White/Pale Flowers

An alien (or exotic species) Can be easily seen while driving More information

*May-July*	Common Name: Fleabane Latin Name: Erigeron spp. Family: Compositae Fleabane is the size of an aster, with more petals, with the coloration of a daisy. They usually bloom before the asters and have much smaller flowers than daisies. Flowers of some species run toward the pink and lavendar colors, like asters. The center of the flowers are yellow, like daisies.
*May-Oct*	Common Name: Ox-eye Daisy Latin Name: Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Family: Compositae Daisies may be one of the best known flowers in Michigan. However, few of us would probably guess that it is an exotic from Europe. The showy flowers of white and yellow are easily recognized. The plants stand 1-3 feet tall and often occur in colonies.
*June-Sept*	Common Name: Queen-Anne's Lace Latin Name: Daucus carota Family: Umbelliferae Queen-Anne's Lace is another very common roadside flower across Michigan but is an exotic from Europe. Many tiny flowers make up the flower head, which is shaped like an umbrella. Often, in the middle of the flower head, there is a single purple flower. The plant may grow to be over three feet tall. The leaves are very lacy.
*April-June*	Common Name: Strawberry Latin Name: Fragaria virginiana Family: Rosaceae Wild strawberry is a small, white-petaled flower that often goes unnoticed. The plant rarely grows more that six inches tall. Individuals frequently have runners that might go over three feet. The bright red, but quite small, strawberries ripen in July. They are very tasty. Occasionally, confused flowers may bloom as late as September.
*July-Sept*	Common Name: Sweet Clover Latin Name: Melilotus alba Family: Leguminosae Sweet clover spikes are tall and lanky, usually growing in fairly thick colonies along our roadsides. The plant often reaches heights of over five feet tall. The flower spikes might be as long as 7 or 8 inches. The small leaves are in three-parts and are clover-looking.
*August-Sept*	Common Name: White Clover Latin Name: Trifolium repens Family: Leguminosae Like most Michigan clovers, white clover is an exotic from Europe and has long been used as a forage crop in agriculture. This is the species that might most often be seen in lawns. It is a short plant, usually just a few inches tall.

This site created and maintained by Bill Cook, MSU Extension Forester for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, now retired. He continues to respond to suggestions, questions, and corrections. Contact him at cookwi@msu.edu.