Thumbnails of some of the Autumn flowering plants you may encounter on a visit - September 1st to Mid-October. This page includes both the Upland and Woodland Gardens. Alternate common names for plant are shown in ( ), woody plants designated by "*". Timing of bloom will vary with each year's weather pattern.
Plant names with web links lead to a separate page of plant information and photos on that plant.
Images are arranged by six color categories and then by scientific name within color. Plants listed on our Common and Scientific name list that are not currently found in the Garden are not listed below.
Download printable PDF File in Scientific Name Order within Color. Prints at 11 high by 8.5 inches wide, 20 images per page, 17 pages total: Low resolution 3.1 mb - - - Hi resolution 22.8 mb. Best for printing.
Flowers white, whitish, whitish-green.
Ageratina altissima
Leaves egg shape, stalked, coarsely toothed.
Allium cernuum
(Buds and open flowers nodding)
Leaves all basal, forming vase shape. Flower stem rises from bulb. Pink flowers also.
Allium stellatum
(Buds nod, open flowers held erect)
Amphicarpaea bracteata
Leaf 3-parted on long stalk. Flower cluster rises from leaf axil.
Pods flat, pointed on end, usually 3 seed. Bean-like edible seed in shallow ground
(Prairie Sage)
Artemisia ludoviciana
Erect, all parts with dense matted white to grayish hair. Leaf - narrow, no teeth.
(White Turtlehead)
Chelone glabra
Stems multiple, branched at top. Leaf 6x long as wide, toothed.
Cichorium intybus
Basal leaf long with sharp dentations, stalked.
Stem leaf short, stalkless with clasping auricle; may have fine teeth.
(Broadleaf Enchanter's Nightshade)
Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis
Leaves opposite, long stalks, shallow teeth.
Flowers small, 2-parted, long stalks on 12-24" unbranched spike
Clematis virginiana
Leaves 3-parted, opposite, leaf stalks twining. Flowers perfect or dioecious
Doellingeria umbellata var. pubens
leaf- linear, smooth, no teeth, stem red lower.
Phyllaries 3-4 series, unequal, light green, linear, short stiff hair
(Eastern Daisy Fleabane)
Erigeron annuus
(Eastern Daisy Fleabane)
Leaf toothed, not clasping, stem hair standing out
Phyllaries in 2 to 3 series, sparsely hairy, sometimes glandular.
(Prairie Fleabane)
Erigeron strigosus
(Prairie Fleabane)
Leaf- few teeth, not clasping, stem hair close to stem
(Prairie Fleabane)
Phyllaries in 2 to 4 series with or without fine hair.
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Flowers grouped in branching clusters, each flower with 7-11 florets.
Leaves opposite with hairy surfaces, surround hairy 1 - 5' stem
Euphorbia corollata
Main stem unbranched, many flowering branches above the upper stem whorl
Eurybia divaricata
Large, toothed, long stalk, heart base. Flowers in branched cluster.
Phyllaries 25-20 in 4 to 5 series, unequal, rounded to pointed, whitish, dk green tips.
(Bigleaf Aster)
Eurybia macrophylla
Flowers white to blue.
(Bigleaf Aster)
Basal leaves large, broadly oval, long stalked, heart shape bases
(Bigleaf Aster)
Phyllaries 5-6 series, 32 to 35, overlapping, oft purple tinged, short glandular hair.
(Yellowish Gentian)
Gentiana alba
(Gentiana flavida)
(Yellowish Gentian)
Leaves opposite, stalkless, yellow-green; several form a whorl below flowers
(Beggar's Lice)
Hackelia virginiana
Erect biennial. Stem stout not slender. Flowers tiny on paired spreading branches.
Larger ovate lower leaves, uppers narrow, stalkless. Plant 1-4' high.
(Round-headed Lespedeza)
Lespedeza capitata
Leaf-3 parted, pointing upward, dense appressed hairs, bristle leaflet tips.
Erect to leaning, 2-4' high, unbranched. Flowers in dense rounded clusters.
Lycopus americanus
Lycopus uniflorus
Tlowers tiny, 4-lobed but may look like 5 lobes, in tight clusters in leaf axils. To 40"
Leaves elliptic, opposite, coarse teeth but less coarse than L. americanus.
Parnassia glauca
Leaves all basal. Petals with green veins, sepals small and hidden
Polygonum punctatum
Flowers in interrupted facicles. Leaves 8x long as wide.
Persicaria sagittata
Leaves arrow-shape, midrib, underside and stem with retrorse prickles.
Solanum nigrum
Leaves ovate to diamond shape, dull, a few teeth that resemble lobes
Berry 1/4". black at maturity, sepals prominent. Plant - 6-24" high.
(Flowers are white or lt. blue)
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
(Common Blue Wood Aster)
Lower leaves- heart shape base, large teeth, upper leaves more oval.
Phyllaries - 4 to 6 series, unequal, linear to oblong, whitish with green diamond stripe
(Many-flowered Aster)
Symphyotrichum ericoides
Leaves small, narrow .5 to 1.5” long, rough edge
Pyhllaries - 3-4 series, overlapping, unequal size, spade-like tips, hairy.
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum
Leaf - linear, smooth, stalkless. Dead leaves curled up
Phyllaries - 2-4 series, linear, outer 1/3 to 1/2 length of inner, dk green center stripes
(Calico Aster)
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Leaves oval to rounded, upper mostly stalkless, lower stalked, few sharp teeth
Phyllaries - 3 - 4 series, unequal in size, diamond shape tips, sometimes purplish
Symphyotrichum ontarionis
Leaf - alternate, thin, smooth to touch, upper stalkless
Phyllaries 4-6 series, unequal, narrow, green mid-rib with diamond tip
Symphyotrichum puniceum
Stems ribbed, reddish above nodes, very little hair, leaves shiny when young
Phyllaries 4-5 series, linear, hard to distinguish from Glossy Leaf Aster
Symphyotrichum urophyllum
Middle leaves arrow shape base, Lower - heart shaped base, often winged stalk
Phyllaries - 4 - 6 series, inner tight, outer spreading, tip a grn elongated diamond.
Flowers yellow shades.
Agastache nepetoides
(AKA - Cattail Giant Hyssop)
Leaves opposite, stalked, thin, coarse teeth, lanceolate.
Plant to 5' high, stout grooved stem, not hairy. Flowers green to yellow.
(Beggar-ticks)
Bidens cernua
Leaf long, lance shape, opposite, clasp grooved stem
6 to 8 pale yellow phyllaries with 5 yo 8+ narrow green calyculi below.
(Purple-stem Beggartick)
Bidens connata
Leaf simple, toothed, lance-shape, some with winged stalks; lower leaves may be 3-cleft.
Bidens frondosa
Leaf divided in 3 to 5 lance-shape leaflets, coarsely toothed; upper may be undivided.
6-12 pale green phyllaries w/5-10 hairy spreading calyculi below. Ray florets obscure.
Chamaecrista fasciculata
Plant annual. Leaf with 8-15 pair leaflets tipped
Conyza canadensis
Top section of plant, much branching, leaves linear & dense.
Crepis tectorum
Phyllaries - 12-15, whitish pointed tips, bases keeled, hairy. 6-12 calyculi below.
Plant to 40" high, stem angled, hairy, with milky juice.
Basal leaves (shown) narrow with auricles and teeth. Stem leaves stalkless.
(Fireweed)
Erechtites hieraciifolius
Leaves lobed or coarsely toothed, auricle at base. Very leafy stem.
top section of plant.
Euthamia graminifolia
Leaves linear, ascending 7-20x long as wide. Flowers in clusters. Stem 1-4' high.
Phyllaries appressed in several series, yellowish base, green tips.
Hamamelis virginiana
Leaf - shallow lobes, wavy margins
Woody seed capsule w/1 shiny black seeds - mature the following Spring.
(Hairy Sunflower)
Helianthus hirsutus
(Hairy Sunflower)
Leaves opposite, rounded bases on very short stalks. Flowers few & on thick stalks
Phyllaries 18-25, loose and spreading, hair on margins or entire surface.
Helianthus pauciflorus
Leaves opposite, lanceolate, ascending, widely spaced on stem. Disc florets reddish
Phyllaries 25-35, pointed, not spreading, margins with fine hair
Helianthus strumosus
Leaf- rough, thick, 3 main veins, winged stalk, white hair under.
Phyllaries - 18-25, pointed, slightly spreading, hair on margins
Helianthus tuberosus
Stout plant. Leaves - upper 2/3 rds alternate, rough on top with long winged stalks
Phyllaries dark green to blackish, spreading tips, hairy
Heliopsis helianthoides var. scraba
Stalked flowers from axils of stalked toothed leaves with rough surface hair.
(Narrowleaf Hawkweed)
Hieracium umbellatum
Flowers- long stalked heads in loose branched clusters. Leaves sparse with a few sharp teeth.
Phyllaries 12-21+, linear, pointed tips. Thin calyculi below. Stems to 5' tall
Hypericum perforatum
Shrubby branching stems, narrow leaves with dots, flower with 3 styles.
(Spotted Jewelweed)
Impatiens capensis
Both 2-5' high, leaves thin, coarse teeth.
(Pale Jewelweed)
Impatiens pallida
Lactuca canadensis
Leaves vary from entire, toothed, to pinnately divided, but edges NOT spiny
Upper leaves entire, clasping auricles but edges NOT spiny
Linaria vulgaris
Leaves alternate, linear, short. Flowers on compact spike
Oenothera biennis
Leaves lance-like, slight teeth, edges turn more wavy & darker green with age
Oxalis dillenii.
Seed pod stalk horizontal, 1-2 flowers per cluster. (Photo Merle R. Black)
Oxalis stricta
Seed pod stalk ascending, pod erect. 3-4 flowers per cluster.
Physalis heterophylla
Leaf ovate, wavy marginal teeth or entire, densely hairy.
Seeds in inflated hairy husk, closed at tip, brown at maturity.
Ratibida pinnata
larger lower leaves are pinnately divided into 3 to 7 narrow leaflets
Rudbeckia hirta
Stem Leaf - linear to spatula shape, rough white bristly hair, stalkless at top of stem
Phyllaries - 2 series, linear, quite long, very hairy, outer ones reflex.
Rudbeckia laciniata
lower leaves are pinnately divided into wide lobed leaflets
(Brown-eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia triloba
Leaves thin and rough, upper with few teeth, lower 3-lobed and toothed & long stalks.
Phyllaries in 2 series, hairy, long-pointed, spreading. Stems to 5+' tall'
Silphium laciniatum
Basal leaf - very large and deeply cleft, upper smaller, some not cleft.
Phyllaries in 2-3 series, inner appressed, outer reflexed, hairy.
(Prairie Rosinweed)
Silphium terebinthinaceum
Large arrow-shape basal leaves only. Very tall stems
Phyllaries in 2-3 series, broad, smooth, not spreading.
(Tall Goldenrod)
Solidago altissima
Stem hairy. Leaves with sharp teeth on lower, upper smaller, stalkless.
hyllaries, thin, yellowish green, 3 series, unequal, outer w/pointed tips.
Solidago flexicaulis
Lower leaves egg shaped, winged stalk, toothed; upper more linear.
Phyllaries green, narrow, 3 series, inner much longer. Stem zig-zags.
Solidago gigantea
Stem smooth. Leaves stalkless, lower with sharp teeth, upper smaller.
Phyllaries thin, 3-4 series, yellowish-green, outer lanceolate w/pointed tips.
(Old Field Goldenrod)
Solidago nemoralis
Panicle narrow, arching. Stem gray-green to reddish, grayish-white hair.
Phyllaries pale yellow, 3 series, unequal, ovate to lanceolate.
Solidago riddellii
Leaves narrow, V-shaped, lower 10x long as wide, dense near base.
Phyllaries 3-4 series, unequal, broad, tips rounded, yellowish-green.
Solidago rigida (Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum)
Leaves grayish green, stiff, hairy, lower long stalked, upper stalkless.
Phyllaries in 3-4 series, oblong, unequal, appressed, green midrib..
Solidago speciosa
Lower leaves elliptic, winged stalk. Upper shorter, leaf fascicles at base.
Flower head dense, showy. Stem usually reddish, smooth.
Solidago ulmifolia
leaf- elliptical, coarse teeth, upper stalkless, upper surface rough.
Phyllaries 3-4 series, unequal, appressed, short, translucent margins
Taraxacum officinale
Leaves all basal, long, pinnately divided, terminal lobe larger, stalk with wings.
Flowers yellow-green, gray-green and green.
Agastache scrophulariifolia
Leaf- stalked, rounded base, coarse teeth, opposite, underside with dense fine hair.
Flower corolla whitish-purplish, calyx greenish. Verticillasters. Plant to 5'+
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Plant monoecious. Male flowers on spike, leaves opposite, pinnatifid.
Pilea pumila
Only non-stinging nettle. Leaf opposite, long-stalk, coarse teeth, 3 main veins fm base.
(California Nettle)
Urtica dioica
Leaves opposite, stalked, lance-shape, toothed, underside with stinging hairs.
Flowers blue, bluish-pink and bluish-purple
(Rampion Bellflower)
Campanula rapunculoides
Lower leaves stalked, heart-shape base, upper stalkless.
Amphicarpaea bracteata
Some flowers have lavender tint
Leaf 3-parted on long stalk. Flower cluster rises from leaf axil.
Pods flat, pointed on end, usually 3 seed. Bean-like edible seed in shallow ground
Cichorium intybus
Basal leaf long with sharp dentations, stalked.
Stem leaf short, stalkless with clasping auricle; may have fine teeth.
Epilobium coloratum
Leaf oblong, toothed edges, sometimes purplish in Autumn
View after seed pods open in Autumn. Stems branched.
(Large-leaved Aster)
Eurybia macrophylla
(Large-leaved Aster)
Basal leaves large, broadly oval, long stalked, heart shape bases
(Large-leaved Aster)
Phyllaries 5-6 series, 32 to 35, overlapping, oft purple tinged, short glandular hair.
(Closed Gentian)
Gentiana clausa and
Gentiana andrewsii
Leaves 2x long as wide, opposite but form whorl under flowers.
Gentiana puberulenta
Plant 8-20" high. Leaf opposite, narrow, slightly hairy. (Photo Derek Anderson)
(Blue Cardinal Flower)
Lobelia siphilitica
Plant 1-4 feet high, stout, usually hairy in inflorescence. Flower- 2 lip lobes top, 3 on bottom.
Leaves oblong to oval, upper smaller and stalkless. No hair.
Myosotis scorpioides
Stems thin, leaf stalkless, one center vein, hair on margins.
Scutellaria lateriflora
(Blue Skullcap) Petals barely curved. (Photo Chris Noll)
Flowers in racemes from leaf axils, leaves stalked, stem 12-28" high. (Photo Chris Noll)
(Common Blue Wood Aster)
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
(Flowers can be white)
Lower leaves- heart shape base, large teeth, upper leaves more oval.
Phyllaries - 4 to 6 series, unequal, linear to oblong, whitish with green diamond stripe
Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve
Leaves narrow, 5x longer than wide, stalkless or clasping
Phyllaries 4 to 6 series, appressed, unequal size, long dk grn tips, lance/diamond shape.
(Azure Aster)
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense var. oolentangiense
Leaves stiff, thick, lower stalked with wings, upper stalkless
Phyllaries 4-6 series, outer slightly spreading, whitish, dark green diamond tip.
(Red-stemmed Aster)
Symphyotrichum puniceum
(Red-stemmed Aster)
Stem stout, hairy, reddish purple, leaves clasp stem
(Red-stemmed Aster)
Phyllaries- 4 to 6 series, whitish with long spreading green tips, with/without hair.
Symphyotrichum shortii
Leaves lance-like, lowest the largest, base heart-shaped, usually without teeth.
Phyllaries- 4-5 series, appressed, unequal in size, whitish with short dk green pointed tip.
(Blue Vervain)
Verbena hastata
Leaf lance-like, coarse teeth, underside with whitish hair, lower leaves have a pair of basal lobes.
Flowers Rosy, pinkish, pink-purple and deep-purple.
Allium cernuum
(Buds and open flowers nodding)
Leaves all basal, forming vase shape. Flower stem rises from bulb. White flowers also.
Allium stellatum
(Buds nod, open flowers held erect)
(Wild Bean)
Apios americana
Leaves have 5+ stalked leaflets, terminal largest. Vine to 7'
Arctium minus
Leaf-egg shape, large, lower with heart-shape base, edge wavy. Flowers in tight cluster.
Centaurea stoebe
Photos Merle R. Black, Wisconsin Flora
Leaves deeply lobed, phyllaries with black tips.
Chelone obliqua
Leaves opposite, stalked, dark green, smooth, toothed.
Digitalis lanata
Leaves linear with hair near purplish stem.
(Eastern Purple Coneflower)
Echinacea purpurea
Basal leaves 5x long as wide, long-stalked. Stem leaves short.
Phyllareies narrow, pointed, hairy and recurve from the head when in flower.
Euphorbia cyathophora
Leaves stalked, variable - linear to oblong lobed. Color is in the bracts.
Eutrochium maculatum
(Eupatorium purpureum)
Leaves usually in whorls of 4 to 5, lanceolate in shape, underside densely hairy.
Stem is purple or purple spotted
Eutrochium purpureum
(Eupatorium purpureum)
Greenish stem, purple only at stem nodes - mesic sites.
(Witch's Moneybags)
Hylotelephium telephium
Leaves flat, thick, succulent with coarse teeth, lower stalked.
Plants shown here all have similar leaves. Longer and wider closer to stem base
(Rough Gayfeather)
Liatris aspera
Phyllaries - 4-5 series - outer green & reflexed, - middle rounded tip, uneven edges.
(Cylindrical Blazing Star
Liatris cylindracea
Phyllaries - 5-7 series, outer ovate to inner oblong; varying green to deep purplish
(Rocky Mt. Blazing Star)
Liatris ligulistylis
Phyllaries- 4-5 series, unequal, oblong to spatulate, truncate to rounded tips, long stalk
Liatris pilosa
Phyllaries- 4-5 series, oblong, unequal, irregular shape, margins translucent, tips rounded to pointed.
Liatris pycnostachya
(New England Blazing Star)
Liatris scariosa . var. novae-angliae
Phyllaries - 4-5 series, unequal, oblong to ovate, tips rounded & spreading, not recurved, green to purple.
(Spiked Blazing Star)
Liatris spicata
Phyllaries - 4-5 series, unequal, ovate to oblong, tips rounded, appressed, green or purple varying with variety.
Monarda fistulosa
Leaves opposite, stalked, grayish, triangular base, fewer teeth on upper leaves.
Prenanthes alba
Stem leaf - variable, upper with coarse teen & few lobes, lower deeply 3 to 5 lobed.
(Bittersweet Nightshade)
Solanum dulcamara
Leaf - 1 large terminal lobe and 2 to 4 smaller lobes. Stalk forms a small wing.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Leaves oblong, no teeth, clasp stem strongly
Phyllaries - 3 to 5 series, linear, glandular hair, dark green to purple tinged.
(Silky Aster)
Symphyotrichum sericeum
(Silky Aster)
Leaves pale green, silky, silver tint, smooth edges
Phyllaries - 3-5 series, overlapping, ovate, pale-grn center line, spade-like grn spreading tips
Verbena stricta
Leaf - sharp coarse teeth, short stalk, underside with fine whitish hair.
(Prairie Ironweed)
Vernonia fasciculata
Tall stout plant, leaves lance-like with sharp toothed edge, stalkless.
Phyllaries - 4-5 series of 25 to 35+, green, like fish scales, inner tips purplish.
flowers - Reddish, orange and brown.
(Butterfly Milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa
Leaf lance-shaped, alternate, no stalk; other milkweeds are alternate.
Long slim seed pods held upright on a downward curving stalk.
Lobelia cardinalis
Leaf toothed, alternate, upper stalkless
Rumex crispus
Typha angustifolia
Typha latifolia
