These beautiful wildflowers are commonly spotted across Houston. Some might think they look like weeds, but they are actually daisies, who compliment lower-growing, more colorful flowers. They usually grow in fields, roadsides, and woodland areas and bloom from March until August in a variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow, and purple. They are also great pollinators.
“At one patch of fleabane I spotted at least five species of butterflies, three species of bees, and a pollinating hoverfly. The flowers may be humble, but they provide an incredible benefit to wildlife,” shares Kelsey Low of Houston Arboretum.
You can also find cows and deers grazing on these plants. At one point, the Cherokee and other Native American tribes used this plant to treat various illnesses, including symptoms brought on from the common cold. The plant’s Old English name “fleabane” stems from its ability to repel fleas because of its odor.
