Wingstem Memories

When I ponder that place, and all those wildflowers, Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) always seems to come to mind first. That's probably because of the flowers.

Certainly there was plenty of competition for attention among all those wildflowers, not to mention the host of butterflies in all colors and sizes fluttering among the blossoms. But the Wingstem, it was abundant, it was tall, and the gorgeous yellow flowers had drooping petals that surrounded the spiky center disk. It got itself noticed first.

As you might suspect, Wingstem is a member of the Aster or Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It prefers rich soil, and is usually found in moist thickets near streams, floodplains, and at the edge of woods. The flower heads get up to two inches wide, its alternate leaves seem to flow up and out of the stem's "wings", and it grows up to eight feet tall. Who wouldn't notice all that?

The long tubes of the disk flowers make it difficult for short-tongued insects to get at the nectar, thus they are primarily visited by such long-tongued insects as bumble bees, as well as some butterflies. Wingstem is also a host plant to the Silvery Checkerspot, providing food for the butterfly's larvae. (The Silvery Checkerspot was perfectly at home among those Adams County prairies; coneflowers, asters and sunflowers were also host plants.)

Because the leaves are bitter, Wingstem isn't a popular choice for browsing wildlife.

There really isn't much else to say about Wingstem. It is yet one more lovely wildflower unknown to many folks. It blooms late in the summer. And it sways in the breezes of my memories, bright yellow in a perfect meadow, a near-unguent to soothe a mid-life crisis.

"Wingstem Memories" © 2003 Gregg M. Pasterick - All Rights Reserved.

All Photographs © Gregg M. Pasterick - All Rights Reserved.

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