Farewell to Summer

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. September 22 was the first day of fall. Today is October 2 and it is going to be 98 degrees at my home in Saint Matthews. On my commute to Sumter, however, I’m seeing one of my favorite plant in the whole wide world. The common name for is Farewell to Summer, the scientific name is Polygonella americanum. The USC Herbarium plant atlas documents it growing in only that it’s only a few counties, including Kershaw, Richland, Lexington and Aiken, all areas with deep sandy soils. It’s a scrubby little fellow, about a foot and half tall, with scale like leaves designed to reduce water loss. Many educational descriptions suggest that it resembles a small, juvenile cedar tree. But right now it’s in full glorious flower --- racemes of tiny white jewels with pinkish tipped pistils.