The second native lily blooming now is Turk’s cap lily (Lilium superbum), pronounced superb-um. While the coloring of this lily’s flower is very similar to the Carolina lily, there are several ways to distinguish them. Turk’s cap lily is taller, reaching up to 7 feet tall. (1/2)

Native lilies are every bit as beautiful as their non-native cousins. Two summer native ones are blooming now. The first one is Michaux’s lily (Lilium michauxii), also called Carolina lily. (1/3)

A native azalea is blooming now and it takes some people by surprise. The plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) is a summer blooming azalea that generally starts in late June and continues into July. (1/2)

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, formerly Cimicifuga racemosa) is a summer-blooming woodland perennial that is blooming now. The statuesque perennial sends up bloom stalks that effectively double its height, up to six feet tall. This plant does best in average moisture. (1/2)

Rose gentians are found throughout Georgia, lovely pink flowers every one of them. This is an annual one (Sabatia angularis) that pops up almost as a surprise in places where tiny seeds traveled. With 13 different species of Sabatia native to Georgia, you can surely one of these beauties near you.

The rosinweeds are large summer-blooming flowers that many people might mistake for a sunflower. Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) is a very garden-worthy member of this genus, offering up beautiful yellow flowers for several weeks. (1/2)

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) is a summer-blooming sumac you might spot blooming on roadsides in Georgia. Later it’ll form upright clusters of fruits similar to those already showing on the spring-blooming smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) – that’ll help you tell them apart at 55 miles an hour. (1/2)

Yesterday we posted the non-native plant with the common name Mimosa. Today this native plant’s scientific name is Mimosa microphylla. This perennial (blooming now) is known as sensitive briar because it’s prickles (the briar part) is sensitive to the touch (the leaves close when disturbed). (1/2)

While we largely post pictures of Georgia native plants, occasionally we want to point out plants that are so common in places that people might think they are native. One such plant is blooming now – it is Albizia julibrissin, often called Mimosa. (1/3)

A taller species of mountain mint, and more distributed in Georgia, is southern mountain mint (Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides). Reaching 4-5 feet tall, it has large whitish leaves that frame the clusters of speckled purple flowers. There might be noticeable hairs around the flowers and leaves. (1/2)

Mountain mint is a great summer perennial, but of course you need to give it some room (it is a mint after all). This one is clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). (1/3)

Downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) is an evergreen native orchid that blooms in the summer. In the northern half of Georgia you might have noticed its intricately patterned leaves of green and white nestled in upland woods. (1/3)

It seems strange to admire an onion, but nodding onion (Allium cernuum) is one native onion that is much appreciated. Native to north Georgia, this pretty and well-behaved perennial is often propagated and sold at native plant sales or passed along among friends. (1/2)

Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), the summer cousin to our spring buckeyes, is blooming now. Native to just a couple of counties on the western side of Georgia, this large shrub loves to grow in many other places. (1/2)

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a very showy plant in the fall when purple berries seem to appear out of nowhere. But they all started with a flower and those flowers are blooming now. Tiny pink flowers are arranged in clusters, close to the stem, just as the berries will appear. (1/2)

Monkeyflower (Mimulus sp.) is a large genus of native perennials but there are only two species in Georgia: Allegheny monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens) and winged monkeyflower (M. alatus). Flowers of these two species are blue to pinkish; other species may be yellow. (1/2)

Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is the more well-known species in Georgia. Large, showy, exotic purple flowers can be found on roadsides throughout the state, no doubt startling people that see it for the first time. (1/4)

Think native plants aren’t way cool? Have you met the passionflowers? Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea) may be the modest member of the family, but it still packs a serious wow factor when viewed up close. Two species are native to Georgia and we’ll feature the other one tomorrow. (1/2)

Another tiny flower blooming now might be in your lawn – juniperleaf (Polypremum procumbens) is a native annual/perennial in a family that you might not expect. This petite plant is usually only about 6-8 inches tall with very thin leaves and small 4-petaled white flowers. (1/2)

This is Stokes’s aster (Stokesia laevis), one of the true blue perennials that we have. It keeps a tight rosette of green leaves all winter long, thick and straplike. This perennial has a small native range in south Georgia but has been a garden favorite throughout the state for generations. (1/2)

Two days ago we showed you black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). This is Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm.’ You might find this one in professional landscapes (it was the 1999 perennial plant of the year, go natives!). (1/2)

Rudbeckia triloba var. triloba, known as the brown-eyed Susan, thin-leaved coneflower or three-leaved coneflower, is a short-lived perennial similar to the Rudbeckia hirta that we featured yesterday ago except that the leaves have some lobing and the plant is generally a bit taller. (1/3)

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a perennial favorite native wildflower for sunny areas. This is not the creeping black-eyed Susan sold in the stores as Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ and you can tell the difference by looking at the leaves. (1/2)

We featured the most well-known species of purple coneflower yesterday, but there are several other species found in Georgia. This one is wavyleaf purple coneflower (Echinacea simulata) and this photo is from an area in Floyd County known as the Coosa Valley Prairies.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is one of the most recognized native perennials (it’s even one of Georgia’s wildflower license plate choices!) Along with related species and hybrids among them, it’s widely cultivated and sold in a variety of sizes and colors! ‘Tomato Soup’ indeed! (1/2)

Blazing stars are a big part of the fall garden but this species, Liatris spicata, blooms in early summer. Summer or fall, Liatris is a butterfly magnet. Native from one end of the state to the other and widely sold (perhaps more than any other).

Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) is a plant of sunny areas with a tolerance for dry, rocky or clay soil. The root can be large, no doubt is a factor in its drought tolerance. The flower stalks can be up to 3 feet tall, with long-lasting white flowers in clusters. (1/2)

Zigzag iris (Iris brevicaulis) is one of five iris species in the Louisiana iris group, and it’s blooming now. It’s one of 3 blue iris in that group and it has a distinctive zigzag stem. The floral stems are usually shorter than the leaves. This species likes good moisture but not standing water.

Carolina wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) is found throughout the state, along with a few other species of wild petunia. It is a modest perennial in the Acanthaceae family, with a tough root and fertile seeds (which means it spreads around and is hard to pull out!). (1/2)