Identify that Plant

If you walk on a patch of Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) leaves at any time of the year, you’ll notice a distinctive odor rising from the bruised leaves.  This plant, now growing throughout North America, is a member of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family.

Although it’s frequently considered to be a “weed,” some people enjoy the masses of purple flowers which can be seen in early spring.  Here’s a closer view of those blossoms.

Watch this video about Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) to learn more about the plant’s identifying characteristics.

The Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) tree blooms early in the spring.  Its bright red flowers — contrasted with the fresh green leaves — delight both people and hummingbirds.  Flowers grow at the tips of branches.

The flowers bloom from the bottom of the inflorescence toward the top.

Successfully fertilized flowers result in fuzzy swollen ovaries.  Most seed capsules develop within the bottom half of the inflorescence.

By late summer the seeds have matured within their large seed capsules.  Leaves also are dying and dropping from the tree.  Red buckeye is not a beautiful tree during the fall season.  However, it makes up for that deficiency with its stunning spring blossoms.

Watch this video about Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) to see the large leaf and flower buds, the palmately compound leaf and the lovely “buckeyes” (seeds).