Celandine poppy is native to moist woods and stream banks in the central and southeastern portions of Missouri. Four-petaled, bright yellow flowers (to 2" diameter) bloom singly or in small clusters in early April before the trees leaf out on mounded plants densely clad with pinnately lobed, blue green leaves. Plants typically grow to 12-18" tall, but will naturalize, sometimes aggressively, by rhizomes and self-seeding to form large colonies. Celandine poppy adapts well to moist garden loams in sun-dappled or shady areas of the landscape. Foliage will usually persist to fall in moist soils, but may go dormant in summer if soils dry out.

Lenten rose is a true harbinger of spring! Large, cup-shaped flowers in variable shades of white to pink to rose-purple bloom in February on these rugged but easy-to-grow evergreen perennials. Plants grow to 12-18” tall and sport attractive leathery dark green foliage throughout the year. New cultivars expand the available range of flower colors into yellows, pinks, and greens.

Coralberry is a native Missouri deciduous shrub loved for its clusters of coral-red berries (drupes) which mature in autumn but persist into winter. It provides excellent color and interest to the winter landscape. Berry-laden winter stems may be cut for indoor floral arrangements. Also commonly called Indian currant. Add it to your list of shrubs to plant next year and you will be rewarded with many years of winter interest.

Although somewhat invasive in the landscape, this Missouri native annual is noted for producing unique, cornucopia-shaped, orange to yellow-orange flowers with reddish brown spotting over a long summer bloom. It grows like a shrub, loves moist shady areas and comes back every year. It is commonly called jewelweed (dew or rain beads up on the leaves like jewels) or touch-me-not (ripe seed capsules explode when touched). See it in bloom in late summer at the Kemper Native Shade Garden.

Native to the tall grass prairie, prairie dock is a sunflower-like plant that produces three inch diameter flowers with yellow rays and yellow center disks in mid to late summer on nearly leafless, branching-at-the-top stems climbing to a lofty 8-10 feet tall. Stems rise from basal rosettes of huge, sandpapery, dock-like, green leaves. Stroll through the Kemper Prairie Garden in August to see these tall bloomers.

One of my favorite trees has to be the Franklin tree. Not only for its beauty flowers but also its interesting history. It is not the easiest small flowering tree to grow in the St. Louis area but in a suitable location it can be magnificent. There is one growing in the Kemper Center's Fragrance Garden that is in bloom now. Come by and enjoy it!

This Missouri native of the Citrus family is called toothache tree because native Americans once chewed the bark/fruits for relief of toothache pain. Although unrelated to ashes, it is also commonly called prickly ash because of its prickles and ash-like compound leaves. It spreads by root suckers to form dense thickets. Red berries in fall may be its best ornamental feature. See this at the Missouri Native Shade Garden at Kemper.

Prickly pear cactus is the only cactus that is widely found growing in the eastern U.S. Succulent green pads supplemented by showy yellow flowers in May and pulpy red fruits in summer form a sprawling albeit spiny ground cover for dry sunny areas. See these interesting plants at the Rock Garden area of the Kemper Center.

Pawpaw is native to Missouri. It is the only member of the Custard Apple Family that is found growing outside of the tropics. This small tree will naturalize over time by root suckers to form colonies. Come to the Woodland Garden to observe its interesting and attractive features, including unique cup-shaped purple flowers that bloom in April-May and edible kidney-shaped 3-5” long fruits mature in fall.

Come and see these fascinating trees planted over 150 years ago by Henry Shaw along a carriage road to his country home. They continue to thrive today at the Missouri Botanical Garden where they now provide shade to a portion of the Children's Garden. Native to the southcentral U.S., osage orange grows in a variety of forms ranging from thorny, impenetrable, suckering shrubs to distinctive 60' tall trees with broad rounded crowns. Learn more about this plant in the PlantFinder by clicking on the name above.