Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Friday - November 27, 2015

From: Edison, NJ
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Pollinators, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Wildflowers
Title: What is blooming in NJ in Late November?
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I am a beekeeper in Edison, NJ. My bees are still bringing pollen even this late in the season (Thanksgiving). What plants or trees are still blooming? The color of the pollen is a pale yellow.

ANSWER:

There are quite a few New Jersey native plants in the Native Plant Database that might be potential pollen plants for your foraging bees. A search of New Jersey plants that bloom in November and December will produce about 100 plants. If there hasn't been an early frost in your area, there will be lots of late blooming perennial blooms for bees to visit. Some of these are pictured below.

For additional information about increasing native bee pollination in New Jersey, Bryn Mawr College and Rutgers University have produced an online article "Native Bee Benefits" that discusses plants, bee species and more.

 

From the Image Gallery


Horseweed
Conyza canadensis

Blue mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum

White boneset
Eupatorium serotinum

Maximilian sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani

Prairie blazing star
Liatris pycnostachya

Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum

Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima

Marsh ladies'-tresses
Spiranthes odorata

Willowleaf aster
Symphyotrichum praealtum

Purpletop tridens
Tridens flavus


More Herbs/Forbs Questions

Differences between Lantana urticoides and Lantana camara
July 13, 2012 - I have found an orange variety of lantana growning in several location in Jefferson County. Is there any way I can tell for sure if it is L. camara or the native L. urticoides?
view the full question and answer

Milkweed species for Central Texas
February 11, 2015 - What milkweed should I plant in the flood plain behind my house on Brushy Creek.
view the full question and answer

Poolside Groundcover Suggestions for Florida
July 18, 2013 - I live in Milton, FL near Pensacola. We just had a pool installed and now want to put groundcover around the perimeter. It will be an area about 70 feet long and 10 feet deep. It will be full sun. We ...
view the full question and answer

Pictures and information on Scutellaris laterifolia, Blue Skullcap
June 19, 2006 - I am trying to find information on Scutellaria laterifolia (skullcap), of the plant family "labiatea". Do you have any info or pictures? Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Making a raised garden bed in Texas
October 25, 2015 - I just bought a house in Ft Worth Texas and the soil is undisturbed red clay. I was told I probably would need to build a raised bed to make a 25 ft by 4-6 ft butterfly/humming bird/bee native flower ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.