What’s Blooming Now: Late Summer Bloomers

Starting off with Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), this tall perennial with globular flower heads blooms from June through August. Viewed from afar, its unique structure adds architectural interest to any garden. It isn’t until we move closer that we recognize the impressive density of flowers coating each bulb. The feast of pollen provided by these flowers is beloved by bees and supports a wide variety of pollinators. Rattlesnake Master is a host plant for various species including the rattlesnake master stem borer moth (Papaipema eryngii) (photo credit: USDA Forest Services) and the recognizable black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes).

Don’t be intimidated by this plant’s common name; The name Rattlesnake Master originates from its root’s historic use by Native Americans as an antidote for rattlesnake venom. The species name yuccifolium refers to the plant’s long pointed leaves which resemble those of a yucca plant. However, unlike yucca, Rattlesnake Master is a part of the carrot family.

That’s right– grasses bloom too! It’s a real treat to see and appreciate the tiny florets on our native grasses, and Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) (Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation) is a great example of one with visible blooms. This ornamental grass spreads easily and forms bunched bursts of blades, typically around 2’ tall, which visually blend well with the native flowers it may be planted alongside (e.g., Black-eyed Susans, Purple Coneflower).

Sideoats Grama produces oat-like seeds that hang from one side of each stem. During its blooming season, the stamens (pollen-producing, male reproductive part) emerge from the seeds and are bright orangish-red in color. You may also spot the stigmas (pollen- accepting, female reproductive part), which surface on the sides of the seeds and have a white, feather-like appearance. Pollination for this grass, as with most, occurs through anemophily, which means their pollen is carried by the wind. If you gently tap on a blooming stem, you may see a cloud of pollen leave the stamens and drift away, hopefully reaching the stigmas of another plant!

The seeds are a delicious snack for many different bird species, and in the wild, this grass provides nest coverage for various ground-nesting birds. Sideoats Grama is popular amongst skipper butterflies, serving as a host plant for many species, including the green skipper and dotted skipper. You can find a suggested way to incorporate Sideoats Grama in a native garden on Deep Roots’ Sweet 16 plant list, where it features in the “Long Season” design.