Frasera caroliniensis Walter. Common name: American Columbo. Phenology: Late May-Jul; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Rich forests and woodlands over mafic or calcareous rocks, upper slopes of cove forests, floodplain forests. Distribution: W. NY, nw. PA, and s. ON west to IL, MI, MO, and e. OK, south to w. SC, n. GA, and LA, primarily west of the Blue Ridge.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Other Comments: Horn (1997) studied the ecology of this species in the Piedmont of SC.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, FNA14, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NY, S, Tn, W, Drake (2011), Threadgill & Baskin (1978); = Swertia caroliniensis (Walter) Kuntze — F, G, Pa, RAB. Basionym: Frasera caroliniensis Walter 1788
Links to other floras: = Frasera caroliniensis - FNA14
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Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Alan Cressler: Frasera caroliniensis, Carters Lake the Hidden Pond Songbird Trail, Reregulation Dam Recreation Area, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Murray County, Georgia 3 by Alan Cressler source
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward; seedlings germinated by NCBG Hort staff | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, Frasera selfie; Letchworth State Park, NY. | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: An infrequently seen perennial that stays as a rosette of basal leaves for 5-15 years, finally produces a tall flowering stalk for one season, and then dies. Found in rich forests over mafic or calcareous rocks, upper slopes of cove forests and floodplain forests.
Stems: Flowering stem unbranched, stout, light green to purple and smooth.
Leaves: Basal leaves oblong-elliptic, to 14 in. long and 4 in. wide, with smooth margins; stem leaves in whorls of 4-5, becoming gradually smaller upward.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers many in a narrowly pyramidal panicle; greenish-white with purple specks; ¾-1¼ in. wide; consisting of 4 (5) spreading oblong-lance-shaped petals, 4 (5) linear-lance sepals, 4 (5) spreading stamens and an ovary with a single style. On the lower middle of each petal is a conspicuous fringed, green nectar pad.
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Height: 3-9 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: An infrequently seen perennial that stays as a rosette of basal leaves for 5-15 years, finally produces a tall flowering stalk for one season, and then dies. Found in rich forests over mafic or calcareous rocks, upper slopes of cove forests and floodplain forests.
stems: Flowering stem unbranched, stout, light green to purple and smooth.
leaves: Basal leaves oblong-elliptic, to 14 in. long and 4 in. wide, with smooth margins; stem leaves in whorls of 4-5, becoming gradually smaller upward.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers many in a narrowly pyramidal panicle; greenish-white with purple specks; ¾-1¼ in. wide; consisting of 4 (5) spreading oblong-lance-shaped petals, 4 (5) linear-lance sepals, 4 (5) spreading stamens and an ovary with a single style. On the lower middle of each petal is a conspicuous fringed, green nectar pad.
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native range: eastern North America
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