Forest Service

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Mark Twain National Forest | August 2022

Wildflowers of
Missouri

The wildflowers of Missouri are as diverse as the

people who live here. There are more than 2,000
species of plants that call the Show-me state home.
The 10 covered here are all native and would make an
excellent addition to any native pollinator garden.

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Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
The blue false indigo can be
recognized by its blue-purple
flowers that form a dense and
upright cluster on its stem.
Despite being a member of
the pea family (Fabaceae),
you wouldn’t want it on your
dinner plate - it is toxic! Due
to its toxic nature, some
Native American tribes
brewed indigo tea to induce vomiting. The plant was also used
as an anti-inflammatory and a treatment for toothaches. The
flowers have been used as a dye substitute for a similar flower,
old world indigos, hence one of its common names, the false
indigo. Native to much of the central and eastern United States,
this species is susceptible to attack by the Baptisia weevil which
can have negative effects on its germination. This species is a
bumblebee favorite, one of the first to bloom in the spring, and
has a shrub-like appearance. It forms seed pods once flowers
have matured. Those seeds are simple to collect, but I could
take up to five years for blue false indigo to establish and bloom
in a native garden.

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Columbines are unmistakable with showy red, drooping, bell-
shaped flowers. These flowers are attractive to hummingbirds,
insects, and other animals that have long tongues, suitable
for reaching the flower’s nectar. Native American men are
reported to have used its crushed seeds to attract romantic

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attention - a real life love
potion. The plant’s genus
“Aquilegia” comes from
“aquila” which means
eagle. This name refers
to the flower’s spurred
petals which some people
believe resembles the
talons of an eagle. Despite
being a relatively short-
lived plant, columbines can self-seed to increase or maintain
its populations. While its flowers are safe to eat, its stems
and roots contain toxins. At the Poplar Bluff District office, this
plant has been used by monarch caterpillars as sites where
metamorphosis occurs.

Glade Coneflower (Echinacea simulata)

One of five coneflowers in
Missouri, this species can be
identified by its yellow pollen
and drooping pink/purple
flowers. Its seeds are a
favorite of goldfinches whose
breeding season corresponds
to when the plant’s seeds are
most abundant. Coneflowers
are used to treat the common
cold although scientists and doctors debate the effectiveness of
this treatment. Due to its medicinal value, the species has been
subject to overharvesting by collectors. This overcollection has
led to state laws restricting the collecting of plants on Missouri’s
highways. Coneflowers are a member of the sunflower family
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(Asteraceae), the world’s largest plant family with more than
30,000 species. Glade coneflower is not nearly as aggressive
as its relative, the Purple Coneflower.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

A close relative of the glade
coneflower, the purple
coneflower differentiates in
having a lighter shade of
flowers and a slightly later
bloom time (April through
September). The genus
name “Echinacea” comes
from the Greek Echinos,
meaning hedgehog. The apt name is referencing the spiny
central disk. The plant is a mild natural antibiotic and is thought
to improve white blood count. The flowers can be brewed into
a tea, and its extract is available in many health food stores.
This species (along with other coneflowers) attracts butterflies,
hummingbirds, and many native bees. If left unchecked, it can
become aggressive in a small garden setting.

Golden Alexander
(Zizia aurea)
Golden Alexanders are a
member of the carrot family
(Apiaceae). Members of
this family can be identified
by their small flowers that

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form a flat or curved surface. Other members of this family
include celery, parsley, and carrot. Golden Alexanders have
a wide habitat range, stretching from Montana in the west to
Novia Scotia and the Atlantic coast in the east. It can survive
in a variety of climates but does best in wetter areas. Golden
Alexanders serve as a host plant for the Ozark swallowtail, an
endemic butterfly that is only found in Missouri, Arkansas, and
Kentucky. The bright yellow flowers also serve as an attractor
for other insects including various bees and wasps.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly weed is a species
of milkweed, named for
the butterflies attracted to
its bright orange flowers.
Milkweeds get their name
due to the latex like
substance it emits when
damaged. The milky sap
contains cardenolides,
a toxin that protects the
monarch butterfly from predators. Milkweeds, including the
butterfly weed, serve as host plants for monarch butterflies.
This makes the plant extremely important and necessary for
the development from larvae into the beautiful butterflies we all
know and love. Native Americans chewed on the plant’s tough
roots to treat pleurisy, bronchitis, and other pulmonary ailments.
This explains the plant’s other common name, the pleurisy root.
While the plant itself is not edible, it is only toxic to humans in
very large doses. Butterfly weed can be seen blooming along
Missouri roadsides and open fields. Its large taproot allows it to
easily tolerate dry conditions. In 2011, butterfly weed plants in
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the garden were decimated by an overabundance of monarch
caterpillars. Some were observed being carried off by a
predator, the red wasp.

Missouri Primrose
(Oenothera
macrocarpa)
The Missouri primrose can
be identified by its large
and showy bright yellow
flowers. The flowers can
grow to be 4 inches wide. The flowers will last for only one day,
usually opening in the late afternoon and only staying open until
the next morning. That is why the flower is also known as the
Missouri evening primrose. Because it is only open at night, the
primrose is pollinated by species that are active in the evening.
This includes many species of moths and night-feeding bees.
Missouri primrose are found on the limestone glades and bluffs
of the Ozarks, but they are also a popular plant for gardening
and roadside beautification efforts. Also an early bloomer, paired
with Rose Verbena makes a stunning sight.

Purple Poppy Mallow

(Callirhoe involucrata)
Despite its potentially confusing
name, this species is a mallow
and not a poppy. Its name is
a reference to the fact that its

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flowers look like poppies from a distance. A member of the
mallow family (Malvaceae), this species counts hibiscus, okra,
and cotton among its diverse cousins. Like many members
of the family, the huge, bulbous roots of purple poppy mallow
are both edible and known to have a pleasant taste. Many
Native Americans and early European settlers made the
plant an important part of their diet. They were also used as a
pain reliever. They are principally pollinated by bees and are
eaten by many creatures, including woodchucks, rabbits, and
deer. Although extremely beautiful, this species can become
aggressive if left unchecked. It stays relatively low to the ground,
creeping along and filling voids in the garden but has also
popped up in the nearby turf!

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium

yuccifolium)
Seeing this plant, you might
think it would be more at
home in the arid deserts
of the Southwest instead
of the hills of the Ozarks,
but it has made its home
here- just like us! Despite its
resemblance to the yuccas,
it is a member of the carrot
family (Apiaceae). Each
plant can have up to 40 heads, each with 100 flowers - that’s a
lot of flowers! The flowers attract many pollinators, particularly
predatory wasps, which serve an important ecological niche and
help to reduce the number of nuisance insects in an area. This
species was used by Native Americans for a variety of medical

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purposes, leading early European settlers to falsely believe that
it was a treatment for rattlesnake bites - hence the common
name.

Rose Verbena (Glandularia canadensis)

Rose Verbena is a low-lying
plant that has hairy stems
and leaves. The small flowers
tend to be either pink or
purple. It is thought that the
type of soil plays a large role
in the color of flower that an
individual plant produces.
This species thrives in rock
gardens and pots, making it
a favorite of gardeners throughout Missouri. The species’ nectar
is an important food source for bees, butterflies, and skippers.
Its seeds are consumed by birds and mice, which also play an
important role in helping to spread the seeds. Rose Verbena
can be propagated from the stem and will develop roots at the
leaf nodes. This species is very beautiful and blooms all season.
Like all low-lying plants, it can disappear from the garden if other
plants are allowed to overtop and shade it out.