In the garden or along the road side and trails, now is the time to find Elephant's Foot, Elephantopus elatus, putting on its show of flowers. The flowers are found at the top of tall stems often a foot or more in height, which rises from basal prostrate leaves. These hairy broad leaves are arrayed in a circular pattern, which gives the plant its common name, though perhaps Elephant's Footprints would be more accurate.
The flowers are pink or pale purple disk florets growing in a cluster surrounded by 3 leaf like bracts giving the suggestion of a triangular flower. Like many Florida wildflowers a hand lens or close up picture best reveals the complexity and beauty of the flowers.
This plant grows throughout Florida, it can be found in open or shaded, dry to wet places in pine forests and mixed forests, usually in sandy soils. It is attractive to bees, butterflies, and lovebugs. Easy to grow in the garden, it can be a prolific self seeder.
REFERENCES:
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Elephantopus elatus
http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=550
Flora of North America, Elephantopus elatus
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066493
The Guide to Florida Wildflowers, Walter Kingsley Taylor, Taylor Pub. Co.,1992, p. 289
Photo by Denny Girard