Flowers (Medium to Moist Soil)

Medium soils range from well-drained to somewhat poorly drained and may consist of sandy loam or clay with a thick, dark, nutrient-rich upper layer. Vegetation is dense and ranges from low (ground cover) to tall (>5 feet).

Moist soils may be subject to periodic flooding during spring melt or after heavy rains but do not remain water-logged. They are typically found in the transition zone between wetland and upland and can vary between clay, silt, loam and sand. The dominant graminoids, or grass-like plants, in these habitats are grasses (not sedges).

Self-heal or Heal-all

Self-Heal, heal-all (Prunella vulgaris) This gorgeous low-growing mint has definitely earned its name! Self-heal has been the subject of a lot of scientific and medical research – most of it in vitro or in vivo. […]

Eastern virgin’s-bower

This vine produces clusters of pure white flowers that turn into fluffy, beard-like plumes.

Balsam Ragwort

Golden ragwort brightens up the spring prairie with its gold-centered yellow flowers that stand above the surrounding vegetation.

Silverweed

The bright yellow flowers aren’t the only attractive feature of this plant...

Wild Strawberry

A common understory plant in both prairie and woodland habitats.

Yellow stargrass

Ranked S3, or vulnerable, in Manitoba.

Two-flowered cynthia

A rare find in Manitoba’s tall grass prairie/aspen parkland.

Alumroot

Three species of insects – a cellophane bee, a flea beetle and an aphid- are exclusive to alumroots.

Smooth camas

At the base of each flower petal is a greenish heart-shaped gland that secretes nectar and attracts a variety of insects.

Showy or Gray goldenrod

Flowers are uniquely arranged on one side of the stem.

Canada goldenrod

What’s really neat about this goldenrod is its pin-wheel leaf arrangement.

Slender false foxglove

An annual hemi-parasite that does well in disturbed, low-fertility soils.

Meadow Blazingstar

A favoured nectar source for monarch butterflies.

Smooth Rattlesnake Root

Not rare, but not common, either.

White Lettuce

Clusters of pink and white flowers dangle from stalks that develop on the top half of the plant.

Culver’s root

An insect magnet, attracting a wide range of bees, butterflies, flies and spiders.

Scarlet Paintbrush

The most striking red flower I've ever seen!

Yellow Paintbrush

These hemi-parasitic plants appear to have been dipped in bright yellow paint.

Wild Licorice

Look closely at the undersides of the leaves and you’ll find they’re covered in resinous dots.

Northern Bedstraw

Pass by a patch of northern bedstraw and you’ll surely be caught in a cloud of sweet perfume.

Black Snakeroot

Sometimes it’s the things that aren’t look-at-me spectacular that are the most intriguing.

Calico Aster

The small white flowers have centers that quickly turn colour from creamy to purplish.

Many-flowered Aster

The flowers provide a late-season nectar source for a wide range of insects.

Tall Meadow Rue

Attractive in both the vegetative and flowering stages.

Swamp Lousewort

A hemiparasite on asters, native grasses and some non-native grasses.