Seeds Ripe in Fall PlantCategory
Herbaceous Dry Perennial
Common Name Scientific Name SeedRipe American Beach Grass
Ammophila Breviligulata
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Flower heads brown and dry. Capsules just beginning to fall off on their own.
Broom Sedge Bluestem
Andropogon virginicus
extruding pappus
Seeds Ripe Start Seeds Ripe End Comments August
September
Dune Grass
October
November
Does not like acid soil. Prefers pH of 6-7 su.
November
December
Broomsedge bluestem is a 2- to 4-foot-tall (0.6-1.2 m), native, warm-season, perennial bunchgrass that usually grows in rather small clumps [9,18]. In South Carolina, maximum clump diameter was achieved in 7 or 8 years, and averaged about 3.5 inches (9 cm); no clumps were greater than 5.1 inches (13 cm) in diameter [8]. It is easily distinguished from other bluestems by its slender appearance and strawcolored leaves and inflorescences [9] Colonizes poor soil, valuable bird habitat and winter food source. Often considered weedy and invasive.
Indian Hemp (Dogbane)
Apocynum cannabinum
slender folicles brown and beginning to open
September
October
Poisonous! (especially to livestock and other terrestrial herbivores). Related to milkweed, supports monarch larvae and other milkweed dependent insects. Potentially invasive. Found in fields and woodland borders, thrives in poor soil.
Indian Wood Oats
Chasmanthium latifolia
Brown drying seed heads
Tobacco Weed
Elephantopus tomentosus
Flower heads dry, spikelets falling
Yarrow, Common
Achillea Millefolium
flower heads brown, seeds about to disperse
PlantCategory
Monday, March 10, 2014
September
September
November
August
September
Herbaceous Wet Perennial
Common Name Scientific Name SeedRipe Arrow Arum
August
Peltandra virginica
spath green/brown and rotting, seeds brown/green
Seeds Ripe Start Seeds Ripe End Comments September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
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Big Cordgrass
Spartina cynosuroides
spikelets begin to shatter
October
November
Bladder Sedge
Carex intumescens
Blue Vervain
Seeds ripe mid-October through mid-November
green to light brown perigynous spike
September
October
Seeds ripe mid-September through October
Verbena hastata
dark brown inforescence and rust colored seed
September
October
Seeds ripe mid-September through mid-October
Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium augustifolium
uniform black/brown capsules
August
September
Blue-flowered Snakeroot
Eryngium aquaticum
umbellate head brown black seeds inside scales
September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
when pappus is loosening from head
September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
Found in grassy areas and damp forests. At the Elms it can be found in edge areas adjacent to mown areas.
Broad-leaved Cattail Typha latifolia
extruding pappus
October
March
Bushy Beardgrass
Andropogon glomeratus
extruding pappus
October
November
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
dark brown expanding cpsule before it splits
August
September
Seeds ripe August through late September
Common Threesquare
Scirpus pungens
brown seeds in spikelets
August
September
Can tolerate a wide range of water regimes -- 13% to 100% of time saturated. Can also be reproduced from rhizomes. (Harvest in early spring)
Common Threesquare
Scirus pungens
August
October
Duck Potato
Sagittaria latfolia
Eastern Bur-reed
light brown seeds shattering from globular head
August
September
May be reproduced from tubers.
Sparganum americanum
nutlets easily detach from heads
August
September
Seeds ripe mid-August through September
Fringed Sedge
Carex crinita
green to light brown perigynous spike
August
September
Seeds ripe August through mid-September
Giant Bur-reed
Sparganum eurycarpum
nutlets green/brown in head
August
October
Seeds ripe late August through October
Great Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
dark brown expanding cpsule before it splits
August
October
Seeds ripe August through early October
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum bright red berries on cone shaped spadix
August
September
Joe-pye-weed
Eupatorium dubium
September
October
Monday, March 10, 2014
when pappus is loosening from head
seeds ripe late July through early October
Seeds ripe late August through September
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
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Lizard's Tail
Saururus cernuus
Dark brown fruits reasily shattering
September
October
Lurid Sedge
Carex lurida
green to light brown perigynous spike
September
October
Seeds ripe late September through October
Marsh Hibiscus
Hibiscus moscheutos
dark brown capsule beginning to split
September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through October
Marsh Spike Rush
Eleocharis palustris
dark brown achenes easily seperated from scales
September
September
Monkey Flower
Mimulus ringens
Brown flower heads
August
October
Narrow-leaved Cattail
Typha angustfolia
extruding pappus
October
March
New York Aster
Aster novi-belgii
expanding nutlet seperating from head
September
October
Seeds ripe mid-September through mid-October
New York Ironweed
Vernonia noveboracensis
nutlets separating on head
October
October
Seed ripe mid-late October
Northern Water Plantain
Alisma subcordatum
dark brown achenes
September
September
Flood plants during winter
Rice Cutgrass
Leersia oryzoides
light brown spikelets beginning to shatter
September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
River Bulrush
Scirpus fluviatalis
seeds shattering frim brown spikelets
August
October
seeds ripe late august through early october
Salt Meadow Hay
Spartina patens
spikelets begin to shatter
October
October
Seeds ripe mid-late October
Saltgrass
Distichlis spicata
light brown swollen caryopsis
October
October
Seeds ripe early through mid-October
Saltmarsh Bulrush
Scirpus robustus
seeds shattering frim brown spikelets
August
October
seeds ripe late august through early october
Sea-lavender
Limonium carolinianum
petals losing lavender color
September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
Seashore Mallow
Kosteletzkya virginica
gray brown capsule beginning to split
September
October
Seeds ripe late-September through mid-October
Seeds ripe mid-to late September. May survive in brackish water. Monkeyflower will grow best in a rich moist soil and light shade. The plant performs best under cool growing conditions and can be grown on wet soils or near water. The flowers (Vis. 1) are usually spotted with a darker color.
moderately salt tolerant. :Irregularly flooded salt and brackish marshes, above Mean High Tide to spring tide level. Seaside Goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens
seeds expanding and loosening from head
October
November
Smooth Cordgrass
Spartina alterniflora
spikelets begin to shatter
October
October
Spatterdock
Nuphar lutea
fruit brown seed, yellow/brown
September
October
Monday, March 10, 2014
Seeds ripen mid to later October
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Spike Grass, Salt Grass
Distichlis Spicata
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Sweet Flag
Acorus americanus
September
October
Likes salty alkaline soil
light brown slightly open follicle
August
September
Seeds ripe August through mid-September. Do not plant is standing water -- ground saturation only.
dark brown spadix
August
September
Seeds ripe late August through September Can be confused with A. calamus which only has one raised vein running down the middle of the leaf. (A. americanus has 2-6 equally prominent veins.) A. calamus does not produce viable seed (triploid).
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
light brown spikelets grain shiny gray/brown
September
October
Seeds ripe September through mid-October
Wool Grass
Scirpus cyperinus
seeds shattering from brown spikelets
September
October
seeds ripe late September through late October Plant should not be inundated but rather constantly moist.
PlantCategory
Shrub Wet
Common Name Scientific Name SeedRipe Arrowwood
Viburnum Dentatum dark blue fruit (drupe)
Bayberry
Morella pensylvanica
Beach Plum
Prunus maritima
Black Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa black fruit (drupe)
Blackhaw
Viburnum prunifolium L.
Blue/black drupes
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Elderberry Fetterbush
Seeds Ripe Start Seeds Ripe End Comments September
October
Waxy round gray/pink fruit
October
December
orange/purple/red fruit beginning to fall
August
October
August
September
September
October
brown head before it falls apart
October
December
Tolerates a wide range of condions, including drought. Fairly insensitive to disease, insect, and wind or ice damage.
Sambucus canadensis
Purple/black fruit in clusters
August
September
Seeds ripe mid-August through early September.
Leucothoe racemosa
Brownish round capsules before it splits
September
October
Graystem Dogwood Cmus racemosa
white fruit
September
October
Groundsel
pappus separating from head
October
October
Monday, March 10, 2014
Baccharis halimifolia
Seeds ripe September through mid-October.
Seeds ripe late August through October. Tolerates infrequent flooding by water containing some salt.
seeds ripe September through early October.
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Inkberry
Ilex glabra
blue/black fruit (drupe)
October
November
Maleberry
Lyonia ligustrina
tightly closed capsule before it splits open
Marsh Elder
Iva frutescens
Brown shattering seed heads
Nannyberry
Viburnum lentago
Possum Haw
September
October
October
November
blue fruit (drupe)
September
October
Seeds ripe September through mid-October.
Viburnum nudum
pink/white fruit
September
October
Seeds ripe September through early October.
Purple Chokeberry
Aronia prunifolia
wine-red fruit (drupe)
August
September
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
red fruit (drupe)
August
September
Redosier Dogwood
Comus sericea
yellow/white fruit (drupe)
September
October
seeds ripe September through early October.
Rugosa Rose
Rosa rugosa
medium greenish/pink hip
September
October
Seeds ripe September through Mid-October.
Silky Dogwood
Comus amomum
pale blue fruit (drupe)
September
October
seeds ripe September through early October. Tolerates flooding. Also does well in full shade.
Smooth Alder
Alnus serrulata
strobiles brown before opening
November
January
Nitrogen fixing, susceptible to wind or ice damage.
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
red fruit (drupe)
September
October
Seeds ripe September through early October. All parts of the plant are edible and aromatic. The smell is reminiscent of lemon.
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
scarlet/red fruit hanging from capsule
September
October
seeds ripe September through mid-October.
Swamp Azalea
Rhododendron viscosum
capsule brown and gard before it opens
October
November
Swamp Rose
Rosa palustris
small red hip
September
October
October
November
September
October
Seeds ripe September through mid October. Seeds ripe October through early December.
Sweet Pepper Bush Clethra alnifolia
capsule gray before it splits
Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana
bright red fruits hanging from conelike aggregate
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
black seeds in elongated capsule before opening
October
December
Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
Waxy round gray/pink fruit
October
December
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
red fruit (drupe)
October
January
Monday, March 10, 2014
Male and female flowers on separate plants. Note: Ilex species can pollinate other species of Ilex.
Tolerates infrequent flooding by water containing some salt.
Does well in wet sites. Seeds ripe September through mid-October.
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PlantCategory
Tree Dry
Common Name Scientific Name SeedRipe Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Acorns fall from trees
Seeds Ripe Start Seeds Ripe End Comments September
October
It appears that soil pH is strongly related to the prescence of chinkapin oak, which is generally found on soils that are weakly acid (pH about 6.5) to alkaline (above pH 7.0). Sweet acorns have high wildlife value.
Hackberry, Sugarberry
Celtis occidentalis
Purple/Brown berry
September
December
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia L.
Brown seed heads, clusters easily fall off in your hand.
September
October
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
soft flesh, skin lightens in color as it ripens and develops blackish splotches
August
October
High wildlife value
The deep winter dormancy of the tree makes it highly frost tolerant, withstanding temperatures of -25° F or lower (hardy to USDA Climate Zone 5). Pawpaw trees are prone to producing root suckers a few feet from the trunk. The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly's larvae feed exclusively on young, pawpaw foliage, but never in great numbers.
Post Oak
PlantCategory
Quercus stellata
Acorns fall from trees
November
Tree Wet
Common Name Scientific Name SeedRipe American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
Seed balls brown, beginning to fluff out
Atlantic White Cedar
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Brown cone before opening
Baldcypress
Taxodium distichum Cones should be green/brown and unopened
Devils Walking Stick
Aralia spinosa
Monday, March 10, 2014
September
blue/black fruit hanging from cluster
Seeds Ripe Start Seeds Ripe End Comments August
December
September
November
October
November
September
October
Acid soils - pH 4-6 Grows fast low drought tolerance Seeds ripe September through mid-October.
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Fringe Tree
Chionanthus virginicus
blue/black fruit (drupe)
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
brown samaras hanging in clusters
Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana yellow/brown to purple/black fruit
Sweet Gum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
PlantCategory
August
September
Seeds ripe late August through early September. Sow outside in mid Summer to allow the seed to get the warm stratification then the seed will over-winter to get the cold stratification. Root develops in warm stratification; then the seed requires chilling for the shoot to develop. Do not excessively dry the seed (below 5-6%). Epicotyl dormancy.
September
November
Seeds ripe late September through early November.
September
November
Seeds ripe late September through early November.
green/brown "ball" before capsule opens
August
November
light orange/brown capsule before opening
August
October
Note: Seeds ripen one year after flowering.
Vine
Common Name Scientific Name SeedRipe
Seeds Ripe Start Seeds Ripe End Comments
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Brown pod
September
March
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Blue berries fall off easily
September
February
Attracts butterflies. Found in moist wods, fence rows, streambanks, floodplain forests. High wildlife value. Useful for bank stabilization. Makes a good ground cover if there is nothing for it to climb. NOTE: Berries are HIGHLY TOXIC!!! Do not eat. Not appropriate for designed plantings on school sites.
Monday, March 10, 2014
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