Spring has officially sprung in the Lowcountry bringing many flowers, shrubs, and trees in full bloom. Some are native plants that have existed and developed in an area over time allowing them to adapt to unique growing conditions of that area. Native plants tend to need less watering and fertilizer than non-native plants because they have thrived in the area long before humans began planting them. Below are a few examples of native wildflowers that you might see around the community!
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
BLOOMS: late April through July in the southern US
SIZE: between 1 and 3 feet tall
COLOR: flowers are a shade of white (and on rare occasions pink).
fun fact: each flower head has 20-25 flowers
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
BLOOMS: April through September
SIZE: between 2 and 5 feet tall
COLOR: purple flowers
fun fact: petals droop from the center of the flower downward
Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
BLOOMS: May through August
SIZE: between 1 and 2 feet tall.
COLOR: red center with a yellow outer edge
fun fact: another name for Indian Blanket is Firewheel
Online Sources:
A list of SC native wildflowers from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
South Carolina Native Plant Society
