During any blooming season of the year, certain flowers are predominant. My theory is that around ten kinds flowers make up about 80% of the blooms you see in a particular season. So, if you learn those ten, you can amaze your friends with your ability to identify so many of the flowers around you! Here is my candidate list for the Fall season's Top Ten. (Photographs copyright 1998, Eleanor Dietrich)

To maximize your effectiveness, we will stay with the broader category of each flower, scientifically known as the genus. As your knowledge and interest increases, you may want to learn more about the individual species within a genus. For now, you can begin with phrases like, "Oh, that's an agalinis." 

Goldenrod (Solidago)

Grows tall in large colonies in sunny places. Often unfairly accused of causing hay fever, but ragweed is the real culprit. Goldenrod is pollinated by insects, which you will see on this flower in abundance. There are over 20 species of goldenrod in the southeast, and they are often difficult to distinguish, but it's not hard to identify goldenrod in general.

Agalinis (Agalinis)

Slender branched plants up to 4' tall with beautiful 1" dark pink flowers along the branches. These are annuals and grow in large groups in fields and along roadsides. There are around 30 different species in the southeast. Common names include Gerardia and False Foxglove.

Shepherd's Needles (Bidens)

This is a specific plant in the genus Bidens. It is the only species in this genus that has white flowers. It forms large masses in open areas and waste places, blooming from spring until frost. Its seed are long and slender with barbs on the end to catch on passing animals, hence its name.

Showy Crotalaria (Crotalaria)

This large plant with tall yellow spikes of flowers is easy to spot. Large numbers grow in waste places and roadsides. The seed pods are large and when dry they rattle when shaken, giving it also the common name of Rattlebox. There are about 9 species of crotalaria in the southeast, and this one is the most predominant.

Blazing Star (Liatris)

A lovely flower, easily recognized by its long purple spike of small purple flowers. They are perennials and often grow in masses along roadsides and in fields. There are at least 16 different species in the southeast which are hard to tell apart.

Morning Glory (Ipomoea)

Morning glory vines can be quite vigorous and cover objects and other plants with their bright colored blooms of white, pink, blue, and orange. They start blooming in the summer and last through October in the southeast, where we have about 10 different species.

Evening Primrose (Oneothera)

The common evening primrose grows to 7' tall and sports bright yellow flowers up to 2" wide. As it ages it tends to get rather leggy. You can find it along fence rows and road margins.

White Eupatorium (Eupatorium)

These medium-sized plants are topped with clusters of small white flowers and are easily spotted along the roadside. There are at least 10 species in the southeast and they are often hard to identify. Some common names are Boneset, Thoroughwort, and White Snakeroot. The flowers look very similar, but the leaves come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Sunflower (Helianthus)

Tall sunflowers with large yellow blooms are easy to identify but there are many species (20-30 in the southeast) that may be hard to name individually. Some have dark centers, such as the one pictured here which is very common.

Golden Aster (Chrysopsis, Heterotheca, Pityopsis)

These plants with their small, daisy-like yellow flowers, are everywhere in the fall. We have at least a dozen different species in the southeast.