Cedar Gladecress (Leavenworthia stylosa)

Due to the very mild winter so far, the first wildflower of the 2016 season was spotted today while I was out looking for more places to take wildflower pictures. I hope you will enjoy the 2016 season and the wildflowers we show here. Maybe we can find some new varieties this year.

Cedar Gladecress (Leavenworthia stylosa) Cedar Gladecress is also known as Nashville Mustard.

Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant which can reach 8cm tall (3inches). Occasionally specimens reach over twice the normal height reaching over 16cm (6").

Leaves: This plant has basal leaves only. There can be the three to seven rounded segments of the pinnately divided leaf. Often, only the end segment is noticeable.

Flowers: The flowers have 4 Regular Parts and are up to 3.8cm wide (1.5 inches). They are yellow sometimes white with yellow centers.. Blooms first appear in mid winter and continue into mid spring. All flowers have a yellow center and the white flowers often show some pink or lavender color.

Fruit: A silique with a prominent style on the tip which gives the plant it's name.

Habitat: Rocky Limestone Glades. Sometimes found in low areas that are mowed.

Range: Central Basin of Tennessee.

This low growing plant is found only in the Central Basin of Tennessee where it often grows in great masses. It is one of the flowers that live in the shallow soil of the cedar glades where it relies on the wet weather of winter and early spring to complete its life cycle while there is enough moisture in the thin soil. I sometimes see some flowering in January. The small flowers are very fragrant and a large area of them can produce an almost overpowering perfume. The color variations are somewhat separated geographically though they can sometimes be found growing together. The white variety is found mostly south of Nashville and the yellow Nashville and north. The photo shows three variations in color.