This winter has been an unusual one for us Texans, that’s for sure. Snow and/or ice on three separate occasions within a few weeks of each other would be a sigh of relief for Northerners, but we’re not used to this kind of weather down here – and neither is our environment. An interesting plant called “frostweed” has been spotted throughout the state recently, and it looks stranger than anything you’ve ever seen. Check it out:

The plant draws underground moisture up through its roots and expels it near the bottom of the stalk in the form of ice ribbons.
Flickr/trekr
Those ribbons can either create tight curls (as shown here) or take more irregular shapes if new crystals form and push the older ones away from the stalk.
Flickr/trekr

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The frost often disappears by morning, so you'll either have to be an extreme night owl or super early bird to catch a glimpse of them - but it's totally worth it!
Flickr/trekr
During warmer months, the frostweed plant itself is a great source of nectar for pollinating creatures, namely monarch butterflies. Residents are highly encouraged to plant frostweed in order to help the insects as they migrate south for winter.
Flickr/trekr
So, what immediately comes to mind when you see this interesting plant? Cotton candy? Or what about a scroll of parchment paper? Tell us your thoughts!
Flickr/trekr

For more information on frostweed, check out https://wildflowercenter.com.

Have you ever seen frostweed? Are there any other rare side effects of the recent cold temperatures that you’ve observed in Texas?

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