# October Flower (*Polygonella polygama*) The October Flower blooms in the fall with pretty white flowers. It loves sunny spots and can grow in many places, making it a special sight as the leaves change color. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Fields and roadsides ![October Flower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bee_Fly_on_October_Flower_%286176383410%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth!, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bee_Fly_on_October_Flower_%286176383410%29.jpg) ## Appearance The October Flower has slender, often reddish stems with numerous tiny, needle-like leaves. Its minute flowers, ranging from white to pinkish, cluster along the stem, creating a delicate, airy appearance. It stands out by blooming profusely late in the season. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Polygonaceae - **Genus:** Polygonella ## Interesting facts - It can grow in really sandy, poor soil where most plants would struggle to survive! - October Flowers are like nature's late bloomers, bringing color when other plants fade! - The scientific name 'Polygonella' means 'many knees' due to the bumpy joints on its stems! - You might need a magnifying glass to truly admire its tiny, starry white and pink flowers! ## Special abilities - **Self-Seeding Power:** October Flower can ensure its seeds are made even when pollinators are scarce thanks to tiny flowers that self-pollinate without opening. - **Drought Survivor:** October Flower has deep roots that help it thrive in dry, sandy soils where other plants struggle to find water. - **Late Season Nectar:** October Flower can keep blooming late into autumn, providing nectar for insects when most other flowers have faded. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Persius duskywing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/persius-duskywing) (*Erynnis persius*) — larvae feed on leaves - **Pollinates:** [Common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Hairy sweat bee (*Lasioglossum pilosum*) — visits tiny flowers for nectar ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers unless you have permission. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify October Flower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is October Flower? 10-60 cm ### How wide does October Flower spread? 15-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on October Flower? 0.1-0.2 cm ### When does October Flower bloom? Summer-fall ### Is October Flower edible? No ### Is October Flower toxic? None ### What is October Flower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Doctor Julian G. Bruce Saint George Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/doctor-julian-g-bruce-saint-george-island-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [October Flower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/october-flower)