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Wingstem growing within a young tree planting (Photo credit: Ryan Davis).

Keep an eye out for wingstem as the summer wraps up! You’ll often see it peeking out over other herbaceous plants since it can grow to be 8 feet tall. Wingstem (or sometimes called yellow ironweed) is a relatively tall herbaceous plant that gets yellow flowers from roughly August–October. Its scientific name is Verbesina alternifolia which refers to its similarity to the Verbena plant genus and its alternate leaf arrangement. If you look closely at its stems, you’ll see the raised ridges that give it its common name.

You will often find it on woodland edges or in open, semi-wet meadows. It spreads by seed and rhizomes so you will often see it growing in colonies. It is generally used by long-tongued insects for nectar while the caterpillars of the Gold Moth and Silvery Checkerspot feed on its foliage; it is considered deer-resistant due to the bitter taste of its leaves. It supports a wide variety of pollinators and is a great addition to the wet meadows and woodland edges of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed!

If you see something blooming, leafing out, ripening, or otherwise changing in your woods, send us photos (forestsforthebay@gmail.com) to include in next month’s Forests for the Bay newsletter for more phenological fun!