Tallgrass Region Viewing Tips

© Courtesy Sally and Andy 1. Go to where the habitat is — visit Wasnowski, wildflower.org Prairie Cordgrass Spartina pectinata state parks and other public spaces. Height: 36 - 84 in. Description: Perennial bunch- 2. Do your homework — learn what grass with tough and coarse species grow in the area. leaves, yellow-brown flowers. Habitat: Wet, non-saline soils 3. Think about timing — check what is Blooms: August - September blooming in the area this time of year. Viewing: Statewide 4. Consult an expert — join in on a The Nebraska region guided plant hike to learn where to Indiangrass comprises the eastern quarter of the state. find the best blooms. nutans The key to this landscape is the thick, rich Height: 36 - 60 in. 5. Leave no trace — leave wildlife in Description: Perennial topped soil that enables deep-rooting prairie plants with feathery flower-panicles. to survive. Grasses and forbs dominate this nature and nature the way you of the Green-blue in the summer grassland region, with few trees, except along found it. changing to orange-yellow in the fall. water corridors. Habitat: Deep, well-drained soils This area receives 25 - 36 inches of rain Terms to Know Nebraska Blooms: August - October annually. Much of the historic grasslands have Viewing: Statewide been converted, leaving only about 2 percent Annual Plant — One year lifecycle Burr Oak of unmodified tallgrass prairie habitat. This Quercus macrocarpa Tallgrass Height: 30 - 70+ ft. area incorporates many wetlands, including Biennial Plant — Two-year lifecycle Description: Perennial hardwood the saline wetlands, north of Lincoln. This tree fiddle-like lobed leaves. Perennial Plant — More than two Acorns with deep, fringed cup. range has a diversity of birds, plants, mammals, Prairie Burr oaks can grow into tall, reptiles and insects that call it home. year lifecycle branched tree, or into shrubbier form found on bluffs or hillsides. Habitat: Rocky, well-drained Alternating Leaves outcrops at elevations to 7,500 ft. One leaf attached per node Blooms: March - May Viewing: Eastern half Identification American Hackberry Opposite Leaves Celtis occidentalis Guide Height: 40 - 60 ft. A pair of leaves Description: Perennial, deciduous attached per node tree with long, pointed leaves discreet green flowers in summer and orange-red fruit in the fall. Habitat: Can be found in various Whorled Leaves soil types Blooms: April - May Several leaves attached Viewing: Statewide, except east per node OutdoorNebraska.org White Prairie-clover Rosinweed Upright Prairie Coneflower Prairie Rose Dalea candida Silphium integrifolium Ratibida columnifera Rose arkansana Height: 12 - 24 in. Height: 36 - 60 in. Height: 12 - 24 in. Height: 6 - 40 in. Description: Perennial with tall Description: Perennial with stout, Description: Perennial with tall Description: Perennial woody stem and alternating leaves, 1 - 2 hairy stem, thick, opposite leaves stem with stiff hairs and alternating shrub, alternating leaves, flowers in. flower head with circles of small and thick, yellow flower. leaves, yellow to red flower with have five pink petals surrounding white blooms that advance from Habitat: Dry soils gray head that turns brown as it yellow center. bottom to top. Blooms: July - August matures. Habitat: Moist soil Habitat: Dry prairie Viewing: Statewide, esp. central Habitat: Dry prairie Blooms: Late May - August Blooms: May - September Blooms: July - September Viewing: Statewide Viewing: Statewide Viewing: Statewide Plains Coreopsis Showy Goldenrod Narrow-leaved Coneflower Lead Plant Coreopsis tinctoria Solidago speciosa Echinacea angustifolia Amorpha canescens Height: 12 - 36 in. Height: 12 - 48 in. Height: 16 - 28 in. Height: 12 - 36 in. Description: Annual/biennial, grows Description: Perennial with rough Description: Perennial, hairy stems, Description: Perennial shrub with in colonies. Leaves opposite, dark stems, many alternating leave, and dark green leaves, a large solitary woody stem, alternating leaflets, green, branched stems, bright a club-like flower spike with many flower head, pink to red-violet with and stalk of red-purple flowers. yellow flowers of three lobed petals yellow flowers. a brown spiny center. Habitat: Well-drained soil with brown center. Crushed flowers Habitat: Dry to moist soils Habitat: Moist to dry prairie Blooms: June - July have a distinct spicy odor. Blooms: August - October © Courtesy Sally & Andy Wasowski, Blooms: June - July Viewing: Statewide Habitat: Wet soil Viewing: Eastern fifth Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Viewing: Statewide, though less Blooms: July - August common west Viewing: Statewide, esp. Central Prairie Blazing Star Wild Alfalfa Big Bluestem Wild Onion Liatris pycnostachya Psoralea tenuiflorum Andropogon gerardii Allium canadense Height: 24 - 60 in. Height: 12 - 36 in. Height: 48 - 72 in. Height: 8 - 24 in. Description: Perennial with Description: Perennial, gray hairs Description: Perennial tall grass Description: Perennial with numerous long, thin, alternating on stem and alternating leaves, with purple-red blooms. narrow grass-like leaves, tall leaves. Flower spike is club-like flower stalks with purple pea-like Habitat: Grasslands flower stalks topped with cluster with pink flowers. blooms. Blooms: July - October of small white-pink flowers. Habitat: Dry, sandy soils Habitat: Dry uplands Viewing: Statewide Habitat: Dry to moist soils Blooms: July - August Blooms: May - July Blooms: April - July Viewing: Statewide Viewing: Statewide except Viewing: East - central northeast

© Courtesy Joshua Mayer Common Milkweed Madison, WI - Wikimedia Commons Illinois Tick-trefoil Dotted Gayfeather Little Bluestem Ascepias syriaca Desmodium illinoense Liatris punctata Height: 24 - 60 in. Height: 30 - 72 in. Height: 12 - 30 in. Height: 24 - 48 in. Description: Perennial with stout Description: Perennial with thick, Description: Perennial with tall Description: Perennial tufted stem and opposite, oblong leaves. round, hairy stem and purple to stems, usually growing in a cluster, bunchgrass with flat slender Spherical cluster of small white- white flowers. numerous alternating leaves, and leaves, bronze flowers followed pink flowers. Habitat: Dry soils pink-purple flowers along top third by white tufted seed heads. Habitat: Dry - moist soils Blooms: July - August of stem. Habitat: Grasslands Blooms: June - August Viewing: East - central Habitat: Dry prairie Blooms: July - October Viewing: Eastern Blooms: August - October Viewing: Statewide Viewing: Statewide

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