Npn-plant

white crownbeard (Verbesina virginica)

  • When to observe: Year-round
  • What to observe: Flowers, Fruits, and Leaves
  • Where to observe:
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White crownbeard has been selected for monitoring by our partner Monarch Watch because it is an important nectar plant for monarch butterflies. If you are a member of Monarch Watch, please see the monitoring instructions on the Monitoring Partners page.
White crownbeard is a perennial herb with small, white flowers occurring in clusters. It can grow to 100 inches tall. It grows in fields and open woods.
You should observe...
Here are the phenophases you should observe about this plant.
Leaves Initial growth

New growth of the plant is visible, either from above-ground buds with green tips, or new green or white shoots breaking through the soil surface. Growth is considered "initial" on each bud or shoot until the first leaf has fully unfolded.

Leaves

In at least one location on the plant, a fully unfolded leaf is visible. For seedlings, consider only true leaves and do not count the cotyledons (one or two small, round leaves) that are found on the stem almost immediately after the seedling emerges.

Flowers Flowers

One or more fresh flowers or flower heads (inflorescences) are visible on the plant. Flower heads include many small flowers that usually do not open all at once. Do not include wilted or dried flowers that remain on the plant, or heads whose flowers have all wilted or dried.

Open flowers

One or more open fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Flowers are considered "open" when the reproductive parts (male stamens or female pistils) are visible between unfolded or open flower parts. Do not include wilted or dried flowers that remain on the plant.

Fruits Fruits

One or more fresh fruits are visible on the plant.

Ripe fruits

One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant.

Recent fruit drop

One or more fresh mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind.

Monarch Watch observers should look at the ‘open flowers’ phenophase.
Verbesina virginica is known as frostweed because after it is exposed to freezing temperatures and still air, liquid water inside the stem freezes and splits the stem open, which then causes water and water vapor inside the stem to emit directly into the air. The water molecules then freeze upon exposure and form delicate ribbons of ice coming from the stem. There are many reported ethnobotanical uses of Verbesina virginica. It has been used as a gastrointestinal aid, a urinary aid, a laxative, and an eye medicine, as well as an external antirheumatic medicine, and an emetic, and for ceremonial uses.

Gardens with this plant

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