Cool Facts About Tall Ironweed
- Striking purple flowers appear mid to late summer until late fall
- The straight dead stems of this plant in the following year are strong and long enough to be used in kite making
- As indicated above, the stems are strong and hence the name 'Ironweed' - it is also difficult to dig up this plant's roots with a shovel
- The roots of this plant were used by Native North Americans to relieve pain
- In a single year, one plant can produce 6,000 to 19,000 seeds
Know Anything Else Cool About Ironweed?
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Cool Facts About New England Aster
- The flower color is variable, ranging from lavender to blue to white
- There have been numerous cultivars of this plant developed due to its showy colour and full long lasting late blooms
- It has been introduced to many areas beyond its natural range, including several western US states. as well as Europe
- Prefers full sun in moist, rich soil
- A great butterfly garden plant that attracts other pollinators including honey bees, wasps and bumble bees
- New England aster grows in prairie swales, wet meadows, alluvial soils and thickets, low fields in valleys, and moist ground along streams.
Know Anything Else Cool About New England Aster?
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Cool Facts About Pickerel Weed
- This plant is typically found in quiet, shallow waters, at the margins of bays and inlets, in sloughs, or ponds
- Pickerel Weeds are effective biological filters of poor water quality
- The roots of this plant spread rapidly by rhizomes but are also favoured by gnawing rodents such as Muskrats
- Dozens of different species of ducks will feed on the seed heads that form after the purple flowers fade in August/ September
- The seeds are also safe for human consumption and can be eaten off the stem or dried and added to granola cereal; very young leaves can be added to salads for fresh 'greens'
- Many species of dragonflies and their close relatives, damselflies, will lay eggs at on the stem of this plant just above the water level
- Several species of fish are known to seek shelter in the dense clump of root systems that are created by this plant - hence the name, 'Pickerel Weed'
- We use Pickerel Weeds in many of our garden installations including the Complete Backyard Biosphere (top two photos at left)
Know Anything Else Cool About Pickerel Weed?
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Cool Facts About Cardinal Flowers
- Cardinal flowers have a long bloom time
- This time is more than enough for them to be noticed by Hummingbirds which will frequent them for nectar
- Cardinal flowers often attract a number of butterflies, including the Spicebush Swallowtail (see Garden Menu for photo)
- Native indigenous peoples used the roots of this plant for a tea for a number of intestinal ailments and syphilis
- Leaf teas were used by Native Peoples for bronchial problems and colds
- Meskawaki People used Cardinal Flower as an ingredient of an inhalant against catarrh
- It was apparently not smoked, but may have been chewed by some Native Peoples
- This plant contains a number of different alkaloids and is considered potentially dangerous because of toxicity
- An individual Cardinal Flower can live up to 7 years
Know Anything Else Cool About Cardinal Flowers?
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As you can see by these glorious photos, this flower offers a lot of colour.
