Prairie Plants Topical Users’ Guide the Prairies of Ohio

METROPARKS PRAIRIE PLANTS TOPICAL USERS’ GUIDE THE PRAIRIES OF OHIO

DISCOVER PRAIRIE MEET OUR At the time of pioneer settlement, more than 300 PRAIRIES OF OHIO natural prairie areas existed in Ohio. Most were PLANTS small, but some spread into several townships. AROUND 1800 Following are some of the plants that were found The prairies of Ohio were for the most part tall- in the prairies of Ohio when European settlers ar- PRAIRIE grass prairies with vegetation sometimes reach- rived and have now been reintroduced into Five ing heights of ten feet. They were dominated by Rivers MetroParks prairie areas. How many can such grasses as big bluestem, Indian grass, little you find? bluestem and switch-grass. A variety of other PLANTS sun-loving, deep-rooted plants grew among the As you discover these plants, notice some of their grasses. These plants reached their flowering special adaptations that have allowed them to peak in mid-to-late summer. survive the stress of the hot summer sun. Many prairie plants have finely divided or slender No one knows when prairies first developed leaves that improve air circulation, lower air in the state. They may have existed in unglaci- temperature and decrease evaporation. Others ated Ohio before or between glacial advances. have leaves that are close to the ground so only Following Ohio’s last glaciation, the climate their flowers are raised into the drying winds. became warmer and drier. This trend continued Some prairie plants rely on thick, tough leaves until, about 4,000 years ago, semi-arid condi- and stems to prevent loss of moisture, or on tions prevailed in Ohio and western prairies fuzzy or hairy leaves to hold moisture and reflect expanded eastward into the state. In time, the sunlight. These adaptations, along with others like climate changed and became more humid. The a deep root system and ability to withstand fire, humid conditions allowed forests to return and have allowed prairie plants to survive under harsh reclaim much of Ohio. By the late 1700s, Ohio’s natural conditions. continuous prairie had become isolated pockets in extremely wet or dry areas where prairie plants could compete successfully with forest vegetation. Ohio’s prairies survived the early pioneer times. Because they lacked trees, their soils were thought to be infertile and unfit for farming. Eventually, plows did turn the rich prairie soil and many of Ohio’s native plants disappeared forever.

Five Rivers MetroParks is now bringing back prairie plants as part of its land stewardship program, which is aimed at developing and maintaining a diversity of natural habitats. Prairie vegetation 409 E. Monument Ave., Third Floor is being planted in former farmland. To prevent Dayton, Ohio 45402 woody plants from taking over, the prairie areas (937) 275-PARK (7275) are periodically mowed or burned. Burning does Controlled Prairie Burn at not harm the deep-rooted prairie plants, but does Possum Creek MetroPark inhibit tree seedlings and shrubs. 1015 • DIGITAL ONLY WILDFLOWERS FOUND IN METROPARKS’ PRAIRIE AREAS

Stiff Goldenrod Fringeleaf Wild Prairie Cordgrass Deertongue Panicgrass Oligoneuron rigida Spartina pectinata Dichanthelium clandestinum Petunia Ruellia humilis BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: September to early October BLOOM TIME: August - September August - October June - July VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: native bees, Monarch butterflies butterflies cover for birds bees and butterflies

Royal Catchfly Big Bluestem Butterfly Milkweed Sweet Everlasting Silene regia Andropogon gerardii Asclepias tuberosa Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: July - August June - September June July - September VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: hummingbirds skippers Monarchs and other butterflies butterflies

Prairie Dock Pinnate Coneflower Virginia Mountain New England Aster Silphium terebinthinaceum Ratibida pinnata Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Mint Pycnanthemum virginianum BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: July - August July - September BLOOM TIME: August - September August - September VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: bumble bees and native bees butterflies and native bees VALUE TO POLLINATORS: bees and butterflies butterflies and bees Dense Blazing Star Little Bluestem Wild Senna Indian Hemp Liatris spicata Schizachyrium scoparium Senna hebecarpa Apocynum cannabinum

BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: July - August August to early October July - August July - September VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: butterflies and bumble bees native bees, Monarch butterflies hummingbirds

Purple Coneflower Whorled Rosinweed Jerusalem Artichoke Biennial Gaura Echinacea purpurea Silphium trifoliatum Helianthus tuberosus Gaura biennis

BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: June - August July - September September July - October VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: butterflies and hummingbirds native bees butterflies, bees and hummingbirds

Northern Blazing Star Indian Grass Wild Bergamot Black Eyed Susan Liatris scariosa Sorghastrum nutans Monarda fistulosa Rudbeckia hirta

BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: BLOOM TIME: September - October June - September June - August July - August VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: VALUE TO POLLINATORS: native bees bees, Monarch butterflies butterlies, bees and hummingbirds butterflies and bees