Who can argue that nature when left alone, paints some of the most beautiful pictures man has ever experienced? Native wildflowers constitute a palate of rich and vibrant colors that never fails to inspire feelings of awe and tranquility for those lucky enough to view their majestic beauty.


BUTTERFLY WEED or Orange Milkweed is a common sight in dry, sunny spots across Ohio. The caterpillars of Monarch butterflies feed upon the leaves of this beautiful wildflower.	SULLIVANT'S MILKWEED is a typical prairie species of central and northwestern Ohio. The bright purple flowers and upright leaves are easy to spot along dry roadsides.	GRAY-HEADED CONEFLOWER grows in dry, limy soils. The prairie bluff at Greenville Falls State Nature Preserve, Miami County, is a good place to see this tall prairie wildflower.	WILD PETUNIA is a misleading name for this member of the acanthus family. It grows on the edges of moist woods throughout Ohio. The violet flowers only open in the morning.

The white flowers and stems of INDIAN-PIPE or ghost-plant are found in the deep shade of pine or oak forests. The plants lack all chlorophyll and survive on fungus and organic matter in the soil.	YELLOW-FRINGED ORCHID is one of the most brightly-colored of all Ohio wildflowers. This rare species grows on moist, sunny banks in the Shawnee State Forest in southeast Ohio.	WHITE WAND-LILY wildflower grows in ponds and lakes across Ohio, including Tinker's Creek State Nature Preserve. The large flowers open at dawn and close about sunset.	PRAIRIE ROSE is the only species of climbing rose native to Ohio. The stems climb high into shrubbery and through thickets. Milford Center State Nature Preserve, Union County features this species plus two other species of wild roses.

Many species of ARROWHEAD occur in Ohio. The broad-leaved arrowhead seen here is the most common. It grows along streams and in marshes in every Ohio county.	NORTHERN BLAZING-STAR flourishes in extremely dry, sunny places. This species is very tolerant of heat and drought. It grows in prairie remnants, such as Milford Center State Nature Preserve.	OHIO SPIDERWORT is named for having been described to science from northern Ohio. It grows in prairies and on grassy roadsides in all parts of the state and also is commonly cultivated.	BLACK-EYED SUSAN grows in pastures and on roadsides in all parts of Ohio. This is the most common coneflower in the state. The coneflowers are named for the large central "cone" in which the seeds are imbedded.

WHITE SNAKEROOT is a common sight in young woods throughout Ohio. The milk produced by cows which have fed on this plant is very poisonous. "Milk sickness" killed many Ohioans in the nineteenth century.	The brilliant spikes of CARDINAL FLOWER are frequent along streams and in swamp woods throughout Ohio. This species is a special favorite of hummingbirds. A good place to see this brilliant species is Tinker's Creek State Nature Preserve in Portage County.