What's Blooming in September?

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 The end of summer in Florida is one of the most colorful times of the year, with a rainbow of fall wildflowers blooming all over the state.

Get out and enjoy a bright and beautiful hike! Here's what's blooming in September in Hillsborough County's nature preserves and conservation parks.


Partridge Pea


Its beautiful, bright yellow flowers help partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) attract bees and butterflies by the hundreds, providing nectar for many pollinator species into the late fall. Sensitive compound leaves give this plant a fluffy, delicate look and small, pea-like seed pods make an excellent winter food source for Florida's feathered friends. Look for this bright yellow beauty in open, sandy areas at Camp Bayou Nature Preserve in Ruskin.


Dotted Horsemint


Sporting tall spikes of tiny, white- and purple-spotted flowers surrounded by pale purple and green leaves, dotted horsemint (Monarda punctata) makes a showy statement. Blooming in late summer and early fall, this beautiful plant, also called bee balm, has a pleasant herbal scent and attracts many species of pollinators. Look for it in sunny spots like the butterfly garden of Bell Creek Nature Preserve in Riverview.


Goldenrod


With over 20 species in Florida, these fall favorites are well named - their flowers range from a pale yellow to a rich, buttery gold. Goldenrod (Solidago species) grows in various habitats around the state, from wetlands to scrub, but usually prefers open areas with plenty of light. Find these bright blooms in the sunny fields of Alafia River Corridor Nature Preserve (South) in Lithia. And remember- goldenrod isn't to blame for fall allergies! That distinction belongs to ragweed, which blooms around the same time with a much less distinctive flower.

Liatris


With their spikes of electric-purple flowers and common names like blazing star and gayfeather, these fall-blooming favorites (Liatris species) are sure to delight any hiker. They don't flower for long, so catch them while you can! Look for these showy blooms along the trail at Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve in Lutz. Many Liatris species flower even more profusely after a prescribed fire, so pay close attention in areas that look like they've been burned recently.



Do you love native plants, want to connect with others who love them, or want to learn more about them? Join a representative from the Suncoast Native Plant Society for a Native Plant Walk at Lettuce Lake Park on Saturday, September 5th at 9:00 a.m.

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