North Carolina Wildflowers

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Asteraceae (Compositae)

Virginia Thistle (Cirsium virginianum) Virginia Thistle (Cirsium virginianum)
Craven Co., NC
28 Aug 2005
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Orange Co., NC 7/20/2005

Although not native to the U.S. and considered by several states to be a Noxious Weed, Bull Thistle is a great butterfly nectar source, as this Clouded Skipper can attest to!

Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
same as above
Yellow Thistle (Cirsium horridulum)
Pender Co., NC
24 April 2004
Threadleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata) Threadleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

In NC, this plant grows in and near dry woodlands. Common in the piedmont, less so in the mountains and coastal plain.

Threadleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata) Threadleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Threadleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata) Threadleaf Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Common Leopardbane (Arnica acaulis) Common Leopardbane (Arnica acaulis)
Johnston Co., NC
29 May 2005

Found in NC in the eastern piedmont and throughout most of the coastal plain.

Purplehead Sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) Purplehead Sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum)
Johnston Co., NC
29 May 2005

Uncommon but widespread across NC

Purplehead Sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) Purplehead Sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum)
Johnston Co., NC
29 May 2005
Lobed Tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata) Lobed Tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata)
Orange Co., NC 16 May 2004
Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)

Chatham Co., NC
20 Oct 2005

Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Durham Co., NC 1 May 2005

Fairly common in central NC, this plant blooms in the spring.

Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
Person Co., NC 13 June 2006

Fairly common in central NC, this plant blooms in the spring.

Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum) Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006
Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum) Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006
Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum) Kidneyleaf Rosinweed (Silphium compositum)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006
Blazing Star (Liatris sp.) Blazing Star (Liatris sp.)
Orange Co., NC
19 Sep 2004

Blazing Stars are great nectar plants in powerlines and savannas in the late summer and fall.

Blazing Star (Liatris graminifolia) Blazing Star (Liatris graminifolia)
Craven Co., NC 28 Aug 2005

This fall blooming species is often a butterfly magnet in power line clearings.

New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
Durham Co., NC
20 Aug 2005

same as above

This species is a favorite nectar source for butterflies.
Large Flower Aster (Aster grandiflorus) Large Flower Aster (Aster grandiflorus)
Orange Co., NC
24 Sep 2004

Most authorities now place "asters" native to the U.S. into the genus Symphyotrichum, thus the new scientific name for this species is Symphyotrichum grandiflorum. This species is uncommon in NC where it is found scattered across the piedmont and coastal plain. It is endemic to the Carolinas and Virginia.

Late Purple Aster (Aster patens) Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens) = (Aster patens)
Chatham Co., NC
20 Oct 2005

Late Purple Aster (Aster patens) same individual as above, showing leaves
New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii) New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii)
Dare Co., NC
4 Nov 2005

A common aster in the NC coastal plain in savannahs, marshes, wet dunes, and pine lands. Ray flower color is variable from nearly white to bluish-violet.

New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii) New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii)
Dare Co., NC
4 Nov 2005

New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii) New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii)
Dare Co., NC
4 Nov 2005

Growing at the edge of a Phragmites marsh in the back dunes at the north end of Pea Island on the Outer Banks.

Tiger Swallowtail on Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Orange Co., NC 6 June 04
Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
Orange Co., NC 11 June 2005

Daisies are introduced from Europe, and in general are relatively poor nectar plants for butterflies. However, when few other flowers are available, butterflies will use daisies.

Mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum)

Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

This fall-flowering species was formerly placed in the genus Eupatorium. It can be an excellent butterfly magnet in some parts of the state, especially along the coast.
Mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum) same as above
Toothed White-topped Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides) Toothed White-topped Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Common statewide in dry soil habitats across NC.

Toothed White-topped Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides) Toothed White-topped Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Toothed White-topped Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides) Toothed White-topped Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006


Unknown Asteraceae (Compositae)

which fleabane?
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006
same as above
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006
same as above
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com