Late Spring Blooms

By Taylor on June 7, 2013 in Blog

Despite Iowa's inconsistent spring weather, prairie flowers have started adding a bit of color to lush green prairies around the state.

A close look at the prairie plants reveal a variety of flowers with a variety of colors, including vibrant yellow and several shades of purple.

Blue-eyed grass, fringed puccoons, golden alexander and spiderwort typically bloom in late spring and early summer. These species have already started flowering on many of INHF's conservation sites.

If you are out and about enjoying a part of Iowa's prairies early this summer, keep these species in mind.

Photo by Joshua Meyer

Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium albidum)

• Grows to 8- 15 inches at maturity
• Flowers March- June

INHF Photo

Fringed Puccoon (Lithospermum incisum)

• Grows to 6 – 12 inches at maturity
• Flowers April-June

Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds

Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

• Grows to 1-3 feet tall at maturity
• Flowers April- June

INHF Photo

Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohioensis)

• Grows to 1-2 feet tall at maturity
• Flowers April-July

For more information about these species and other prairie grasses and flowers, visit:

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LIIN2
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/SUL18.pdf