Native Plants in Bloom: What to Spot Along the Greenway in June

This very wet spring has been a headache in some ways, causing flooding along parts of the Wolf River Greenway and delaying trail construction and repairs. On the other hand, lots of well-watered soil contributes to abundant plant growth, which includes lots of flowers! Among the blooms to look for on a June walk along the Greenway and elsewhere are four species we highlight here - Wild Bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Buttonbush, and Elderberry.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): The tubular pink to lavender flowers of wild bergamot or wild beebalm attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.  Like other members of the mint family, it spreads by rhizomes and has to be managed in a home landscape.  Wild bergamot and other bee balm species are garden favorites for their pretty pollinator-attracting flowers, as well as for their aromatic foliage and historical uses as tea or herbal medicine.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Aptly named, the cheerful, daisy-like bright yellow flowers of Black-eyed Susans can be seen in sunny fields and home gardens all over the country, though it is native to eastern North America.  Black-eyed Susan blooms attract bees, butterflies and other small pollinators, and the spent blooms produce tiny seeds eaten by birds. The plant hosts the caterpillars of the Bordered Patch and the Silvery and Gorgone Checkerspot butterflies.  

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): Blooming buttonbush is a butterfly magnet, its round pincushion-like flowers drawing Tiger, Pipevine, and Spicebush Swallowtails among many other species. Besides butterflies, it attracts hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators and serves as a host plant for the Walnut Moth and the Titan and Hydrangea Sphinx Moths.  The brown seed heads from which the shrub derives its name provide abundant seeds for migrating waterfowl and other birds.  Buttonbush grows into a large shrub which can find a place in a home landscape with the space for it.  It tolerates pruning well and thrives in the moist, clay soils of the Mid-South, especially in spots that tend to collect water.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis): Large cream-colored clusters of small flowers at the ends of the long branches of this rangy shrub can be seen just about anywhere in June – along trails, along roads, in edge habitat of all kinds.  Elderberry flowers feed pollinators and its pithy stems provide habitat for native bees. Its berries are popular with birds and can be used to make jelly and wine - but only after cooking. The raw berries are inedible, and all other parts of this plant are toxic to humans otherwise.  Because this large aggressive shrub propagates by suckering, it should be added to the home landscape with caution.

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