Deep Roots/Pollinator List for Prairie Plantings

The intent of this list is geared to what we’ve defined loosely as “large landscape,” however including as many of these species as possible in landscape beds would also be beneficial. Note this is for prairie or full sun plantings. This list was compiled by biologist Larry Rizzo and pollinator authority Mike Arduser. Some adjustments were made for commercial availability and other considerations which are noted.

Lead plant (Amorpha canescens) Tall/prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) Milkweeds (at least two of the following): Purple ( Wild bergamot/Horsemint (Monarda fistulosa) purpurascens), common (A. syriaca), butterfly (A. tuberosa) Goldenrods (any or all of the following): Old field or green (A. viridis) (Oligoneuron nemoralis), rigid (O. rigida), showy (O. Indigos (any or all of the following): Cream (Baptisia speciosa) bracteata), white (B. alba) or blue (B. australis) (latter Prairie/foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) may not be appropriate for all sites due to its natural Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) distribution) Gray-head coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Prairie (Coreopsis palmata) Blue/pitcher sage (Salvia azurea) Tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) Heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Aromatic aster (Symphotrichum oblongifolius) Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)* Rigid sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus) [*may be hard to obtain in quantity—this species can be Willow-leafed sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius) included under Spring Flora below] Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

Other Considerations…

There are a number of other species Other species are considered “weedy” Spring flora: It is important to have that are favored by bees, but seed and often not considered desirable in species that bloom throughout the may not be readily available or too plantings or not available commercially. growing season to attract the maximum expensive to obtain in the quantity These would include the following: diversity of bees. Often early spring needed in a planting. Some of these flora is not included in plantings as species would include the following: Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) these species can be hard to collect or Annual sunflower () not available or too expensive to obtain Tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum) Tall goldenrod ( altissima) commercially. However, efforts should Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus Hairy aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) be made to add them. This group grosseserratus) Ironweed (Vernonia baldwini) would include the following: Scurf pea (Psoralidium tenuifolium) Wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) Willow-leafed aster (Symphyotrichum Prairie trout lily (Erythronium prealtus) mesochoreum) Prairie ragwort (Packera plattensis) Lousewort/Wood betony (Pedicularis Any of the species in these groups should be considered canadensis) candidates for hand-collecting to add to a planting! Prairie violet ( pedatifida) –or other violet species