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| What's in Bloom? |
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JULY
Please scroll down to see more plants that may be featured this month.
Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly weed
Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is valued by gardeners for its striking orange color and because it does indeed attract butterflies. This native plant is a kind of milkweed, and no account of milkweeds can be written without reference to their flower structure and pollination mechanism. The characteristic milkweed flower has a complex design that can catch an insect pollinator and then apply pollen sacs to the insect's body as it struggles to escape. Butterfly weed is distinct from our other native milkweeds in having an alternate rather than opposite leaf arrangement. Because butterfly weed was once used to treat a lung ailment, it was formerly called pleurisy root. This eye-catching plant is frequently offered at our plant sales, but easily grows from seed as well. In the garden, butterfly weed prefers sun, well-drained soil and dry conditions. Because it is late to emerge in the spring, mark its location to avoid accidentally disturbing it. Look for it in our Visitor Center Garden and in the front meadow.
Clethra alnifolia - Sweet pepperbush
The midsummer racemes of fragrant, white - sometimes pink - flowers against dark green foliage make sweet pepperbush an easy plant to love. The common name is thought to indicate its persistent seed capsules, which look like brown peppercorns. However, both Clethra and alnifolia refer to the leaf’s resemblance to some species of alder. Sweet pepperbush often is used to create natural landscapes and is coveted for its dense appearance, showy flowers and vibrant yellow fall color. The cultivars "Pink Spires" and "Ruby Spice" have been selected to bring out the pink hues while "Hummingbird" is a dwarf plant with white flowers. Sweet pepperbush is sensitive to drought and is often planted near a water source. The leaves are not palatable to deer and the seeds provide food for birds. The 5-to 8-foot shrub establishes quickly, requires little care and attracts an abundance of wildlife including butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Sweet pepperbush can be found at the Pond, on Tower Road and in other moist areas.
Heliopsis helianthoides - False sunflower 
False sunflower, known to botanists as Heliopsis helianthoides, is a native wildflower found in woods, fields, flood plains and stream banks where it can grow over 5 feet tall. False sunflower is the only wildflower of the genus Heliopsis found in Pennsylvania. It is most similar to members of the sunflower group, hence the Latin and common name. False sunflower superficially resembles a number of other yellow composite wildflowers. But its oppositely arranged, stalked and toothed leaves help distinguish it from many other members of the Asteraceae family. False sunflower has an appealing classic wildflower look that works well in sunny borders or meadows. This rewarding native is often sold at our native plant sales and can be admired in our Visitor Center Garden.
Liatris spicata - Blazing star 
Blazing star grows in moist open areas and is easily recognized by its dense elongate spike of pink-purple flowers. The arrangement of flowers in a spike is a bit uncommon for a member of the Aster family. Even some other Liatris species hold their flowers in other arrangements. Also unusual is the pattern of flowering from the top down that Liatris spicata exhibits. Blazing star is a fine butterfly-attracting plant. This native is relatively hardy, reasonably drought-resistant, and easy to grow from seed. Unfortunately, it is popular with deer, so plantings made in our meadow outside the Preserve's deer fence are always at risk. But the plants in our nursery are safe! So blazing star is a frequent offering at plant sales. Plant it in a sunny location and enjoy it in the garden or as a cut flower.
Monotropa uniflora - Indian pipe
Nothing is more exciting than finding the striking white shoots and flowers of Indian pipe amongst leaf litter along woodland paths. Often confused with fungi due to its lack of chlorophyll, this plant is unable to perform photosynthesis. Botanists are still unsure whether this plant is a saprophyte or an epiparasite - either getting nutrients from dead plant matter or from a fungal relationship that transfers nutrients from living tree roots. Other common names include ghost plant, corpse plant and ice plant, all of which refer to the plant’s cold waxy feel and tendency to turn black when bruised or touched. Native Americans and colonists used Indian pipe to treat sore eyes by extracting a clear juice from the plant and dropping it directly into the eyes. Today, Indian pipe is a welcome, albeit unnerving, sight in beech and other deciduous hardwood forests from June to September. Find these earthy apparitions on the Azalea Trail and Gentian Trail along Pidcock Creek.
Phlox paniculata - Summer phlox
Summer phlox is a member of a genus that is very popular with gardeners. Whereas most phlox species are spring bloomers, including some with a creeping habit, summer phlox distinguishes itself by greater height, larger leaves and later onset of bloom. Sometimes known as garden phlox, it makes an excellent border plant for sun. The flowers, which are tubular at the base, flare out into five lobes held in clusters. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers for their nectar. The natural wild color is bold lavender-pink, but gardeners have developed many cultivars including a popular white cultivar called 'David' that is particularly resistant to mildew. Several phlox species are always offered at our spring plant sale. When visiting BHWP, look for various species of phlox in our Visitor Center Garden.
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