Purple on the Prairie

The green roof continues to bloom like crazy - we are at over 30 species of flowering plants already this year!  The latest bunch of flowers all must have gotten the memo: PURPLE!

Blue Mist Penstemon (Penstemon virens) is a perennial favorite.  Not only is this little one tough as nails, but it also puts out many gorgeous blue/purple flowers.

The Rocky Mountain Iris (Iris missouriensis) is happily blooming in the southmost pocket of green roof. 

This little columbine we are trying to key out still - anyone recognize it?  It's very little (approx. 4 inches tall) and has this deep purple coloring.

The onion (Allium spp) shown below is another alpine cutie blooming on the north side of the green roof, next to the Fleabane.

And last but definitely not least, the Lambert's Locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) is adding a punch of purple to the prairie section of the green roof.

You're welcome to take a walk through the Berry Prairie if you're in Laramie!  It's located at the UW Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, on 10th and Lewis St. 

Written by Brenna Marsicek, UW Biodiversity Institute