Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Frostweed

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Distribution: North America

Life form: Perennial plant

Comments: Frostweed is a native wild flower that blooms in very late summer and early fall, just in time to provide a nectar source for migrating monarch butterflies. Its white flowers are also highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. They can grow from 3 to 6 feet high and have interesting "wings" all along the stems. The most curious and fantastic show from these plants occurs in the winter when they are dormant and not even growing. When night temperatures are below freezing, the base of the stems will start to “grow” ribbons of ice that melt in the morning sun light. So be sure to get up early and look for these fleeting frost flowers.