Native Wildflowers of Wisconsin

Cream Gentian (Gentiana alba)

Photo by Judith Kozminski

Cream Gentian usually reaches one to two feet in height, occasionally a bit taller in rich black‑soil prairie ground. The flowers are tubular, about an inch to an inch and a half long and roughly three‑quarters of an inch across. They are white to greenish‑white, sometimes yellowish‑white, with five pointed tips that stand erect at the mouth of the corolla.

The leaves are opposite and strongly clasp the stem. They are ovate to broadly lanceolate, sometimes nearly elliptic, and generally one to three inches long. The margins are smooth. A prominent midvein runs the length of each leaf, with two secondary veins that curve toward the margins.

Cream Gentian is most common in mesic to slightly dry prairies, including black‑soil prairies, and in open savannas. It also occurs in sandy oak openings, limestone glades, and rocky uplands. It grows in full sun to light shade and favors moist to average soils rather than consistently wet ground.

Sources:

Illinois Wildflowers

Flora of North America

USDA Plants Database

Prairie Moon Nursery

(SF)

Tall Boneset (Eupatorium altissimum)

Tall boneset is a perennial plant that typically grows two to six feet tall, forming upright clumps that broaden slowly but usually stay within one to two feet across. Its small, star-shaped flowers are about 1/8 inch across, dull white, and form large, flat-topped clusters that can reach up to eight inches wide. The leaves are lanceolate and opposite, generally two to six inches long and about an inch wide. They may have shallow teeth along the margins and are often covered with fine hairs, giving them a slightly rough texture. Tall boneset thrives in dry upland prairies, open woods, thickets, clearings, and fields throughout eastern and central North America. It prefers dry to medium-moisture, well-drained soils and is frequently found in disturbed areas, where it can form loose colonies over time.

Sources:

Flora of North America – Eupatorium altissimum

Wisconsin State Herbarium – Eupatorium altissimum

USDA Plants Database – Eupatorium altissimum

Illinois Wildflowers – Tall Boneset

Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses – Tall Boneset

(SF)

Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)

Unloved but Essential: Embracing Unpopular Plants for Biodiversity

From the shaded understory of Wisconsin’s mesic forests emerges Laportea canadensis, or wood nettle—a plant more likely to provoke a sting than admiration. Yet beneath its defensive hairs lies a species that plays an important role in healthy forest systems: shaping microhabitats, supporting invertebrate life, and helping maintain soil stability in moisture‑rich environments.

In landscaping, a plant’s value is often measured by showiness or ease of control. But native species like wood nettle—frequently dismissed as weeds—provide functional ecological services that ornamental plants rarely match. Their presence contributes to layered forest structure, supports specialist insects, and helps buffer ecosystems against disturbance.

Wood nettle thrives in moist, nutrient‑rich soils of floodplains, stream terraces, and low hardwood stands across Wisconsin. It typically reaches two to four feet in height, with broad, alternate leaves up to six inches long. The serrated margins and stinging trichomes deter herbivory, while its separate male and female flowers—small, greenish, and wind‑pollinated—allow the plant to reproduce efficiently in shaded conditions. Dense colonies help slow surface runoff, modestly reduce erosion, and create cool, humid microclimates used by ground beetles, spiders, amphibians, and the larvae of several native moths.

Plants like this are easy to overlook—too plain, too wild, too defensive for garden culture. But wood nettle illustrates a larger ecological truth: biodiversity depends on functional diversity, not just floral charisma. Understory species that seem unremarkable to us often support entire guilds of organisms that more celebrated plants cannot.

Rethinking our private landscapes—through approaches such as meadow‑scaping or simply reducing the dominance of turf—allows us to welcome complexity back into the places we steward. Incorporating native species, including the less glamorous ones, transforms simplified yards into living habitat. And while wood nettle itself is best left to the moist forest soils where it belongs, learning to value plants like it helps shift our attention from aesthetics alone to the ecological work that sustains the land.

Sources:

USDA PLANTS Database — Laportea canadensis (wood nettle) species profile

UW–Madison Division of Extension — Native woodland understory plants of Wisconsin

Minnesota Wildflowers — Laportea canadensis (Wood Nettle)

Illinois Wildflowers — Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)

Michigan Flora / University of Michigan — Laportea canadensis account

NatureServe Explorer — Laportea canadensis conservation status and ecology

US Forest Service — Forest understory ecology and plant functional roles

(LS)

Flat-top Aster (Doellingeria umbellata)

Flat-top aster (Doellingeria umbellata) typically grows two to five feet tall, forming upright clumps that broaden slowly but usually stay within one to two feet across. Its small, daisy-like flowers are white with yellow centers, each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch across, arranged in flat-topped clusters at the tops of the stems. The leaves are three to six inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide, lanceolate-elliptic, with smooth margins, a medium to dark green upper surface, and a pale green to whitish underside. Flat-top aster thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist to wet soils. It is commonly found in wet sand prairies, damp thickets, wet meadows, and along the borders of swamps. It grows well in slightly acidic, sandy loam soils and tolerates a range of moisture conditions as long as the site remains consistently damp.

Sources:

Flora of North America – Doellingeria umbellata

Wisconsin State Herbarium – Doellingeria umbellata

USDA Plants Database – Doellingeria umbellata

Prairie Moon Nursery – Flat-top Aster

Illinois Wildflowers – Flat-topped White Aster

(SF)

Jumpseed (Persicaria virginiana)

Jumpseed is an herbaceous perennial that typically reaches two to three feet in height. Its flowers are very small, about 1/8 inch long, ranging from white to greenish white, sometimes with a faint pinkish tint. These flowers are spaced along a slender, spike-like raceme that can be four to 16 inches long. The leaves are generally oval with a sharply pointed tip, growing up to seven inches long and four inches wide. They are medium green on the upper surface and a lighter, somewhat silvery green underneath. Jumpseed thrives in rich, moist soils and is most often found in shaded or partially shaded habitats such as woodlands, woodland edges, and thickets. It also grows along riverbanks, rocky slopes, and shaded cliffs, where the soil stays consistently damp.

Sources:

Flora of North America – Persicaria virginiana

Wisconsin State Herbarium – Persicaria virginiana

USDA Plants Database – Persicaria virginiana

Illinois Wildflowers – Jumpseed

Minnesota Wildflowers – Jumpseed

(SF)

Elm-leaf Goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia)

Elm-leaved goldenrod is a keystone plant—part of a genus that supports over 100 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, making it vital to the food web that sustains birds and other wildlife. Caterpillars are among the most important foods for nesting birds. In bloom, this powerful perennial also draws a wide array of native bees, along with flies, wasps, and nectar-seeking beetles. Its seeds feed birds like eastern goldfinches and tree sparrows, and its presence in woodland edges contributes to the layered architecture that shelters countless other species. Though often overlooked, S. ulmifolia is a cornerstone of late-summer ecology.

Elm-leaf goldenrod typically grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet, occasionally reaching up to 4 feet. Its small, yellow flowers form dense clusters along arching stems, with each flower head measuring about 1/8 inch across. The leaves are thin, coarsely toothed, and resemble those of an elm tree. The lower leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches wide, ovate to lanceolate in shape with serrated margins. As they ascend the stem, the leaves become smaller and more lance-shaped. Elm-leaf goldenrod thrives in a variety of habitats, including mesic to upland woodlands, woodland edges, thinly wooded bluffs, edges of limestone glades, partially shaded riverbanks, and thickets. It prefers light shade to partial sun and can tolerate moist to somewhat dry soil.

Source list (with spaces between entries)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Endangered Resources Program

UW–Madison Herbarium – Wisconsin State Herbarium Species Accounts

Flora of Wisconsin – Solidago ulmifolia Species Page

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database – Solidago ulmifolia Profile

NatureServe Explorer – Solidago ulmifolia Conservation Status

Minnesota Wildflowers – Solidago ulmifolia Description

Illinois Wildflowers – Solidago ulmifolia Ecological Notes

Prairie Moon Nursery – Solidago ulmifolia Species Profile

Prairie Nursery – Elm-leaf Goldenrod Species Description

Tallgrass Prairie Center – Woodland and Savanna Plant Ecology

Butterflies and Moths of North America – Host Plant Records for Solidago Species

Xerces Society – Pollinator Use of Late-Season Woodland Plants

(SF)

Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)

Virgin’s bower is a vigorous native vine that plays an important role in Wisconsin’s moist woodlands and streamside habitats. Its fragrant late-summer blooms support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators when few other natives are flowering, while its dense foliage offers nesting cover for songbirds and erosion control along banks. Though its foliage is avoided by mammals, such as deer and rabbits, its adaptability and fast growth make it a valuable addition to restoration projects, especially when paired with other moisture-loving natives.

It can grow up to 20 feet tall. Its small, white, and fragrant flowers are about 1/2 inch across, featuring four petal-like sepals that are slightly hairy on the upper surface and more densely so on the lower. The leaves are compound, typically in groups of three leaflets, with each leaflet reaching up to 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. These leaflets are often shallowly lobed or cleft, with coarsely toothed edges, sharply pointed tips, and a rounded to heart-shaped base.

Sources:

Flora of North America — Authoritative species treatment

Illinois Wildflowers — Habitat notes and flower size

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Distribution and morphology

(SF)

Stiff Sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus)

Stiff sunflower is a native perennial found in Wisconsin. Its late-summer blooms offer a rich nectar source for native bees, butterflies, and beetles, while its seeds provide food for birds and small mammals. As a rhizomatous perennial, it helps stabilize soil and form dense colonies that suppress invasive species, making it a valuable ally in prairie restoration. Its rough foliage and sturdy stems also offer shelter and nesting material for insects.

It can grow up to six feet tall. Most of the ones I've seen, though, are two to four 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.

Sources:

Flora of North America — Helianthus pauciflorus

Wisconsin State Herbarium — Helianthus pauciflorus

USDA Plants Database — Helianthus pauciflorus

Minnesota Wildflowers — Stiff Sunflower

Illinois Wildflowers — Stiff-leaved Sunflower

(SF)

Yellow Giant Hyssop (Agastache nepetoides)

Yellow giant hyssop is a tall, native perennial of Wisconsin’s savannas and rich woodlands, where it contributes steady mid‑ to late‑season nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Most plants grow five to six feet tall, with pale yellow flowers held in dense vertical spikes that may reach four to sixteen inches. Individual blossoms are small, about a third of an inch long. The opposite leaves are thin, coarsely toothed, and somewhat egg‑shaped with a rounded base, often up to six inches long and three inches wide on long stalks. The species favors mesic, fertile soils in part shade but can tolerate full sun when moisture is reliable. In Wisconsin it appears in savannas, open woods, thickets, meadows, and along fencerows, thriving in moist to moderately dry conditions without extending into truly dry uplands or saturated wetlands.

Sources:

Wisconsin State Herbarium — Agastache nepetoides specimens

Flora of Wisconsin — Agastache nepetoides entry

USDA Plants Database — Agastache nepetoides profile

Illinois Wildflowers — Yellow Giant Hyssop

Minnesota Wildflowers — Agastache nepetoides

BONAP — Agastache nepetoides county distribution map

NatureServe Explorer — Agastache nepetoides species account

(SF)

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 wet‑mesic prairies, damp meadows, and the edges of open woodlands

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.

Sources:

Illinois Wildflowers — Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Physostegia virginiana

Missouri Botanical Garden — Physostegia virginiana

Wisconsin DNR / Herbarium Records — Physostegia virginiana (habitat and range data)

Prairie Moon Nursery — Physostegia virginiana

Johnson’s Nursery (WI) — Physostegia virginiana Plant Profile

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database — Physostegia virginiana

(sumx)

Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)

Stiff goldenrod is a native perennial found across Wisconsin’s prairies, sand prairies, dry fields, and open savanna edges. It grows three to five feet tall and carries bright yellow flower heads in dense, flat-topped clusters. Individual flowers measure about 3/8 inch across, and the full inflorescence spans two to five inches. The leaves are thick, stiff, and somewhat leathery, with basal leaves reaching up to ten inches long and five inches wide. Lower stem leaves are oblong and can reach eight inches, while upper leaves are lance-shaped and stalkless.

Ecologically, stiff goldenrod is an important late-season nectar source for native bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and soldier beetles. Some specialist pollinators rely on goldenrod species exclusively. After blooming, the plant produces fluffy seeds that persist into winter, feeding goldfinches and other small birds. Its upright stems add structure to prairie and savanna habitats, offering perches and shelter for wildlife.

Its deep, fibrous roots help stabilize soil and improve structure, especially in degraded or disturbed areas. Stiff goldenrod supports the larvae of several moth species and contributes to overall insect diversity, though it is not a primary host for the familiar goldenrod galls seen on other species. Its tolerance for dry, sandy, and rocky soils makes it a resilient choice for restoration projects, biodiversity corridors, and formal plantings where ecological function matters.

Sources

Flora of North America – Solidago rigida

Wisconsin State Herbarium – Solidago rigida

USDA Plants Database – Solidago rigida

Prairie Moon Nursery – Solidago rigida

Illinois Wildflowers – Stiff Goldenrod

(SF)

Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

Slender mountain mint, native to eastern and central United States, offers exceptional ecological benefits, especially in prairie restorations and pollinator gardens. Its dense clusters of nectar-rich flowers support a wide diversity of native bees, butterflies, and beneficial flies, making it a very beneficial species for midsummer to fall forage. It spreads modestly by rhizomes, while its aromatic foliage deters browsing by deer and rabbits—allowing it to persist in challenging sites.

Slender mountain mint typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet. Its small, white flowers, often dotted with purple spots, are about 1/4 inch long and bloom in dense, terminal clusters. The leaves are very narrow and almost needle-like, up to 3 inches long and about 1/4 inch wide. They are opposite, linear, and hairless, with a prominent central vein and smooth margins. Slender mountain mint is adaptable and occurs in dry, open rocky woods, dry prairies, fields, roadsides, and the drier margins of stream corridors, as well as seasonally moist thickets. It prefers full sun to part shade and grows well in dry to medium soils.

Sources:

Flora of North America — Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

USDA Plants Database — Pycnanthemum tenuifolium profile

Illinois Wildflowers — Slender Mountain Mint

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Missouri Botanical Garden — Pycnanthemum tenuifolium plant details

(SF)

Wild Senna (Senna marilandica)

Wild senna is a tall, upright perennial reaching 4–6 feet in height and about 3 feet across. Stems are coarse and unbranched, supporting compound, pinnate leaves with 4–8 pairs of ovate to elliptical leaflets. The foliage is a dull to medium green and gives the plant a distinctly shrub‑like profile in midsummer.

Bright yellow flowers appear in mid to late summer in axillary racemes. Each bloom is roughly ¾ inch across, with five petals and a cluster of prominent stamens. The flowers produce pollen but no nectar, making them especially attractive to bumblebees and solitary bees that specialize in pollen collection.

Wild senna grows in full sun to light shade and favors moist, well‑drained soils, though it tolerates sandy or rocky substrates. In Wisconsin it occurs along woodland edges, thickets, open fields, riverbanks, and wet prairies. The plant serves as a larval host for several sulphur butterflies, and its seeds are eaten by upland gamebirds such as quail and dove.

Sources:

Wisconsin State Herbarium — Senna marilandica

Illinois Wildflowers — Wild Senna

Missouri Botanical Garden — Senna marilandica Plant Details

USDA Plants Database — Senna marilandica Overview Minnesota Wildflowers — Senna marilandica (Wild Senna)

(sumx)

Western Sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis)

Western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis) is a native perennial of Wisconsin’s dry, open habitats—prairies, meadows, and rocky woods—where it thrives in full sun and well-drained soils. Blooming in late summer, it provides nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and beetles at a time when few other wildflowers remain. Its seeds feed goldfinches and other small birds, and its rhizomatous roots help stabilize soil in sunlit, rocky ground. By supporting pollinators and contributing to the late-season food web, this perennial plays a steady role in prairie restoration and native plant communities.

It typically grows two to four feet tall. The bright yellow flower heads measure about 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches across, with numerous disk florets forming the central yellow to yellow-brown disk. The heads are surrounded by short, overlapping bracts that are light green and linear-lanceolate. The stems are long, stiff, often reddish, and mostly bare except for a few pairs of small, widely spaced leaves. Most of the foliage forms a basal rosette at the base of the plant, with large, rough, hairy leaves on long stalks. The stem leaves are smaller and lanceolate, about one to three inches long and 1/4 to 3/4 inches wide.

Sources:

Flora of North America — Helianthus occidentalis

Wisconsin State Herbarium — Helianthus occidentalis

USDA Plants Database — Helianthus occidentalis

Minnesota Wildflowers — Western Sunflower

Illinois Wildflowers — Western Sunflower

(SF)

Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)

Nodding onion is a Wisconsin native, perennial wildflower. It typically grows to a height of 12 to 18 inches. Its small flowers, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, form in clusters that nod or droop, and are usually pink to lavender in color. Each cluster can have up to 30 individual flowers. The leaves are long, slender, and grass-like, measuring 6 to 12 inches in length and about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in width. They grow from the base of the plant and have a smooth texture. Nodding onion is commonly found in prairies, open woods, and rocky slopes, preferring well-drained soils and areas with full sun to partial shade, and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8.

Nodding onion grows from a bulb and forms clumps over time. It blooms in mid to late summer and can be propagated either by seed or by dividing bulbs and offsets in spring or fall. Seeds require cold stratification to germinate successfully. Maintenance is minimal, though removing spent flower heads can help control self-seeding if desired. The bulbs, leaves, and flower stalks are edible, though they have a strong, bitter flavor. Indigenous peoples have used the plant for both food and medicinal purposes. Its name comes from the distinctive drooping habit of its flower clusters.

Sources:

Wisconsin Horticulture – Division of Extension Allium cernuum — Nodding Onion

Missouri Botanical Garden Allium cernuum

UW–Madison Arboretum Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)

Illinois Wildflowers (Dr. John Hilty) Nodding Onion — Allium cernuum

USDA NRCS Plants Database Allium cernuum — Plant Profile

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion)

Minnesota Wildflowers Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)

(sumx)

False Indian Plantain (Hasteola suaveolens)

False Indian plantain is still listed by its former scientific name, Senecio suaveolens, on BONAP maps. It is listed as native, though rare, in Wisconsin.

Ecologically, False Indian Plantain plays an important role in wetland and riparian systems. Its late-summer blooms offer nectar to a range of pollinators, including native bees, flies, and butterflies, at a time when few other tall wetland forbs are flowering. The plant’s robust root system helps stabilize soil along floodplains and wet meadows, reducing erosion and supporting water filtration. As a member of the Asteraceae family, it contributes to the structural diversity of native plant communities, offering vertical habitat for insects and shelter for small amphibians.

False Indian Plantain can grow up to five feet tall. It produces clusters of small, creamy white to pale yellow flowers, arranged in flat top clusters. Each flower is about 1/3 inch wide. The leaves are spearhead-shaped and have serrated edges. The leaves are hairless and have a distinctive shape that makes them easy to identify. They can grow four to 10 inches long and two to six inches wide. False Indian Plantain prefers moist to wet soil conditions and is commonly found along riverbanks, floodplain forests, wet meadows and the edges of marshes. It thrives in full sun to light shade. (SF)

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 here in this state, even longer in warmer climates. The flowers are composed of dense racemes of deep maroon‑purple to brownish‑purple 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 typically two to four inches long. The alternate leaves can be either smooth or hairy, lanceolate in shape, and smooth along the edges. It prefers moist, fertile, loamy soil rather than strictly well‑drained sandy loam, and can be found in moist woods, along riverbanks, 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. Raw tubers should not be eaten, as they may cause digestive discomfort unless thoroughly cooked. 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.

Sources:

Prairie Moon Nursery – Apios americana

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database – Apios americana

Illinois Wildflowers – Groundnut (Apios americana)

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Apios americana Minnesota Wildflowers – Groundnut

(sumx)

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepsias verticillata)

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Whorled milkweed is a perennial wildflower native to much of North America, including Wisconsin’s prairies, savannas, and open woodlands. Typically reaching heights of one to three feet, it features slender, upright stems lined with narrow, linear leaves arranged in whorls. Each leaf measures about one to three inches long and less than a quarter-inch wide, giving the plant a fine-textured, almost grassy appearance.

From June through September, whorled milkweed produces fragrant clusters of small white flowers with five reflexed petals and a five‑part crown (hoods). These blooms are highly attractive to a wide range of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, wasps, and beetles . As a host plant for monarch butterfly larvae, it plays a vital role in supporting their life cycle, offering foliage for caterpillars and nectar for adults.

Adaptable and tough, whorled milkweed thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates dry to medium moisture conditions. It grows well in loam, sandy loam, silt, clay loam, and rocky soils, making it an excellent candidate for restoration projects, meadows, and naturalized plantings. Its rhizomatous roots allow it to spread modestly over time, and it readily self-seeds without becoming aggressive.

This species is both deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, and its smooth, narrow seed pods add visual interest in late summer and fall. While its foliage is toxic to livestock and pets, it poses no threat to pollinators and contributes meaningfully to biodiversity. Whorled milkweed is especially valuable in dry prairie restorations, roadside plantings, and pollinator gardens.

Sources:

Flora of North America — Asclepias verticillata

Wisconsin State Herbarium — Asclepias verticillata

USDA Plants Database — Asclepias verticillata

Minnesota Wildflowers — Whorled Milkweed

Illinois Wildflowers — Whorled Milkweed

(SF)

Common Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)

Common agrimony 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.

Sources:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Agrimonia gryposepala

Flora of Wisconsin (UW–Madison Herbarium) — Agrimonia gryposepala

Minnesota Wildflowers — Agrimonia gryposepala (Tall Hairy Agrimony)

Illinois Wildflowers — Common Agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala)

Native Wildflowers of Wisconsin — Agrimony

(sumx)

Wild Germander (Teucrium canadense)

Wild germander 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 two 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.

Sources:

Prairie Moon Nursery – Teucrium canadense USDA NRCS PLANTS Database – Teucrium canadense Illinois Wildflowers – Canada Germander Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Teucrium canadense Minnesota Wildflowers – Canada Germander

(sumx)