Bloom Report: Summer Wildflowers — Strange, Surprising and Just Plain Cool!

Scarlet hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) has foliage that strongly resembles that of marijuana. While it’s a wetland species, it typically does well in any good garden soil — as long as the soil does not dry out.

For some native wildflowers, the real show isn’t in the flowers at all — it’s in the bracts, just like poinsettia. Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) has striking whitish-purple to purple bracts beneath its much smaller honey-colored flowers. Two common wetland species, Starrush whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata) and Giant whitetop (Rhynchospora latifolia), feature large white bracts tipped in green beneath their tiny white to cream-colored flowers.

Have you ever tried collecting milkweed seeds? It can be difficult — and frustrating — thanks to the fluffy, hair-like pappus attached to each seed. Not so with Swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis). This wetland species has adapted to its habitat by ditching the fluff and developing seeds that float on water instead.

Lanceleaf blanketflower (Gaillardia aestivalis) is now the only Gaillardia species considered native to Florida. Recent research revealed that the widespread and popular Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella) is actually not native to Florida.

Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), a host plant for Gulf fritillary (Papilio vanillae) and Zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia) butterflies, is easy to grow from seed. But first, you’ll need to remove the gelatinous coating (the “goo”) that surrounds the seeds inside the fruit — it can inhibit germination

Sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa), which continues blooming into summer, can produce its own nitrogen — one of the three essential nutrients needed for plant growth. It does this through a process called nitrogen fixation, in which bacteria living in its root nodules converts atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form.

Species in the Meadowbeauty (Rhexia) genus produce a unique fruit that is shaped like a miniature vase. Not only are they ornamental, but this distinctive fruit makes it a good characteristic for identification.

You probably know that Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) isn’t a moss. But did you know it produces tiny, inconspicuous flowers in the summer? Or that it’s a relative of the pineapple? Both are members of the Bromeliaceae or bromeliad family. And no, Spanish moss does not kill trees — it just tends to thrive in trees that are in decline where the canopy has opened up to allow more light.

“Juice sucker” might best describe a power-hungry appliance — but the term also fittingly describes Dodder (Cuscuta spp.)*, a parasitic wildflower with small, yellowish to whitish blooms. Lacking roots and chlorophyll, Dodder cannot produce its own food; instead, it wraps around host plants to siphon off water and nutrients — literally sucking the “juice” out of them. It’s easy to recognize: look for its telltale tangle of yellow-orang string-like stems draped across other vegetation. Most Dodders that occur in Florida are native.