If you live in Pelican State, you must know about these Common Louisiana Swamp Flowers! The knowledge would sure come in handy.
Louisiana has tons of swamps and fresh water, so it’s home to many lovely plants and flowers. The next time you go out, keep an eye out for one of these!
Common Louisiana Swamp Flowers
1. Louisiana Iris
Botanical Name: Iris spp
The Louisiana iris is native to the Southeastern U.S., including Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, and Mississippi. It grows flowers in wide range of colors, including red, pink, yellow, white, and blue.
2. Swamp Milkweed
Botanical Name: Asclepias incarnata
Swamp milkweed is a best choice for butterfly gardens because it produces delicate, umbellate clusters of flowers in soft mauve, pink, and reddish-violet shades, each crowned with nectar cups essential for pollination.
3. Cardinal Flower
Botanical Name: Lobelia cardinalis
The cardinal flower is a herbaceous plant native to the Southeastern U.S. It is famous for its beautiful red blooms, which attract hummingbirds—its primary pollinators. You can find it in wet places like streambanks and swamps.
4. Duckweed
Botanical Name: Lemnoideae
Duckweed is a small species within the Lemnaceae family. It is often found growing in slow-moving waters throughout Louisiana. Due to its strange appearance, people misunderstood it as an algae, but it is not! It occasionally produces tiny flowers.
5. Water Hyacinth
Botanical Name: Eichhornia crassipes
Water Hyacinths are free-floating plants with violet flowers and glossy green leaves. They are considered an invasive species in Louisiana because they form dense mats and clog waterways, but they’re really pretty!
6. Pickerelweed
Botanical Name: Pontederia cordata
Pickerelweed is a perennial with attractive bright blue flower spikes and heart-shaped leaves. This is a native plant that grows in lakes, ponds, swamps, and slow-moving streams. It also provides food and shelter for fish, frogs, and turtles.
7. Swamp Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa palustris
Swamp Roses are native to wet areas of the eastern US, including Louisiana. This can grow up to 8-12 feet tall and wide and thrives in swamps, wet thickets, and along shores. It is known for its fragrant, single pink flowers that have yellow stamens.