The Virginia Bluebell is a fairly common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois. Habitats include wet to moderately moist woodlands, especially in semi-shaded floodplain areas along rivers, bluffs, and flower gardens.

The preference is light shade to partial sun in moist wooded areas with rich soil. The foliage dies down by mid-summer.

 

 

 

 

Spiderwort

The leaves are long, thin and bladelike to lanceolate, from 3-45 cm long. The flowers are white, pink or purple but most commonly bright blue, with three petals and six yellow anthers.

A number of the species flower in the morning and when the sun shines on the flowers in the afternoon they close up, but the flowers can remain open on cloudy days until evening.

Though sometimes accounted as a weed, spiderwort is cultivated for borders and also used in containers. Where it appears as a volunteer, it is often welcomed and allowed to stay.

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