Silene polypetala

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Silene polypetala
Silene polypetala

4-23-09: Spring is here and almost gone in my yard in Pinellas County. Most of the really early blooming species have finished; the native azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), trillium (Trillium underwoodii), violets (Viola spp.), and green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) as well as the spring-blooming trees; silverbells (Halesia diptera), fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus), redbud (Cercis canadensis) and the like. ~ Craig Huegel

But, many others are just coming on. In my backyard woodland, I now have lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana), little brown jugs (Asarum arifolium), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and green dragon (Arisaema dracontium). What really excites me right now, however, is my fringed campion (Silene polypetala) and my downy phlox (Phlox pilosa). The woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) is long gone. In my wetland, many of my St. John's-worts (Hypericum spp.) are beginning to bloom, while around the edge the black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) are kicking in. I have developed a scrub and a xeric sandhill/flatwoods garden in the front. In the scrub, many of the woody mints are still blooming. These include the red basil (Calamintha coccinea), Ashe's savory (Calamintha ashei), and two of the conradinas (Conradina canescens and C. grandiflora). My beargrass (Nolina brittoniana) also is in full bloom.

Of course, some plants seem to nearly always be in bloom. My wife, Alexa, and I enjoy these dependable wildflowers that seem to give us just a little color both early in the season and late. These include the green-eyes (Berlandiera subacaulis and B. lyrata), the red salvia (Salvia coccinea), spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), and the blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella).

At present, we have more than 100 species of herbaceous wildflowers in our home landscape. As the seasons progress, I will be updating you all on what's in bloom here in over-developed Pinellas County.

Reported by - Craig Huegel, Pinellas County

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Taken on: June 2, 2010
Sets appears in:   • ~Planting    • Wildflowers in Florida Yards   
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