American Columbo #2

The American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) lives in silence for up to 75 years before its unpredictable bloom. This rare plant, reaching up to 8 feet tall and producing up to 100 delicate flowers, offers a glimpse into a time long past, evoking an otherworldly presence.
Used by the Cherokee Nation for medicinal purposes like a tonic and antidiarrheal, it reflects the deep relationship between Indigenous knowledge and nature.
Endangered in southwestern Ontario, with only 12 known populations and 7,633 plants, the Columbo’s fragile existence serves as a powerful reminder of the environmental fragility we must protect.