Indiana Dunes Flower Quest—JUNE

The warmer weather of June brings a whole new assortment of wonderful wildflowers to the Indiana Dunes! Flowers are blooming in the wetlands from Cowles Bog to Pinhook Bog, so check out our “June Hotspots” below, and then head outdoors to see how many of these treasures you can discover!

Visit the Indiana Dunes Flower Quest homepage for important information, and then grab your camera and hit the trails! Be sure to share pictures of the treasures you spy at #DunesFlowerQuest.

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Be sure to tag @indianadunes and use #dunesflowerquest.

Need some help identifying your discoveries?  Try identify.plantnet.org.

A Note on Invasive Wildflowers

The Indiana Dunes are home to so many beautiful wildflowers. Unfortunately, not all of them belong here. Over the years, non-native species have taken root in the region, crowding out native species that are crucial for supporting fragile ecosystems. The parks, non-profit organizations, and volunteers work diligently to restore these areas.

If you spot an invasive species, please leave it be: it takes careful oversight to remove these plants without damaging the area, and poison ivy, ticks, and sometimes even toxins from the plants themselves can be a hazard.

Bindweed

Bindweed

This vine has an attractive pinkish-white, funnel-shaped flower. They can last as little as a day, though, so don’t dawdle! Bindweed is non-native invasive with a hardy root system, which serves it well since its deep flowers can make it difficult for pollinators to reach, in spite of the flowers’ fetching aroma. Bindweed can spread quickly, wrapping itself around trees and entangling other plants–hence its name! And did you know that all bindweeds twist counter-clockwise? Take a look!

Japanese Rose

Japanese Rose

Imported in the 18th century, this shrub has numerous beautiful yellow flowers. But don’t let its appearance deceive you: because of its dense structure, it can crowd out other native plants and is considered invasive.

Phragmites

Phragmites

Non-native Phragmites, also known as common reed, is a perennial, aggressive wetland grass that outcompetes native plants and displaces native animals. Because of its height and its distinctive, fluffy seedheads, Phragmites is easy to spot, even by traveling motorists.

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