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San Antonio Natural Area Parks |
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FROSTWEED
Frostweed after the first real freeze of the season. |
In the Winter, as the temperature falls a few degrees below freezing, the dead stems of Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) split at the base and extrude a thin, curling shaving of ice. If you will carefully note the location of a blooming colony, you can go back one morning a few months later (after a hard freeze) and observe this effect. Frostweed has erect unbranched stems, 3 to 6 feet tall and is found in rich loamy soils near creeks or in the shade of large trees. It grows throughout our area. Wing-like ribs run the length of the green stems. Numerous small flower heads are arranged in a massive inflorescence up to 6" across. Both the ray and disk flowers are dull white to greenish white. Frostweed is a perennial blooming from August to November. |
Peggy Spring is Park Naturalist for Natural Area Parks education and volunteers.
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design by woodland company | sponsored by Friends of Friedrich Park |
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