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The Dirt
A Blog of the Acadiana Native Plant Project
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Kansas blazing star, (Liatris pycnostachya)
One of the the most popular of the Liatris species, the Kansas blazing star is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Kelly Guilbeau
Jan 7, 20251 min read


Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower, a 1-6 ft. perennial, has showy red flowers in 8 in., terminal spikes.
Kelly Guilbeau
Jan 7, 20251 min read


Rattlesnake master, Eryngium yuccifolium
This warm-season, deep-rooted forb is described as an upland species, which prefers sandy, well drained sites (Weaver and Fitzpatrick, 1935)
Kelly Guilbeau
Jan 6, 20251 min read


Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Sweet Coneflower
Sweet coneflower is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae). Its foliage is low growing until it sends up a flower stalk.
Kelly Guilbeau
Jan 6, 20251 min read


American Persimmon
American Persimmon was our Plant of the Month in January 2025.
Kelly Guilbeau
Jan 6, 20252 min read


Dahoon holly, Ilex cassine
Dahoon holly, Ilex cassine, is a single-stemmed, small (20’ – 30’ X 8’ – 15’), evergreen tree with lime-green leaves and upward pointing ...
Kelly Guilbeau
Jun 1, 20241 min read


Silphium radula var. gracile, Slender rosinweed
Rosinweed is a prairie native herbaceous perennial in the aster family found in central USA and parts of Canada.
Kelly Guilbeau
May 1, 20241 min read


Amsonia tabernaemontana, Bluestar
Common Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) blooms in mid-spring with clusters of powder blue star-shaped flowers sitting atop the upright ...
Kelly Guilbeau
Apr 1, 20241 min read


Wax Myrtle, Morella cerifera
Wax Myrtle is a native evergreen shrub or small tree (20′ x 10'-15′) that occurs in moist forest, marshes, fresh to slightly brackish ...
Kelly Guilbeau
Mar 1, 20241 min read


Native plant of the month: American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana - October 2021
American beauty berry is a deciduous shrub naturally occurring in the understory of upland and coastal woodlands. The arching branches...
Alyssa Carrier
Feb 7, 20241 min read


Native plant of the month: Switch grass, Panicum virgatum - September 2021
The Acadian French name for this perennial grass is Caniche or paille jaune. This attractive plant grows 3-5 feet tall and prefers moist...
Alyssa Carrier
Feb 7, 20241 min read


Gaillardia pulchella, Indian Blanket or Blanketflower
Indian blanket flower is an erect annual or perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family.
Kelly Guilbeau
Feb 1, 20242 min read


Southern Arrowwood, Viburnum dentatum
Southern Arrowwood, Viburnum dentatum, is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub (6' - 12’ x 6' -10’) that occurs over most of the state in ...
Kelly Guilbeau
Dec 1, 20231 min read


Eustoma exaltatum, Catchfly Prairie Gentian
The first time I saw this beautiful plant was in a Cameron Parish drainage ditch between an abandoned parking lot and coastal marsh near ...
Kelly Guilbeau
Jul 1, 20231 min read


Cyrilla racemiflora, Swamp Titi
I love this article written by Bill Fontenot about Cyrilla racemiflora. It is from the Nature Dude Blog dated December 2017.
Kelly Guilbeau
Jun 1, 20232 min read


Coreopsis lanceolata, lanceleaf coreopsis
Lanceleaf coreopsis is an evergreen native perennial with bright yellow blooms from March to June.
Kelly Guilbeau
May 1, 20231 min read


Native plant of the month: Quercus pagoda (Cherrybark oak)
from September 2022 newsletter Cherrybark oak is a relatively fast growing, long-lived large deciduous tree with attractive dark bark...
Kelly Guilbeau
Apr 24, 20231 min read


Asclepias viridis, green milkweed
Throughout the years, Asclepias viridis or green milkweed has acquired several common names such as spider milkweed, American silkweed,...
Kelly Guilbeau
Apr 15, 20232 min read


Spring Ephemerals
Spring is here and flowers are popping up everywhere, in this case, flowers that no one planted, they just appear every spring and go...
Kelly Guilbeau
Apr 15, 20231 min read


Plant of the Month: Carpinus caroliniana, Ironwood
The weather is still cool and we have another month to plant trees so this month, Carpinus caroliniana, also known as ironwood or...
Kelly Guilbeau
Feb 16, 20231 min read
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