Ten Fall Blooms
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
It's impossible to miss the bold, deep hue of ironweed. Often growing between five to seven feet tall, the small clusters of flowers are a deep, brilliant purple. It is often found in wet, open areas- look for it along the edge of Bunns Lake in Bradle Woods Reservation.
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
This small, demure goldenrod prefers to grow in partialy shaded, wooded areas instead of sunny meadows. It is one of the few goldenrods in Cleveland Metroparks that grows in forests- look for it along the Fort Hill Trail in Rocky River Reservation.
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
Obedient plant loves open spaces for lots of direct sunlight and offers a beautiful pop of pink in late summer and early fall. Look for pastel-pinkish flowers that grow in tall spires in the meadows at West Creek Reservation.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
The purple blooms of New England aster provide an important late-season source of nectar for pollinators like migrating monarch butterflies. This tall plant can be found in moist, partly shady areas in many areas- check out North and South Chagrin Reservations for ample displays of color.
Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum)
This plant grows up to five feet tall, sports clusters of fluffy white flowers and loves shady forests. Look for it on the woodland trails and along the edges of forests and meadows in Hinckley Reservation.
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
This showy flower grows around three feet tall with blue, complex tubular flowers that are worth a close-up look. It grows in moist soils but can tolerate shade through full sun. Look for it in the meadows of Acacia Reservation.
Common Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
As a composite flower, each bright yellow bloom of sneezeweed is actually composed of multiple flowers. Look closely- the "petals" are actually three-lobed ray flowers and the yellowish center sphere is made of tiny, individual disk flowers. Sneezeweed prefers wet soil and full sun and can be found growing in Brecksville Reseration's tallgrass prairie.
White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
Standing up to fourt feet tall, this shape of this white, two-lipped flower is reminiscent of an actual turtle's head. Turtlehead can be found in the gardens of Rocky River Nature Center and along the All Purpose Trail near W. Ridgewood Dr. in West Creek Reservation.
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
The forests of Bedford Reservation are a great place to look for the small orange flowers of jewelweed, which is common along streamside woodland trails and grow up to five feet tall . The spring-loaded, mature fruits of jewelweed have a unique method of dispersing seeds and burst open with force when touched.
Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)
Around ten feet in height, Wingstem is one of our tallest wildflowers and towers above hikers passing by. The stems have distinct, green, leafy ridges, or "wings," that grow along their length. Wingstem is common and can easily be spotted along the Towpath Trail in Ohio Erie & Canal Reservation.
