Earth Day Scavenger Hunt

Can you find all these Missouri-native plants on our property? Post your findings on Facebook and Instagram with #CPMSEarthDay2022! Don’t forget to tag us and happy hunting!

Eastern Redbud

Scientific name: cercis canadensis

Notable for their long brown pods in the fall, and their beautiful magenta blooms in early to mid-spring. They native in the southeast quarter of the continental states are classified as part of the legume family.

While Fawnlily

Scientific name: erythronium albidum

This small lily takes years to bloom and the flowers only last for about a week. Ours will bloom soon, so keep an eye out in shaded areas! They are native between southern Ontario to eastern Texas.

Eastern False Rue Anemone

Scientific name: enemion biternatum

This plant looks so similar to a true anemone you'd probably only notice the difference if you were a plant expert. Even bees are fooled by this flower when looking for a meal! Identified by is reddish stems, 5 white petals with leaves on the flowering stems, and growing in colonies.

American Sycamore

Scientific name: platanus occidentalis

These shade trees can get up to 100 feet tall and can grow a trunk with a larger diameter than any other native tree in the U.S.! They grow maple-shaped leaves and drop round, spiky seed pods in the fall, but can most easily be identified by their bark (multicolor and patchy).

Common Blue Violet

Scientific name: viola sororia

Native throughout the 48 continental states. Also known as the Missouri Violet. These beautiful flowers are edible and often used for salads and candies! These violets are easy to spot with their white petals marked with blue, or fully blue petals, with emerald, heart-shaped leaves.

Mayapple

Scientific name: podophyllum peltatum

This plant is native to eastern Kansas, and has white, sometimes pink, blooms in May. Its fruit is edible and used for lemony tasting jelly. Right now, you can find it by looking for 6-thing leaves, each leaf on their own stem.