October Flowers

     During every month of the year, for at least the last 15 years, I have been going out to look for wild flowers. Before that, I looked from spring to fall but after retirement I found more time to search during winter as well as the other seasons. In addition to looking by myself, I have been leading wild flower walks since 1981 and many eyes see even more flowers. When I first started looking, flowers were few and far between during the autumn, winter and early spring but these days, with warmer weather staying long and longer, there are more and more flowers to be found. Following is my October list. I have never found all of these flowers during any one October but all of them have been found during some past year during October. The list is currently 275 species long for the counties of Brant and Wentworth with most of them being in Wentworth. (As an aside, the entire county is now under the government of the City of Hamilton much to the displeasure of the various smaller villages in the county.) Anyway, if you are looking on the map for the area, look at the west end of Lake Ontario in southern Ontario. Many of the flower bloom longer here due to lake effect warming in the fall and early winter.

Here is the list for October:

Alkanet * .-. Anchusa arvensis Alyssum, Hoary * .-. Berteroa incana Amaranth, Green * .-. Amaranthus retroflexus Amaranth, Slender .-. Amaranthus hybridus Apple-Of-Peru * .-. Nicandra physalodes Artichoke, Jerusalem * .-. Helianthus tuberosus Aster, Amethyst .-. Symphyotrichum X amethystinum Aster, Arrow-Leaved .-. Symphyotrichum urophyllum Aster, Azure (Sky Blue) .-. Symphyotrichum oolentangiense  Aster, Calico (Starved) .-. Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Aster, Flat-Topped .-. Doellingeria umbellata Aster, Frost .-. Symphyotrichum pilosum Aster, Heart-Leaved .-. Symphyotrichum cordifolium Aster, Heath .-. Symphyotrichum ericoides Aster, Large-Leaved .-. Eurybia macrophylla Aster, New England .-. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Aster, Panicled .-. Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Aster, Purple-Stemmed .-. Aster puniceus var. puniceus Aster, Smooth .-. Symphyotrichum laeve Avens, Catling's * .-. Geum x catlingii  Avens, White .-. Geum canadense Avens, Wood * .-. Geum urbanum Avens, Yellow .-. Geum aleppicum Balsam, Himalayan * .-. Impatiens glandulifera Basil, Wild .-. Clinopodium vulgare Beechdrops .-. Epifagus virginiana Beggar Tick .-. Bidens frondosa Beggar Tick, Tall .-. Bidens vulgata Bellflower, Creeping * .-. Campanula rapunculoides Bindweed, Field * .-. Convolvulus arvensis Bindweed, Hedge .-. Calystegia sepium Bittercress, Hairy * .-. Cardamine hirsuta  Black-Eyed Susan .-. Rudbeckia hirta Boneset .-. Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset, Tall .-. Eupatorium altissimum Bouncing Bet * .-. Saponaria officinalis Buckwheat, Climbing False .-. Polygonum scandens Bugleweed, Northern .-. Lycopus uniflorus Bugleweed, Rough .-. Lycopus asper Bugloss, Viper's * .-. Echium vulgare Bur Cucumber, One-Seeded .-. Sicyos angulatus Bur-Marigold, Nodding .-. Bidens cernua Burdock, Common * .-. Arctium minus Burdock, Great * .-. Arctium lappa Butter-And-Eggs * .-. Linaria vulgaris Buttercup, Tall * .-. Ranuculus acris Campion, Bladder * .-. Silene vulgaris Campion, Red * .-. Silene dioica Campion, White  * .-. Silene latifolia Cancerwort, Roundleaf * .-. Kickxia spuria Cancerwort, Sharpleaf* .-. Kickxia elatine Carpenter's Square (Figwort) .-. Scrophularia marilandica Carpetweed * .-. Mollugo verticillata Catchfly, Night Flowering * .-. Silene noctiflora Catnip * .-. Nepeta cataria Celandine * .-. Chelidonium majus Chamomile, Scentless * .-. Matricaria maritima Charlock * .-. Sinapis arvensis Chickweed, Common * .-. Stellaria media Chickweed, Mouse-Ear * .-. Cerastium fontanum Chicory * .-. Cichorium intybus Cinquefoil, Common .-. Potentilla simplex Cinquefoil, Dwarf .-. Potentilla canadensis Cinquefoil, Rough .-. Potentilla norvegica Cinquefoil, Rough-Fruited * .-. Potentilla recta Cinquefoil, Silvery * .-. Potentilla argentea Clearweed .-. Pilea pumila Cleavers .-. Galium aparine Clotbur, Common .-. Xanthium strumarium Clover, Alsike * .-. Trifolium hybridum ssp.elegans Clover, Hop * .-. Trifolium aureum Clover, Red * .-. Trifolium pratense Clover, White * .-. Trifolium repens Clover, White Sweet * .-. Melilotus alba Clover, Yellow Sweet * .-. Melilotus officinalis Comfrey, Common * .-. Symphytum officinale ssp.officinale Coneflower, Purple * .-. Echinacea purpurea Coneflower, Tall .-. Rudbeckia laciniata Coneflower, Thin-Leaved * .-. Rudbeckia triloba Cress, Marsh Yellow .-. Rorippa palustris ssp.fernaldiana Crowfoot, Bristly * .-. Ranunculus pensylvanicus Crowfoot, Cursed .-. Ranunculus sceleratus Crown-vetch, Purple * .-. Securigera varia Cucumber, Wild .-. Echinocystis lobata Cup Plant .-. Silphium perfoliatum var.perfoliatum Daisy, Oxeye * .-. Leucanthemum  vulgare Dandelion, Common * .-. Taraxacum officinale Dandelion, Red-Seeded * .-. Taraxacum erythrospermum Dayflower, Asiatic * .-. Commelina communis Dead-Nettle, Purple * .-. Lamium purpureum Dead-Nettle, Spotted * .-. Lamium maculatum Dogwood, Red-Osier (Shrub) .-. Cornus  stolonifera Dogwood, Silky (Pale)(Shrub) .-. Cornus amomum Elecampane * .-. Inula helenium Evening Primrose, Common .-. Oenothera biennis Feverfew * .-. Tanacetum parthenium Flax, Common * .-. Linum usitatissimum Fleabane, Common .-. Erigeron philadelphicus Fleabane, Daisy .-. Erigeron annuus Fleabane, Lesser Daisy .-. Erigeron strigosus Flower-Of-An-Hour * .-. Hibiscus trionum Forget-Me-Not, Smaller .-. Myosotis laxa Forget-Me-Not, True * .-. Myosotis scorpioides Foxtail, Meadow * (Grass) .-. Alopecurus pratensis Galinsoga * .-. Galinsoga quadriradiata Galinsoga, Small-Flowered .-. Galinsoga parviflora Goatsbeard, Meadow * .-. Tragopogon pratensis ssp.pratensis Goatsbeard, Yellow * .-. Tragopogon dubius Goldenrod, Blue-Stemmed .-. Solidago caesia Goldenrod, Canada .-. Solidago canadensis Goldenrod, Gray .-. Solidago nemoralis Goldenrod, Hairy .-. Solidago hispida Goldenrod, Lance-Leaved .-. Euthamia graminifolia Goldenrod, Late .-. Solidago gigantea Goldenrod, Rough-Leaved .-. Solidago patula Goldenrod, Stiff (Hard-Leaved) .-. Solidago rigida Goldenrod, Tall .-. Solidago altissima ssp. Altissima Goldenrod, Zigzag .-. Solidago flexicaulis Ground Cherry, Clammy .-. Physalis heterophylla Ground Ivy * .-. Glechoma hederacea Groundsel, Common * .-. Senecio vulgaris Groundsel, Sticky * (S.Ragwort) .-. Senecio viscosus Harebell .-. Campanula rotundifolia Hawkweed, Field * .-. Hieracium caespitosum Hawkweed, Orange * .-. Hieracium aurantiacum Hawkweed, Panicled ? .-. Hieracium paniculatum Heal-All .-. Prunella vulgaris Hemlock, Poison * .-. Conium maculatum Henbit * .-. Lamium amplexicaule Herb Robert * .-. Geranium robertianum Honewort .-. Cryptotaenia canadensis Honeysuckle, Amur * (Shrub) .-. Lonicera maackii Honeysuckle, Northern Bush .-. Diervilla lonicera Honeysuckle, Tartarian * .-. Lonicera tatarica Horehound, Black .-. Ballota nigra Horehound, European * .-. Lycopus europaeus Horehound, Water .-. Lycopus americanus Horse Balm .-. Collinsonia canadensis Horseweed .-. Conyza canadensis Hound's Tongue * .-. Cynoglossum officinale Hyssop, Yellow Giant .-. Agastache nepetoides  Indian Tobacco .-. Lobelia inflata Jimsonweed * .-. Datura stramonium Joe-Pye Weed, Spotted .-. Eupatorium maculatum Knapweed, Black * .-. Centaurea nigra Knapweed, Brown * .-. Centaurea jacea Knapweed, Spotted * .-. Centaurea maculosa Knapweed, Tyrol .-. Centaurea nigrescens Knotgrass, Common * .-. Polygonum aviculare Knotweed, Japanese * .-. Polygonum cuspidatum Knotweed, Pink .-. Polygonum pensylvanicum Knotweed, Virginia (Jumpseed) .-. Polygonum virginianum Lady's Thumb * .-. Polygonum persicaria Leafcup, Small-Flowered .-. Polymnia canadensis Lettuce, White .-. Prenanthes alba Lettuce, Wild .-. Lactuca canadensis Lobelia, Great .-. Lobelia siphilitica Loosestrife, Purple * .-. Lythrum salicaria Mallow, Common(Cheeses) * .-. Malva neglecta Mallow, Indian * (Velvetleaf) * .-. Abutilon theophrasti Mallow, Musk * .-. Malva moschata Marjoram, Wild * .-. Origanum vulgare Mayweed * .-. Anthemis cotula Medick, Black * .-. Medicago lupulina Medick, Hyrid *(Yellow Alfalfa) .-. Medicago X varia Mercury, Three-Seeded .-. Acalypha rhomboidea Milk-vetch, Canada .-. Astragalus canadensis Mint, Round-Leaved * (?) .-. Mentha suaveolens Mint, Wild .-. Mentha arvensis Mint, Wooly * .-. Mentha X villosa Motherwort * .-. Leonurus cardiaca Mountain Mint, Virginia .-. Pycnanthemum virginianum Mugwort, Common * .-. Artemisia vulgaris Mullein, Clasping-Leaved .-. Verbascum phlomoides Mullein, Common * .-. Verbascum thapsus Mullein, Dark * .-. Verbascum nigrum Mullein, Moth * .-. Verbascum blattaria Mustard, Black * .-. Brassica nigra Mustard, Dog * .-. Erucastrum gallicum Mustard, Field * .-. Brassica rapa Mustard, Garlic * .-. Alliaria petiolata Mustard, Hedge * .-. Sisymbrium officinale Mustard, Tumble * .-. Sisymbrium altissimum Mustard, Wormseed * .-. Erysimum cheiranthoides Nettle, Stinging * .-. Urtica dioica ssp dioica Nettle, Tall .-. Urtica dioica ssp.gracilis Nightshade, Bittersweet * .-. Solanum dulcamara Nightshade, Eastern Black .-. Solanum ptychanthum Nipplewort * .-. Lapsana communis Obedient Plant .-. Physostegia virginiana Oyster Plant * .-. Tragopogon porrifolius Pea, Everlasting * .-. Lathyrus latifolius Pennycress, Field * .-. Thlaspi arvense Peppergrass, Field * .-. Lepidium campestre Peppergrass, Wild .-. Lepidium virginicum Peppermint * .-. Mentha X piperita Periwinkle * .-. Vinca minor Phlox, Garden * .-. Phlox paniculata Pigweed * .-. Chenopodium album var. album Pilewort (American Burnweed) .-. Erechtites hieraciifolius Pineapple Weed * .-. Matricaria  discoidea Pink, Deptford * .-. Dianthus armeria Plantain, Common * .-. Plantago major Plantain, English * .-. Plantago lanceolata Plantain, Red-Stemmed (Pale) .-. Plantago rugelii Pokeweed .-. Phytolacca americana Purslane * .-. Portulaca oleracea Queen Anne's Lace * .-. Daucus carota Ragweed, Common .-. Ambrosia artemisiifolia Ragweed, Perennial (Western) .-. Ambrosia psilostachya Raspberry, Purple-Flowering .-. Rubus odoratus Raspberry, Wild Red .-. Rubus idaeus Rocket, Dame's * .-. Hesperis matronalis Rocket, Sea .-. Cakile edentula Rocket, Yellow * .-. Barbarea vulgaris Rose, Rugosa * .-. Rosa rugosa Saint Johnswort, Common * .-. Hypericum perforatum Scorpion-Grass, Blue * .-. Myosotis stricta Shepherd's Purse * .-. Capsella bursa-pastoris Silverrod .-. Solidago bicolor Silverweed .-. Argentia anserina Smartweed, Nodding .-. Polygonum lapathifolium Smartweed, Water .-. Polygonum amphibium Snakeroot, White .-. Ageratina altissima Snapdragon, Dwarf * .-. Chaenorrhinum minus Snow-On-The-Mountain * .-. Euphorbia marginata Snowberry .-. Symphoricarpos albus Sow Thistle, Common * .-. Sonchus oleraceus Sow Thistle, Field * .-. Sonchus arvensis Sow Thistle, Spiny-Leaved * .-. Sonchus asper Spearment * .-. Mentha spicata Speedwell, Persian * .-. Veronica persica Speedwell, Thyme-Leaved * .-. Veronica serpyllifolia Spurge, Leafy * .-. Euphorbia esula Spurge, Petty * .-. Euphorbia peplus Spurge, Spotted* .-. Chamaesyce maculata Storksbill * .-. Erodium cicutarium Strawberry, Field .-. Fragaria virginiana Summer-Cypress * .-. Kochia scoparia Sunflower, Common * .-. Helianthus annuus Sunflower, Saw-toothed .-. Helianthus grosseserratus Sunflower, Tall (Giant) .-. Helianthus giganteus Sunflower, Woodland .-. Helianthus divaricatus Swallowwort * .-. Cynanchum rossicum  Tansey * .-. Tanacetum vulgare Tea, Oswego .-. Monarda didyma Tearthumb, Arrow-Leaved .-. Polygonum sagittatum Teasel * .-. Dipsacus fullonum ssp.sylvestris Thistle, Bull * .-. Cirsium vulgare Thistle, Canada * .-. Cirsium arvense Thistle, Globe * .-. Echinops sphaerocephalus Thistle, Nodding * .-. Carduus nutans Touch-Me-Not, Pale .-. Impatiens pallida Touch-Me-Not, Spotted .-. Impatiens capensis Trefoil, Birdsfoot * .-. Lotus corniculatus Turtlehead .-. Chelone glabra Valerian, Garden * .-. Valeriana officinalis Vervain, Blue .-. Verbena hastata Vervain, White .-. Verbena urticifolia Vetch, Cow * (Tufted V.) .-. Vicia cracca Vetch, Hairy * (Shaggy V.) .-. Vicia villosa Vetch, Narrow-leaved * .-. Vicia sativa ssp nigra Violet, Canada .-. Viola canadensis Violet, Common .-. Viola sororia Violet, Downy Yellow .-. Viola pubescens Wall-Rocket, Narrow-Leaved * .-. Diplotaxis tenuifolia Wallrocket * .-. Diplotaxis muralis Watercress * .-. Nasturtium officinale Willow Herb, Hairy * .-. Epilobium hirsutum Willow Herb, Sparse-Flowered * .-. Epilobium parviflorum Witch Hazel .-. Hamamelis virginiana Wood Sorrel, Creeping .-. Oxalis corniculata Wood Sorrel, Yellow .-. Oxalis stricta Wormwood, Sweet * .-. Artemisia annua Yarrow, Common * .-. Achillea millefolium