Basket Flower

Member of Aster Family

Blooms: May - August

This is one of the most common wildflowers found here in North East Texas, though it is found througthout almost all zones of the state. It is an annual that grows upright to about 5 ft. tall with beautiful pink-purple blooms, often called "Powder Puffs". They are very attractive to butterflies, especially the Black Swallowtails and are very fragrant.

These plants grow in poor sandy, rocky soils, often along back dirt roads and in fields, often in large colonies. As the beautiful bloom dries, it becomes a white ball of fluff and is scattered into the wind to be carried away to and begin more beautiful plants elsewhere. Its seeds are a favorite food source of dove and quail. They also pull out its white silky fluff to line their nests.

The Basket Flower is also referred to as a harmless "faux" thistle. It resembles the Bull Thistle or Texas Thistle, but lacks its prickley characteristics. It gets its name from the unique basket weave pattern evident under the flower. Other common names are Thornless Thistle, Star Thisle, Sweet Sultan and Shaving Brush. All parts of this plant are poisonous.

"Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?"

Matthew 16:9