Page 53 - Free State Summer 2023

poisonous. Pests include aphids, iris borer, thrips, rhizome
and crown rot, leaf spot and leaf and blossom blight.

Oenothera macrocarpa, or Missouri Evening Primrose, blooms
from May to August and thrives in full sun and medium to
dry well drained soils, tolerating high lime and poor soils.
Deep green narrow lance shaped leaves grow 6-12 inches
high and spread 12 – 24 inches. The solitary 3–5-inch flower
opens in the late afternoon, staying open all night long into
the next morning. Lightly fragrant, sunny yellow 4-petal
flowers arise from the leaf axils, facing upwards to the sun.
After blooming, the 2-3inch seed pods are formed with 4
wings that are attached from the top to the bottom of the
pods. Butterflies and other pollinators visit for the day, and
there are no serious pests.
Osmorhiza longistylis, or Sweet Anise, blooms from May to
June and thrives in full sun to dappled woodland shade
and prefers to grow in organically rich well drained soils.
Plants grow 2-3 feet tall and wide with deep green lacey
fern-like anis scented leaves. The bottom leaves have long
petioles and spread up to 12 inches wide and are divided
into 3 sections, with each section subdivided again with
each oval leaflet having serrated margins. The upper leaves
have short petioles. The roots, stems and leaves are all anise
scented and all are edible. In May to June the tiny 1/8-inch
flowers bloom on compound umbels which are made up
of 5 umbellets that form an open airy circle. Each umbellet
has 8-16 tiny white flowers, each with 5 petals, stamens and ▼ Aquilegia canadensis
(continued on next page) ▼ Coreopsis Verticillata thread leaf coreopsis Moonbeam

Get Active. Stay Involved. • SUMMER 2023 53