Water Cowbane
A member of the carrot family, it attracts many pollinators.
By LYNN ARTZ, SANDY TEDDER and DAVID RODDENBERRY
Water cowbane (Tiedemannia filiformis subsp. filiformis) is a wetland wildflower that bursts into bloom in shallow freshwater in late summer and early fall. Numerous small white flowers form umbels, flower clusters with equal length stalks from a common center. The dainty flowers attract many pollinators. Black swallowtail caterpillars depend on this member of the carrot family as a food source. Water cowbane grows naturally in Florida in marshes, bogs, wet prairies, along small streams, and in roadside ditches. Rarely for sale in nurseries, this wildflower grows easily from seed. Flower stalks reach 4-5 feet tall in full sun in wet organic muck. Water cowbane deserves inclusion in wetland gardens, bog gardens, rain gardens, and restoration areas. Water cowbane is blooming now in the pond at Sopchoppy Depot Park.