The true flower is the small green center. It is surrounded by 4 white, petal-like, 2 inch long bracts that are notched at the ends. These white bracts are commonly mistaken for the actual flowers.
Environments: Part Shade
Downy Beardtongue
Flowers are pink on the outside, white on the inside, and have 2 lips. The upper lip has 2 lobes and is shorter than the lower lip with 3 lobes.
Downy Lobelia
Purple tubular flowers often growing on one side of a spike. The upper lip has two lobes, the lower lip has three lobes and white markings.
Downy Phlox
Pink to pale purple clusters of flowers with 5 petals. The flowers, leaves and stems all have hairs.
Downy Skullcap
Tubular flowers open to 2 lips. The upper lip is hooded. The lower lip is larger and has a white patch near the throat. Several flowers grow along a central stalk (raceme).
Drummond’s St. John’s-wort
Yellow pinwheel-shaped flowers with needle-like leaves.
Dwarf St. John’s-wort
Flowers are in branching clusters at the end of the stem.
Early Goldenrod
Flowers are mostly on one side of the stem. The rays around the center disk are unevenly spaced and do not open at the same time. It is one of the earliest blooming goldenrods, beginning in July.
Eastern Oxeye
Yellow flower petals have slightly notched tips. The flower has a brownish-yellow center cone.
Eastern Redbud
Clusters of pink to red or purple pea-shaped flowers blooming before the leaves. Flowers grow right on the stems of new and old branches.