This unique flower blooms in the fall with petals resembling a snow-capped mountain top.

The bright white coloring we see is technically a “bract” or specialized leaf. The actual flowers are only about 1⁄4” across and there are several at the tip of each branched section (Think poinsettia). This plant is reported to produce evil-tasting poisonous honey and to be toxic to livestock; the sap causes skin eruptions and has been used to brand cattle in preference to a hot iron. Care should be taken to avoid this sap.

There is a similar plant known as snow-on-the-prairie. It has leaves that are three to five times longer than they are wide. However, that plant tends to be located east of here.