Canna flaccida (Golden Canna)

Native to the southeastern United States from South Carolina to Florida and west to Texas, this perennial wetland herb grows about 3 to 6 feet tall and spreads by underground rhizomes. It thrives in freshwater marshes, along pond margins, and in shallow water. Its yellow flowers open late in the day and fade by midday, with new blooms appearing over a long season. The leaves feed Brazilian skipper caterpillars, which roll them into protective tubes. The hard seeds have been used in ceremonial rattles, and the rhizomes were historically processed for starch. Photographed in Florida.