Fall Flowers: Curious about Crownbeard?

White crownbeard, crownbeard, Virginia crownbeard, frostweed, and angel wings (Verbesina virginica) are among the many common names ascribed to this striking herbaceous perennial that is found throughout the eastern U.S. The common name frostweed alludes to the dramatic icicles that…

Great Garden Gall

Fran Robinson (Class of 2018) sent this photo of a gall on her white crownbeard (Verbesina virginica) plant.  This gall likely is the handiwork of a gall midge (Neolasioptera verbesinae).  Its species name, verbesinae, speaks to its fidelity to the genus Verbesina.…