Plant of the Week: Cornus canadensis
Plant of the Week! One of the smallest Dogwoods, Cornus canadensis, Bunchberry, is a rhizomatous groundcover found in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests in the northern U.S. and Canada. It is a circumpolar species, meaning it inhabits a pole, in this case the northern pole, and thus can be found in Asia as well. A... Learn More
Plant, er, Fungus, of the Week! Morel Mushrooms
Plant…er, Fungus, of the Week! Morel mushrooms are not a single species but are made up of many species in the Morchella genus. The part of the mushroom that is seen, and sought after, is the fruiting body of the organism. Underground, the hyphae have a fascinating life of their own. Some species are saprotrophic,... Learn More
Plant of the Week: Sanguinaria canadensis
Plant of the Week! Another lovely woodland spring ephemeral is Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot. A short-statured, rhizomatous plant, its bright white flowers are a welcome sight among the duff on the forest floor. It produces only basal leaves, which are wrapped around the flower stalks. The leaves slowly unfurl while the flower fades away. The blooming... Learn More
Plant of the Week: Allium tricoccum
Plant of the Week! Gaining in popularity for their culinary use, Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are as attractive as they are tasty. Their large, lush green leaves are some of the first foliage on the spring forest floor, but they don’t last long. By early to mid-summer, the leaves will have withered and been replaced with... Learn More
Plant of the Week: Hydrophyllum virginianum
Plant of the Week! Hydrophyllum virginianum, Virginia Waterleaf, gets its name from the tiny white spots that appear on its leaves, resembling water marks. It is a native mesic woodland perennial with a range that extends from Quebec south to Tennessee. It is relatively short in stature, up to 2 ft tall, and spreads through... Learn More
Plant of the Week – Podophyllum peltatum
Plant of the Week! Podophyllum peltatum, Mayapple, is popping up in woodlands across the Midwest. The plants consist of either a single large umbrella-shaped leaf at the top of a two foot stem, or a branched stem with two leaves and a 2-3 inch showy flower in the leaf axil. Found in deciduous forests, Mayapples... Learn More
Plant of the Week: Claytonia virginica
Plant of the Week! Another pretty and fleeting wildflower that you may see right now is Claytonia virginica, Spring Beauty. A woodland flower, it can be found in dry to moist deciduous woods, sparsely wooded bluffs, and even urban situations, such as parks and cemeteries. It is a great choice for underplanting or naturalizing into... Learn More
Plant of the Week: Cornus alternifolia
Plant of the Week! A striking tree in every season, Cornus alternifolia, Pagoda Dogwood, is the only Wisconsin Dogwood with alternate leaves. Its strongly horizontal, layered branching habit sets it apart and makes for strong architectural interest. Flat clusters of small white flowers appear in spring, followed by fruits that change from green to red... Learn More
Plant of the Week – Erythronium albidum
Plant of the Week! It’s a special time in southern Wisconsin: now that the snow is gone, spring ephemerals are starting to bloom and can be enjoyed for a short window of time before they become dormant again. Erythronium albidum is one of these fleeting wildflowers. Common names include Trout Lily, Fawn Lily, and Dogtooth... Learn More
Plant of the Week: Pulsatilla patens
Plant of the Week! The Silkie Bantam of the plant world, Pulsatilla patens, Eastern Pasqueflower, is short in stature and has downy hairs covering its leaves, flowers, and seed heads (shown here). The plant will start blooming right around now (the common name refers to its Easter bloom time; “pascal” is Latin for Easter), but... Learn More