Observations have been made at Pleasant Valley Conservancy of the growth, flowering, and seed set for many plant species. The table below gives the averages for 126 species for a four-year period. Included in this table are prairie, savanna, and woodland species. Weeds and non-native species are not included.
The plants are arranged in this table by the time of first flowering, since this is the time when each species is most readily visible. The species listed are only those that are present at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, but this list includes most of the common prairie, savanna, and woodland species to be found at other locations in southern Wisconsin.
Phenology of the vegetative state Although the species are arranged by the time of first flowering, data are also given on the times when the plants were first observed in the vegetative state. The column “1st leaves” gives dates when the first recognizable leaves have been seen. These dates are beneficial because they give early seasonal clues to the success of restoration work. However, not all species are easily recognized in the vegetative state. The leaves of some species are not very distinctive so a positive identification is not possible. Recognizing a plant in its vegetative state helps a lot to know where it is likely to grow, and when. The leaves of some plants (prairie dock and compass plant) are so characteristic that positive identification is easy. For others, considerable field experience is necessary. When in doubt, mark the plant and return it when it is in flower.
Phenology of flower bud formation Although the species are arranged by the time of first flowering, many species can be recognized much earlier because of their distinctive flower buds. The column giving these dates may thus be helpful.
Phenology of flowering Flowering times vary from year to year, and also from site to site. Thus, the times in this table are only approximate. Some species flower over only a very short duration, whereas others flower over a much longer period of the growing season. No single specimen of a species will flower for a long time, but different specimens, either in the same location or at different locations, may flower early while others flower late. Examples of species that flower over a long period are black-eyed susan and ox-eye sunflower.
Phenology of seed set Some species set ripe seeds soon after they are finished flowering, whereas the seeds of others take much longer to ripen. Some species hold their seeds for long periods of time, so that seed collecting is easy, whereas other species drop their seeds soon after they are ripe. The data in the table give a rough approximation of the phenology of the seed set. Also given are approximate dates when ripe seeds can be collected. Follow this link for more extensive data on seed-collecting dates. Those species whose seeds are held in pods are listed in the Comments column. Since the seeds are ripening inside pods, it is difficult to determine when they are ready to collect. The collecting dates given in the table are only approximate but may be helpful. Also given are the last dates at which seeds can be collected. Again, these dates are only approximate
Flowering times: Sorted by date of first flowers
| Latin name | Common name | 1st leaves | Fl buds | 1st flower | Last flower | 1st seeds | 1st collect seeds | Last collect seeds | Comments |
| Ranunculus fascicularis | Early buttercup | 24-Mar | 23-May | 7-Jun | |||||
| Caltha palustris | Marsh marigold | 8-Apr | 11-Apr | 19-May | 19-May | ||||
| Oxalis violacea | Violet wood-sorrel | 14-Apr | 2-Jun | 7-Jun | |||||
| Viola pedata | Bird’s foot violet | 14-Apr | 20-May | 23-May | 31-May | 15-Jun | |||
| Viola soraria | Door-yard violet | 14-Apr | 27-May | ||||||
| Antennaria neglecta | Field pussytoes | 10-Apr | 12-Apr | 15-Apr | 13-May | 24-May | 10-Jun | ||
| Anemone quinquefolia | Wood anemone | 14-Apr | 17-Apr | 22-May | |||||
| Aquilegia canadensis | Wild columbine | 31-Mar | 17-Apr | 20-Apr | 17-Jun | 15-Jun | 30-Jun | 15-Jul | |
| Ranunculus abortivus | Small-flowered buttercup | 19-Apr | 22-Apr | 27-May | 15-Jun | ||||
| Lithospermum incisum | Fringed puccoon | 25-Apr | 5-Jun | 25-Jun | 10-Jul | 25-Jul | |||
| Sisyrinchium campestre | Blue-eyed grass | 17-Apr | 25-Apr | 27-May | 10-Jun | 20-Jun | 29-Jun | ||
| Polemonium reptans | Jacob’s ladder | 11-Apr | 27-Apr | 28-Apr | 22-May | 10-Jun | 25-Jun | 7-Jul | |
| Viola pedatifida | Prairie violet | 29-Apr | 27-May | ||||||
| Zizia aurea | Golden Alexander | 8-Apr | 29-Apr | 7-Jun | 5-Aug | 26-Aug | 15-Sep | ||
| Dodecatheon meadia | Shooting star | 31-Mar | 30-Apr | 6-May | 3-Jun | 15-Jul | 5-Aug | 15-Aug | |
| Geranium maculatum | Wild geranium | 10-Apr | 29-Apr | 6-May | 10-Jun | 15-Jun | 30-Jun | ||
| Polygonatum biflorum | Smooth Solomon’s seal | 19-Apr | 6-May | 6-May | 31-May | 15-Aug | 29-Aug | 10-Oct | |
| Trillium grandiflorum | Large-flowered trillium | 1-May | 7-May | 26-May | |||||
| Heuchera richardsonii | Prairie alum-root | 16-Apr | 6-May | 9-May | 15-Jun | 30-Jun | |||
| Saxifraga pensylvanica | Swamp saxifrage | 11-Apr | 6-May | 10-May | 6-Jun | 17-Jun | 23-Jun | ||
| Lithospermum canescens | Hoary puccoon | 11-May | 12-Jun | 5-Aug | |||||
| Podophyllum peltatum | May-apple | 12-Apr | 9-May | 11-May | |||||
| Actaea rubra | Red baneberry | 19-Apr | 27-Apr | 12-May | 31-May | 5-Jul | 20-Jul | 7-Aug | |
| Lupinus perennis | Wild lupine | 19-Apr | 9-May | 12-May | 7-Jun | 15-Jun | 25-Jun | ||
| Cypripedium calceolus pubescens | Large yellow lady-slipper | 14-Apr | 11-May | 13-May | 12-Jun | 15-Oct | |||
| Senecio pauperculus | Balsam ragwort | 9-May | 13-May | 18-Jun | |||||
| Osmorhiza longistylis | Smooth sweet cicely | 13-Apr | 16-May | 13-Jun | 15-Jul | 7-Aug | 28-Aug | ||
| Lysimachia quadrifolia | Whorled loosestrife | 3-Apr | 18-May | 8-Sep | 10-Sep | 25-Sep | |||
| Smilacina racemosa | False Solomon’s seal | 13-May | 17-May | 19-May | 10-Jun | 15-Aug | 10-Sep | 15-Oct | |
| Anemone canadensis | Meadow anemone | 20-Apr | 22-May | 17-Jun | 8-Aug | 15-Aug | |||
| Taenidia integerrima | Yellow pimpernel | 19-Apr | 15-May | 22-May | 10-Jun | 23-Jul | 6-Aug | 15-Aug | |
| Triosteum perfoliatum | Tinker’s weed | 14-Apr | 11-May | 23-May | 1-Aug | 16-Sep | 10-Oct | 26-Oct | |
| Tradescantia ohiensis | Common spiderwort | 26-Apr | 20-May | 27-May | 9-Jul | 2-Jul | 15-Jul | 30-Jul | |
| Anemone cylindrica | Thimbleweed | 24-May | 31-May | 24-Jun | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 5-Oct | ||
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebell | 23-May | 5-Jun | 16-Oct | 15-Aug | 5-Sep | 20-Sep | ||
| Angelica atropurpurea | Great angelica | 11-Apr | 22-May | 6-Jun | 14-Jun | 5-Jul | 13-Jul | 20-Jul | |
| Asclepias exaltata | Poke milkweed | 22-May | 7-Jun | 22-Jun | 29-Jun | 30-Sep | 21-Oct | Pods visible long before seeds ready to collect | |
| Lobelia spicata | Pale spiked lobelia | 7-Jun | 8-Jul | 10-Jul | 25-Jul | 7-Aug | |||
| Penstemon digitalis | Penstemon | 20-May | 7-Jun | 25-Jun | 6-Jul | 5-Oct | |||
| Bromus kalmii | Prairie brome | 9-Jun | 23-Jul | 23-Jul | 15-Aug | 8-Sep | |||
| Thalictrum dasycarpum | Purple meadow-rue | 12-Apr | 16-May | 9-Jun | 23-Jun | 5-Aug | 14-Aug | 15-Sep | |
| Echinacea pallida | Pale purple coneflower | 17-May | 7-Jun | 10-Jun | 3-Aug | 24-Aug | 13-Sep | 5-Oct | |
| Heliopsis helianthoides | Ox-eye sunflower | 9-May | 10-Jun | 12-Jun | 21-Sep | 7-Oct | |||
| Asclepias purpurascens | Purple milkweed | 13-May | 19-May | 13-Jun | 9-Jul | 15-Aug | 17-Sep | 16-Oct | Pods visible long before seeds ready to collect |
| Baptisia lactea | White wild indigo | 2-Jun | 7-Jun | 13-Jun | 2-Jul | 15-Aug | 5-Sep | 10-Sep | Pods |
| Euphorbia corollata | Flowering spurge | 7-Jun | 13-Jun | 14-Jun | 26-Aug | 30-Aug | 13-Sep | 20-Sep | |
| Parthenium integrifolium | Wild quinine | 14-Jun | 12-Sep | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 10-Oct | |||
| Amorpha canescens | Lead-plant | 16-May | 3-Jun | 15-Jun | 5-Aug | 26-Aug | 15-Sep | 1-Oct | |
| Asclepias tuberosa | Butterfly weed | 8-Jun | 16-Jun | 5-Aug | 25-Sep | 2-Oct | 15-Oct | Pods visible long before seeds ready to collect | |
| Coreopsis palmata | Prairie tickseed | 4-May | 13-Jun | 20-Jun | 19-Jul | 30-Sep | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | |
| Potentilla arguta | Prairie cinquefoil | 20-May | 2-Jun | 20-Jun | 28-Jul | 15-Aug | 15-Sep | 5-Oct | |
| Rudbeckia hirta | Black-eyed Susan | 19-May | 14-Jun | 20-Jun | 8-Sep | 13-Sep | 14-Sep | 23-Oct | |
| Solidago missouriensis | Missouri goldenrod | 7-Jun | 20-Jun | 16-Aug | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | ||
| Silphium perfoliatum | Cup plant | 28-Apr | 21-Jun | 8-Sep | 30-Aug | 13-Sep | 30-Sep | ||
| Elymus hystrix | Bottlebrush grass | 19-Apr | 20-Jun | 22-Jun | 30-Jul | 5-Aug | 15-Aug | 29-Aug | |
| Lilium michiganense | Turk’s cap lily | 12-Apr | 22-Jun | 18-Jul | 20-Sep | 15-Oct | pods | ||
| Lysimachia ciliata | Fringed loosestrife | 21-Apr | 27-Jun | 20-Jul | 10-Sep | 25-Sep | |||
| Asclepias incarnata | Swamp milkweed | 20-Jun | 28-Jun | 11-Aug | 14-Aug | 16-Sep | 15-Oct | Pods visible long before seeds ready to collect | |
| Ceanothus americanus | New Jersey tea | 29-Apr | 3-Jun | 28-Jun | 14-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | 5-Oct | |
| Desmodium canadense | Showy tick-trefoil | 15-Jun | 22-Jun | 28-Jun | 30-Jul | 6-Aug | 26-Aug | 14-Sep | |
| Eryngium yuccifolium | Rattlesnake master | 1-May | 14-Jun | 28-Jun | 16-Aug | 15-Sep | 10-Oct | ||
| Monarda fistulosa | Wild bergamot | 16-Apr | 21-Jun | 28-Jun | 22-Aug | 26-Aug | 15-Sep | 25-Sep | |
| Ratibida pinnata | Yellow coneflower | 19-Apr | 14-Jun | 29-Jun | 20-Aug | 10-Sep | 10-Oct | 27-Oct | |
| Verbena stricta | Hoary vervain | 24-Jun | 29-Jun | 21-Aug | 26-Aug | 15-Sep | 10-Oct | ||
| Dalea candida | White prairie clover | 15-Jun | 2-Jul | 30-Jul | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | ||
| Astragalus canadensis | Canadian milkvetch | 17-Apr | 27-Jun | 3-Jul | 5-Aug | 14-Aug | 15-Sep | 5-Oct | Pods |
| Desmodium illinoense | Illinois tick-trefoil | 8-Jun | 24-Jun | 3-Jul | 28-Jul | 22-Jul | 14-Aug | 22-Sep | |
| Napaea dioica | Glade mallow | 28-Apr | 12-Jun | 3-Jul | 20-Jul | 30-Jul | 26-Aug | 15-Sep | |
| Silphium laciniatum | Compass plant | 25-Apr | 16-Jun | 3-Jul | 25-Aug | 8-Sep | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | |
| Verbena hastata | Blue vervain | 5-Jul | 8-Sep | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | |||
| Campanula americana | Tall bellflower | 19-May | 29-Jun | 6-Jul | 29-Aug | 15-Sep | 5-Oct | 25-Oct | |
| Dalea purpureum | Purple prairie clover | 15-Jun | 29-Jun | 6-Jul | 16-Sep | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | |
| Solidago juncea | Early goldenrod | 24-Jun | 8-Jul | 2-Sep | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | ||
| Bouteloua curtipendula | Side oats grama | 1-Jul | 9-Jul | 26-Aug | 15-Aug | 30-Aug | 3-Nov | ||
| Hypericum pyramidatum | Great St. John’s wort | 31-May | 6-Jul | 10-Jul | 1-Aug | 10-Sep | 30-Sep | 15-Oct | |
| Silphium terebinthinaceum | Prairie dock | 29-Apr | 24-Jun | 10-Jul | 19-Aug | 7-Sep | 13-Sep | 20-Sep | |
| Veronicastrum virginicum | Culver’s root | 17-May | 27-Jun | 12-Jul | 28-Aug | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | |
| Oenothera biennis | Common evening-primrose | 25-May | 13-Jul | 30-Sep | 15-Aug | 15-Sep | 15-Oct | ||
| Arnoglossum atriplicifolia | Pale Indian plantain | 14-Apr | 29-Jun | 14-Jul | 10-Sep | 16-Sep | 25-Sep | 4-Oct | |
| Asclepias verticillata | Whorled milkweed | 14-Jun | 27-Jun | 14-Jul | 6-Aug | 19-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | Pods visible long before seeds ready to collect |
| Silphium integrifolium | Rosinweed | 9-May | 1-Jul | 14-Jul | 26-Aug | 8-Sep | 27-Sep | 14-Oct | |
| Vernonia fasciculata | Common ironweed | 17-May | 21-Jun | 14-Jul | 25-Aug | 25-Sep | 10-Oct | 15-Oct | |
| Eupatorium purpureum | Purple joe-pye weed | 16-May | 15-Jun | 18-Jul | 23-Aug | 5-Sep | 15-Sep | 25-Sep | |
| Pycnanthemum virginianum | Common mountain mint | 15-Jun | 6-Jul | 18-Jul | 26-Aug | 10-Sep | 11-Oct | 25-Oct | |
| Eupatorium maculatum | Spotted joe-pye weed | 19-May | 21-Jun | 19-Jul | 5-Sep | 8-Sep | 25-Sep | 5-Oct | |
| Liatris pycnostachya | Prairie blazing star | 29-Jun | 19-Jul | 15-Aug | 20-Sep | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | ||
| Helianthus divaricatus | Woodland sunflower | 20-May | 2-Jul | 23-Jul | 2-Sep | ||||
| Sporobolus heterolepis | Prairie dropseed | 1-May | 23-Jul | 31-Aug | 25-Aug | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | ||
| Agastache nepetoides | Yellow giant hyssop | 20-Apr | 6-Jul | 25-Jul | 30-Aug | 25-Sep | 5-Oct | 25-Oct | |
| Andropogon gerardii | Big bluestem | 1-Jul | 15-Jul | 25-Jul | 2-Sep | 20-Sep | 5-Oct | 20-Oct | |
| Pedicularis lanceolata | Lousewort | 17-May | 9-Jul | 25-Jul | 12-Sep | 25-Sep | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | |
| Aureolaria grandiflora | Yellow false foxglove | 16-Apr | 11-Jul | 26-Jul | 21-Aug | 25-Sep | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | Pods |
| Cirsium discolor | Pasture thistle | 20-May | 19-Jul | 26-Jul | 2-Sep | 12-Sep | 20-Sep | 30-Sep | |
| Allium cernuum | Nodding wild onion | 27-Jul | 22-Aug | 2-Sep | 15-Sep | ||||
| Eupatorium perfoliatum | Common boneset | 31-May | 30-Jun | 27-Jul | 13-Sep | 15-Sep | 30-Sep | 10-Oct | |
| Eupatorium sessilifolium | Upland boneset | 25-Apr | 20-Jun | 29-Jul | 2-Sep | 25-Sep | 7-Oct | 20-Oct | |
| Sorghastrum nutans | Indian grass | 1-May | 30-Jul | 16-Sep | 21-Sep | 7-Oct | 30-Oct | ||
| Lobelia siphilitica | Great blue lobelia | 27-Jul | 3-Aug | 26-Sep | 3-Jul | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | ||
| Aster sagittifolius | Arrow-leaved aster | 14-Apr | 5-Aug | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | |||
| Kuhnia eupatorioides | False boneset | 19-May | 5-Jul | 5-Aug | 2-Sep | 5-Sep | 13-Sep | 30-Sep | |
| Lespedeza capitata | Round-headed bush clover | 7-Jun | 13-Jun | 5-Aug | 28-Aug | 15-Sep | 10-Oct | 21-Oct | |
| Rudbeckia triloba | Brown-eyed Susan | 10-Jun | 1-Aug | 5-Aug | 16-Sep | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | |
| Solidago ulmifolia | Elm-leaved goldenrod | 7-Jul | 5-Aug | 15-Sep | 5-Oct | 20-Oct | 5-Nov | ||
| Eupatorium altissimum | Tall boneset | 19-May | 1-Jul | 6-Aug | 15-Sep | 26-Sep | 11-Oct | 26-Oct | |
| Rudbeckia laciniata | Cut-leaved coneflower | 22-May | 18-Jul | 9-Aug | 5-Sep | ||||
| Cirsium muticum | Swamp thistle | 19-May | 18-Jul | 11-Aug | 8-Sep | 25-Aug | 16-Sep | ||
| Hasteola suaveolens | Sweet Indian plantain | 17-Apr | 11-Jul | 11-Aug | 10-Sep | 25-Sep | 30-Sep | 7-Oct | |
| Ambrosia artemisiifolia | Common ragweed | 26-Jun | 14-Aug | 2-Sep | |||||
| Aster novae-angliae | New England aster | 14-Aug | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | ||||
| Liatris aspera | Rough blazing star | 18-Jun | 6-Jul | 14-Aug | 16-Sep | 20-Sep | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | |
| Schizachyrium scoparium | Little bluestem | 5-Jun | 26-Jul | 14-Aug | 16-Sep | 22-Sep | 12-Oct | 4-Nov | |
| Aster laevis | Smooth blue aster | 1-Jun | 26-Jul | 15-Aug | 5-Oct | 6-Oct | 25-Oct | 5-Nov | |
| Gentiana andrewsii | Bottle gentian | 15-Jun | 26-Jul | 15-Aug | 20-Sep | 25-Sep | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | |
| Solidago rigida | Stiff goldenrod | 19-Apr | 3-Jul | 15-Aug | 15-Sep | 25-Sep | 5-Oct | 24-Oct | |
| Solidago speciosa | Showy goldenrod | 17-May | 5-Aug | 20-Aug | 26-Sep | 6-Oct | 21-Oct | 7-Nov | |
| Solidago nemoralis | Gray goldenrod | 3-Aug | 21-Aug | 21-Oct | 15-Oct | 24-Oct | 5-Nov | ||
| Gentiana alba | Cream gentian | 4-May | 14-Aug | 23-Aug | 13-Sep | 25-Oct | 5-Nov | ||
| Solidago flexicaulis | Zig-zag goldenrod | 21-Apr | 15-Aug | 23-Aug | 26-Sep | 24-Oct | 30-Oct | 5-Nov | |
| Chelone glabra | Turtlehead | 22-Jun | 19-Aug | 26-Aug | 5-Sep | 25-Sep | 11-Oct | 25-Oct | |
| Gentianella quinquefolia | Stiff gentian | 3-Jun | 20-Aug | 26-Aug | 21-Sep | 5-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | |
| Helenium autumnale | Sneezeweed | 22-Jun | 21-Aug | 26-Aug | 2-Oct | 25-Sep | 10-Oct | 21-Oct | |
| Aster lateriflorus | Calico aster | 1-Jul | 23-Aug | 30-Aug | 5-Oct | 25-Oct | 5-Nov | ||
| Prenanthes alba | Lion’s foot | 21-Apr | 19-Aug | 8-Sep | 17-Sep | 30-Sep | 10-Oct | 21-Oct | |
| Aster ericoides | Heath aster | 6-Jul | 11-Sep | 26-Oct | 30-Oct | 5-Nov | |||
| Aster oolentangiensis | Sky-blue aster | 17-May | 27-Aug | 20-Sep | 10-Oct | 15-Oct | 30-Oct | ||
| Helianthus pauciflorus | Prairie sunflower | 27-Jul | 9-Aug | 27-Sep | 20-Sep | 4-Oct |