leaves are smooth to the touch. 

Another point of distinction is how these two lilies spread through their native ranges. While Turk’s cap lily often forms larger, denser colonies throughout the Southeast and Eastern United States, the Michigan lily tends to appear in scattered, more solitary patches across the Midwest. (July)

Clasping Milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis)

Clasping Milkweed

Photo by Leticia Provencio

Clasping milkweed (Asclepias amplexicaulis) is a native, perennial wildflower in Wisconsin. It grows one to three feet tall. The flowers have a soft pink hue, often in shades of cream or green. The flower structure is complex. The flowers form in a compact rounded cluster that is two to four inches in diameter. Each flower has five petals that reflex backward. Above the flowers are five hood-like structures. The leaves are opposite and have a waxy appearance. The base of the leaf clasps the stem. The leaves are oval, three to five inches long, and two inches wide. It grows in dry habitats in sandhills, dry open woods, pine savannahs, and fallow fields. They do best where they can receive at least six hours of full sun. Partial shade the rest of the day works well.

Ecologically, clasping milkweed plays a vital role in supporting native pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. It serves as a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars, providing essential nourishment during their larval stage. In garden settings, its drought tolerance and preference for sandy soils make it an excellent choice for native plant gardens and prairie-style landscape. (July)

 

Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

 

Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) is widely found in Midwestern prairies and a native perennial of Wisconsin. Standing up to three feet tall, this wildflower graces dry, sunny prairies and meadows with its vivid bloom. 

Its flowers are small—less than 1/4 inch across—with five purple petals. These tiny blossoms cluster tightly together, forming a distinctive, thimble-shaped flower head that can reach up to two inches long. The plant’s foliage is equally delicate, with slender leaves composed of five to seven leaflets, each measuring between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch.

Additionally, purple prairie clover is attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. It also plays an important role in prairie restoration thanks to its deep root system and nitrogen-fixing ability, helping to enrich the soil where it grows.  (July)

Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

Showy tick trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is a tall, bushy perennial wildflower native to North America, including Wisconsin. Reaching heights of two to six feet, it produces clusters of pink to purple, pea-shaped flowers near the tops of its slender stems during mid to late summer.

Its leaves are made up of three grey-green leaflets, each about two to three inches long and narrower than half their length. The leaflets are oblong or lance-shaped, rounded at the tips, and the undersides have tiny hooked hairs—an ingenious feature that helps the plant’s sticky seed pods latch onto fur or clothing for dispersal.

This wildflower is versatile in its growing preferences, thriving in full sun or partial shade. You’ll find it in open woods, prairies, and disturbed areas like roadsides. It’s drought-tolerant thanks to a deep taproot and even improves the soil around it by fixing nitrogen—making it an excellent choice for native plant gardens or ecological restoration projects.

Additionally, showy tick trefoil plays a valuable role in supporting local wildlife. It provides nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies, and serves as a host plant for caterpillars of species such as the Eastern Tailed Blue, Gray Hairstreak, and Silver-spotted Skipper.

(July)

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)

 

Obedient Plant

The obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) typically grows to a height of three to four feet. Its flowers are tubular and resemble snapdragons, arranged in dense spikes, with each flower about 1 inch long. The colors range from pink to pale lilac. The leaves are lance-shaped, growing in opposite pairs along the stem, with each pair rotated 90 degrees from the previous one. They are about four to five inches long and one to two inches wide, with serrated edges. Obedient plants prefer full sun to partial shade and thrive in moist, well-drained soils. They are quite adaptable and can grow in a variety of soil types, including loam, clay, and rocky soils. Often found in wetlands, prairies, and meadows, they can tolerate both drought and poor drainage. 

Obedient plant is often misinterpreted. Its name stems not from passivity, but from a peculiar trait: when a flower spike is bent, it temporarily holds its new position, as if “obedient” to touch. Ecologically, Physostegia virginiana functions as a robust colonizer in moist, disturbed habitats—such as degraded prairies, wet meadows, and riparian margins. It spreads vigorously through rhizomes, forming dense clonal patches that can suppress competing vegetation. While not allelopathic in the strict chemical sense, its rapid expansion and shading can inhibit the germination and growth of less aggressive species, including some non-native invaders. In restoration contexts, its dominance may be transitional: once site conditions stabilize and native plant diversity increases, obedient plant often recedes, allowing a more balanced community to emerge.  (July)

     

Hoary Vervain (Verbena Stricta)

Hoary Vervain, also known by its scientific name Verbena stricta, is a hardy, native perennial wildflower found throughout much of the central and eastern United States. Its range extends from the Great Plains to the Midwest and parts of the Southeast, making it a familiar presence in prairie remnants, open woodlands, and dry grasslands.

This plant typically grows two to four feet tall and forms upright, clump-like stems topped with vibrant purple flower spikes. These spikes can be anywhere from two to eight inches long and consist of dozens of small, tubular flowers that bloom sequentially from the bottom upward. Each blossom is about half an inch in size and showcases five rounded lobes with the lower lobe often slightly notched, attracting the eye with both color and delicate form.

The leaves of Hoary Vervain are distinctive—oval to obovate in shape, two to three inches long, and covered with dense, silvery hairs that lend the plant its “hoary” appearance. They are coarsely toothed along the margins and pointed at the tips, giving the plant a rugged texture. These leaves are arranged opposite each other along the square-shaped stems, which are also hairy.

Hoary Vervain is well-suited to dry, sunny environments and is most often found in disturbed soils, roadsides, ditch banks, and sandy fields. It thrives in well-drained, low-fertility soils and requires little maintenance once established, making it an excellent choice for native plant gardens and prairie restorations.

Additionally, Hoary Vervain plays a valuable ecological role. It provides nectar for a wide variety of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, and moths. The Common Buckeye butterfly uses it as a host plant, and certain specialist bees, like Calliopsis verbenae, rely exclusively on its blooms for pollen. Songbirds, particularly sparrows, are known to feed on its seeds, aiding in dispersal.

Because it is both deer and rabbit resistant, Hoary Vervain is a reliable performer in wildlife gardens. While it can reseed itself generously, especially in favorable conditions, gardeners can manage its spread by deadheading spent flower spikes. (July)

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

 

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial wildflower native to Wisconsin. It grows one to two feet tall. The yellow orange to bright orange flower clusters, two to five inches across, are at the top of the stem. It has stiff, dark green, lance-shaped leaves that are toothless and two to six inches long. It grows best in well-drained sand, loam, clay or limestone in full sun.

It’s a favorite among butterflies, as the name suggests, but also beckons bees with its rich nectar. As in the case of other milkweeds, it is a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. But unlike many other milkweeds, Butterfly Milkweed lacks milky sap, which can surprise some folks expecting the signature trait.

Its tidy, upright form and low-maintenance nature make it a star in native gardens, restoration projects, and even sunny roadside plantings. Once established, it’s impressively drought-tolerant—perfect for Wisconsin summers that can swing from soggy to scorched.

(July)   

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Swamp milkweed is a native, perennial wildflower in Wisconsin. It typically grows three to five feet tall. The flowers bloom in shades of pink, mauve, or occasionally white. Each individual flower is about 1/4 inch in diameter, but they are arranged in clusters that can be two to three inches in diameter. Lance shaped leaves grow in pairs along the stem. They are three to six inches long and one to two inches wide. This plant prefers moist to wet soils and is often found in wetlands, along streams, and in wet meadows. It thrives in full sun, but it can tolerate partial shade.

Ecologically, it plays a vital role as a host for monarch butterflies, providing both a nursery for caterpillars and a nectar source for adults, while also attracting bees, hummingbirds, and other butterflies. It adapts to garden soils with adequate watering and is hardy across much of the Midwest. In addition to its ornamental use, swamp milkweed resists deer browsing and tolerates heavy clay soil, making it suitable for rain gardens and naturalized borders. It spreads slowly via underground rhizomes and can be propagated by seed—though successful germination typically requires a chilling period to mimic winter dormancy. Historically, its fibers were used for twine and buoyant stuffing, and some Indigenous groups employed it medicinally for respiratory issues. While beautiful and ecologically beneficial, it contains cardiac glycosides that are toxic if ingested in quantity. (July)

False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)

False Sunflower 

False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a perennial wildflower native to eastern North America, including Wisconsin. Reaching heights of three to six feet, it stands tall in grasslands and along woodland edges, where it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Its daisy-like flowers are a standout feature—bright yellow petals encircle a golden-brown, cone-shaped center disk, creating a display that measures two to three inches across.

The foliage of false sunflower is equally distinctive. Its ovate leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stem and can reach up to six inches in length. The leaf margins are toothed, and the surface has a rough, sandpapery texture that helps deter browsing animals like deer and rabbits. These sturdy stems and coarse leaves support a long blooming season, typically stretching from early summer into fall.

False sunflower also plays an important ecological role. It attracts a wide range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and its seeds provide food for birds later in the season. The plant’s deep roots also help stabilize soil, making it a valuable addition to restoration projects and native plant gardens.  (July)

 

Tall Bellflower (Campanula Americana)

           

Tall bellflower (Campanula americana) is a wildflower native to eastern North America, including Wisconsin. It is a three to six-foot, erect plant with leafy stems. The upper portion of the stem is lined with showy, lavender-blue, five-petaled inch-wide flowers in single spike clusters one to two feet long. The three to six-inch leaves are lance-shaped, toothed and pointed. It likes open woodlands, shady streams, and thickets in rich, moist soil.

It is a short-lived annual or biennial that completes its life cycle in one or two years, depending on when its seeds germinate. Those that sprout in the fall often bloom the following summer, while spring-germinating plants typically wait until the next year. Unlike many other bellflowers, its blossoms are star-shaped and flat, with a pale ring in the center that helps attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bumblebees, leaf-cutting bees, butterflies, skippers, and hummingbirds. The flowers open sequentially from the bottom of the flower spike upward, creating a long blooming season from mid to late summer. After flowering, it forms five-angled seed pods that spill seeds close to the parent plant. This keeps it returning year after year in favorable spots. Commonly found along woodland edges, shaded meadows, and stream banks, tall bellflower favors dappled sunlight and moist, rich soil—making it a possible addition to shade gardens and rain gardens alike. (July)

Wild Germander (Teucrium canadense)

Wild Germander

Wild germander (Teucrium canadense) is a native perennial wildflower in Wisconsin that grows up to three feet tall. It features a four-sided, hairy stem that is rarely branched. It produces a terminal spike of 3/4 inch long, purplish-pink flowers. The flowers have a unique corolla configuration with no apparent upper lip. It has opposite leaves that can be up to five inches long and 2-1/2 inches wide. The upper leaf surface is dark green with recessed veins and the lower leaf surface is dull green with raised veins. Wild Germander thrives in fields, prairies, low woods, stream sides, roadsides, and other disturbed sites.

This plant belongs to the mint family and is widespread across much of North America. Its square stems and opposite leaves are typical of mint relatives, and its flowers bloom from June to September. Each flower has a broad lower lip that serves as a landing pad for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and flies. The upper lip is nearly absent, but four long stamens arch outward through a slit, giving the flower a distinctive appearance that resembles an orchid when viewed head-on.

Wild germander spreads through rhizomes, forming colonies in suitable habitats. Its root system is fibrous, and the plant can tolerate a range of soil types, though it prefers moist to medium-moist conditions. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 and can grow in full sun or partial shade. While the flowers are visually striking, they lack fragrance. After blooming, each flower produces four small seeds enclosed in a persistent calyx.

Historically, Native Americans used wild germander for medicinal purposes. The leaves were steeped in water to treat skin sores and ulcers, and teas were made for various ailments. However, modern herbal use has declined due to concerns about liver toxicity associated with certain compounds found in the plant. Despite this, it remains an important species for pollinators and is often included in native plant gardens and restoration projects.

(July) 

American Waterlilly (Nymphaea odorata)

     The American Waterlily is a native, perennial in Wisconsin. The floating water flowers, three to six inches wide, are made of many pointed petals surrounding a yellow center. The floating leaves are round or heart-shaped, deeply notched, toothless, shiny green. They grow up to 10 inches across. It grows in ponds and lakes.  (July)

Ghost Plant (Monotropa uniflora)

     

Ghost plant  (Monotropa uniflora) is a native wildflower found throughout much of North America, including Wisconsin. It grows from Maine to California, and from Florida to Alaska, though it tends to be absent in the central Rockies.

This unusual plant typically reaches 4 to 12 inches in height. Each pale, waxy stem bears a single flower that droops downward when it first emerges from the forest floor. The flower itself is about an inch long. Indian Pipe is strikingly white—sometimes pinkish—with scattered black flecks, giving it an ethereal, otherworldly look.

It thrives in mature, moist, and shaded forests, especially near decaying stumps or under beech trees. What makes it truly unique is that it lacks chlorophyll and doesn’t photosynthesize. Instead, ghost plant is a mycoheterotroph—it obtains nutrients by parasitizing mycorrhizal fungi that are in a symbiotic relationship with nearby trees. These fungi form a vast underground web, often called the “wood wide web,” which shuttles nutrients and chemical signals throughout the forest. Ghost plant cleverly inserts itself into this system, drawing energy indirectly from trees via this fungal network—no sunlight required.

Ghost plant typically blooms from early summer to early autumn, often appearing after rain. Once pollinated—mainly by bumblebees—the flower lifts upright and eventually produces a capsule that releases fine seeds into the air. (July)