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