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Home , Chamaecrista, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Dalea purpurea, Sorghastrum nutans, Tallgrass prairie

Introduction to Native

The Iowa developed over the past 9,000 to 10,000 years, after the retreat of the last glaciers. The that developed as a prairie consisted of communities of grasses, forbs, insects, and other animals. Prairie communities vary depending on the environment. Plants and animals in these communities adapted and evolved to survive a range of conditions from hot and dry to moist and boggy.

SUL 18 Revised August 2008 Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants 1 beauty, weed management, wildlife g They are resistant or tolerant to habitat, and the reduction of soil most insect pests and diseases. erosion and runoff. When planning a garden of native plants, it is a good g A blend of native provides idea to visit other gardens that have season-long color and interest. native plantings or to visit public gardens to see the size, form, and g Native species are members of spread of the plants you would like a and animal community to grow. Local prairie enthusiasts that balances itself when there is a or conservationists organize prairie diverse assemblage of species. This walks that can be a source of specific natural balance keeps native plants information about . A visit to from becoming invasive. a prairie enables you to see different plants in their natural setting. g They attract butterflies by serving as host plants for caterpillars and TRAER, TAMA COUNTY, IOWA There are many advantages to plants for butterflies. growing native plants: Introduction to g Growing native plants is a fun Iowa Native Prairie Plants g Native plants are well adapted to learning process. Each season brings This publication focuses on the local conditions. They are vigorous some answers and more questions. native plants that inhabit prairie and hardy, so they can survive winter communities. “Native plants” are cold, and summer heat, drought and A partial guide for native plants that plants that were growing naturally windy conditions. may be suitable for your landscape in a particular area before human can be found on pages 3–6. Note the settlement. Although many native g Once established, they require column listing plant height. Some plants are “prairie plants,” the focus little or no irrigation. No fertilization of the tall natives are not suitable herein is on growing individual is needed. for small spaces without staking species or combinations of species individual plants. in a garden or large planting, rather than on prairie construction or restoration.

Prairies are complex that blend the topography and soils of an area with plant and animal communities that can live together in a stable relationship. The process can be complex and requires time and patience. Also, it is difficult to develop a prairie ecosystem on a space less than about a quarter acre.

Most people, however, choose to create a natural-looking garden or planting that serves many of the same functions as a prairie, namely, TRAER, TAMA COUNTY, IOWA An established urban reconstructed prairie

2 Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants Iowa Native Prairie Plants—Pictorial Guide

Rattlesnake master Spiderwort Purple prairie clover Eryngium yuccafolium Tradescantia ohioensis purpurea

Butterfly milkweed Swamp milkweed Purple coneflower Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias incarnata Echinacea purpurea

Coreopsis Partridge Great blue lobelia and goldenrod Coreopsis palmata fasciculata Lobelia syphilitica, Solidago sp.

Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants 3 theast Iowa. ickseed is a good nectar source for and a valuable plant in the prairie biome. ickseed is a good nectar source Establishes quickly from seed; cool-season grass. Establishes quickly from and form; warm-season grass. Beautiful grass for variation in texture Comments grass. Sometimes known as “turkey foot” by the pioneers. Dominant plant of eastern tallgrass prairie. Warm-season warm-season grass. gardens; The plant forms an attractive mounded clump; excellent specimen in perennial wispy sprays; warm-season grass. Bright yellow to tan fall color; seed heads are warm-season grass. gardens; and russet fall color; specimen plant in perennial Red-brown to mixed plantings; cool-season grass. texture Distinctive wheat-looking seed head that provides butterflies. host plant for monarch Orange to yellow flowers; attracts many butterflies; butterflies. compact than common milkweed; host plant for monarch smaller and more colored; Pale pink to rose foliage. annual legume that has bright yellow flowers and dark green A showy, edges. wet sites; does best along stream requires flowers; Spike of red flower. common in natural Iowa habitats than cardinal Medium blue flowers. More and moths.Purple or pink. Makes attractive cut flower in the fall; attracts butterflies resemble ticks, hence its common name. produces seeds that brown and flowers. After flowering, the disc turns Yellow T curving pink-purple ray flowers; the flower center contains a prickly daisies with backward, resembles Long-lived perennial; raised dome. extensively in home gardens. A native to far southeast Iowa; grown vibrant indigo-purple. The common name notes that its flowers stay closed when it is blooming. Flowers are Native to extreme of smoke in summer. seed heads that look like puffs blooms in spring give way to fluffy Delicate reddish-pink nor August Apr.–June Apr.–June Aug.–Sept. Aug.–Sept. July–Aug. Aug.–Sept. May–June June–Aug. July–Aug. Aug.–Sept. Aug.–Sept. Sept.–Oct. May–Aug. July–Aug. Aug.–Oct. May–June Flower Period June–Aug. June–July

2–3 ’ 5–7 ’ 2–3 ’ 2–3 ’ 8–18 ’ 3–5 ’ 1–2 ’ 2–3 ’ 2–3 ’ 2–4 ’ 1–3 ’ 2–3 ’ 1–2 ’ 1–2 ’ Mature Mature Height 2–3 ’ 2–3 ’ M

M/DM M M 3–6 ’ M 3–6 ’ DM M M W M W WM/W M DM M M/D Soil Moisture Soil Moisture Conditions * M M

Bouteloua curtipendula Prairie dropseed heterolepis Sporobolus Big bluestem gerardi Andropogon Indiangrass nutans Switchgrass Little bluestem Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Sideoats grama Asclepias tuberosa Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata pea Partridge flower Cardinal Lobelia cardinalis blue lobelia Great Lobelia syphilitica New England aster Aster novae-angliae Plains tickseed tinctoria Coreopsis Echinacea pallida Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii Prairie smoke Iowa Native Prairie Plants Prairie Native Iowa Grasses Common/Latin Name Forbs milkweed Butterfly Prairie coreopsis palmata Coreopsis Pale purple coneflower Geum trifolium

4 Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants

ger. It is slower to establish and does not ger. om the top down. It establishes easily from seed, and will om the top down. It establishes easily from een trefoil leaves and clusters of white flowers that turn chocolate brown leaves and clusters of white flowers that turn chocolate brown een trefoil e replaced by other species as the planting becomes permanent. e replaced compete very well, especially in wet soil conditions. often flower the same season it is planted. Good addition for most urban and non-urban settings. Smaller than most sunflowers; perennial; has interesting opposite-leaved foliage with 1-inch yellow flower heads from opposite-leaved foliage with 1-inch yellow flower heads has interesting Smaller than most sunflowers; perennial; midsummer on; can be somewhat aggressive. tallgrass prairie plant has gained fame as a This signature The corms served as winter food for early settlers (and rodents). referring to the densely packed flower spikes. Pycnostachya means “thick-spiked,” lavender cut flower in the florist industry. separated along the stem than those of prairie blazing star. and more are larger flowers. The flower spikes Violet/purple It takes longer to establish than its cousin, prairie blazing star. stems. Small purple flowers; grayish-white compound foliage on perennial tolerate some shade; native to eastern Iowa. Quite showy in the early season with pale pink white dramatic flowers. Will delicate a more seed; yellow umbel resembling of moist woods, prairie meadows, and thickets; establishes quickly from Perennial lace. Queen Anne’s stems and is pleasantly fragrant. it has square Lavender blooms; like all members of the mint family, head emits an anise fragrance. Easy to establish and showy. flowers. When crushed, the mature Yellow additions to mass plantings because they establish quickly, great Both gray-headed coneflower and black-eyed Susan are and in a few years ar bloom prominently, and then blooms prominently, addition to mass plantings because it establishes quickly, Gold flowers. Black-eyed Susan is a great annual to biennial. a sturdy by other species as the planting becomes permanent. Its life cycle ranges from in a few years is replaced it is falsely accused of and because it is so showy, Traditionally, rich golden fall color. Common; easy to establish and provides (Its is not windborne.) causing human hay fever. erect and subtly flowering, the plant is Before prominent flat-topped cluster. are in a flowers. The flowers of this species Yellow attractive, with downy hair on the leaves. in the prairie planting. a hidden treat form and rich violet flowers are The plant’s habit of orienting plants of the Iowa prairie. Early travelers used plant’s daisy-like flowers; one of the signature Yellow, and south, making it a natural compass.its deeply divided, side-turned leaves due north flowers that open fr to magenta-colored 1–3 ’’ terminal spikes of rose- Common in most Iowa prairies; has silvery gr as they mature. plants. dark green A savannah or woodland-edge plant that has light lavender 1 to 1.5 ’’ flowers on low-growing, a remedy ago it was sometimes considered and variety to a prairie; yucca-like leaves have soft spiny edges. Years Adds texture try that at home.) for snakebite. (Don’t Similar to purple prairie clover, but the white flowers and the divided leaves are lar but the white flowers and divided leaves are Similar to purple prairie clover, D = Dry

July–Sept. July–Oct. July–Oct. June–Aug. May Apr.–June July–Aug. June–Sept. June–Oct. July–Sept. Aug.–Oct. Apr.–July Aug.–Sept. June–Aug. July–Aug. June–Aug. July–Aug. June–Aug. ’ DM = Dry Mesic ’ 3–5 ’ 1–4 ’ 2–3 ’ 1–3 ’ 1–2 ’ 1–3 ’ 1–3 ’ 3–4 ’ 1–2 ’ 3–5 ’ 2–4 ’ 1–2 ’ 4–10 ’ 1–2 ’ 2–4 ’ 2–4 1–3 ’ 8 ’’ –1

M = Mesic

M/WM M M/DM DM M/DM WM/M M M M M M M/WM M M M/DM M/DM M/DM M

WM = Wet Mesic WM = Wet

*W = Wet False sunflower or Oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides Prairie blazing star or Prairie gayfeather pycnostachya Rough blazing star or Rough gayfeather Liatris aspera Leadplant Shooting star Dodecatheon meadia Golden Alexander Zizia aurea bergamot Wild fistulosa Monarda Gray-headed coneflower coneflower or Yellow Ratibida pinnata Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis and Gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis goldenrod Stiff Solidago rigida Spiderwort ohioensis Tradescantia Compass plant laciniatum Purple prairie clover Dalea candida Round-headed bushclover Lespedeza capitata petunia Wild Ruellia humilis Rattlesnake master White prairie clover yuccafolium Eryngium

Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants 5 Iowa Native Prairie Plants—Pictorial Guide

Canada wildrye Little bluestem Indiangrass Elymus canadensis Schizachyrium scoparium

Sideoats grama Prairie blazing star Gray-headed coneflower and wild bergamot Liatris pycnostachya Ratibida pinnata, Monarda fistulosa(pink)

Rough blazing star Cardinal flower Compass plant Liatris aspera Lobelia cardinalis Silphium laciniatum

6 Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants For more information Check these additional titles in the series on prairies and native plants at www.extension.iastate.edu/store.

Prairies and Native Plantings as Outdoor Classrooms, SUL 19

References and Resources for Prairies and Native Plantings, SUL 20

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)— Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)— Grasses versus Forbs MESIC, height 5–7 ft. It begins growth MESIC, height 1–3 ft. This perennial Grasses typically have long leaves in late spring and flowers in late sum- prairie forb blooms between June with parallel veins and can be useful mer. This tall, deep-rooted perennial and August. Its rosy-lavender- in adding dimension to a planting. was the primary grass of the eastern colored flowers are attractive to Several of the tall grasses wave gently tallgrass prairie that once covered bees and butterflies. in the wind, and they can provide a thousands of acres. The seed head dash of subtle fall and winter color. is three-branched, resulting in its Grasses do have flowers, which are common name—“turkey foot.” generally greenish, yet some have interesting flowering structures Many native plants have been of your planting. When ordering that add appeal to the planting. selectively bred, or even hybridized or purchasing seed, check with Some grasses, such as Indiangrass, so that they meet the needs of an expert regarding the optimum are well suited as stand-alone or people. An example is prairie blazing seeding rate. clumps of accent plants, whereas star, Liatris pycnostachya. Varieties others are better suited for filling of blazing star have been selected Note: So called “wildflower” mixes in group plantings. from nature for their form, flower may contain few native wildflower color, and durability so they fit both seeds and may contain many plants Forbs are the broadleaved plants landscape needs of homeowners and native to the United States but not in a prairie and often have showy cut flower needs of florists. to Iowa. blooms. Forbs may add color, texture, habitat for wildlife, and Planting non-local strains near Local Ecotypes even scent to the planting. a prairie remnant or a native Plants of the same species will reconstruction should be avoided The choice between separate vary considerably, depending because of the potential for genetic plantings and mixed plantings on their geographic origin. contamination. If you are looking of forbs and grasses is situation- Just as people have different for plants that are native to your dependent. Gardeners should traits that give them different particular area, you need to find a consider the intended use of the site. attributes such as height, hair commercial seed or plant source that Mixed plantings generally require color, and facial shape, each is from local ecotypes. Many suggest more space and an understanding plant species has a range of using seed sources from within of the differences in biology of the genetic variability. approximately a 50-mile radius plants being used.

Funding support for this publication provided by Living Roadway Trust Fund, Iowa Department of Transportation.

Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants 7 Mesic refers to sites that have good Environments Seed and plant collection ethics for Native Plants drainage, ample seasonally available Dry soils are found on well to water, and deep soils. A good Existing populations of native excessively drained, usually exposed description of mesic is moist, yet plants need protection. Some sites. Soils that are thin to bedrock, well drained. The subsoil (below human-assisted seed dispersal or are sandy or gravelly and that the dark topsoil) is brightly colored, (harvested seed) is often occur on steep areas are typical. Dry which indicates good drainage. acceptable without the existing sites are more common on south- population being damaged, facing slopes where it is the warmest Wet sites have seasonally high but some seed needs to remain and driest during the summer. water tables and often occur low to renew the native stand. Characteristics of the plants adapted on the landscape. Sedges (grass- ALWAYS get permission from to these areas include the following: like plants with triangular stems in the managers of a native site cross section) may be a prominent before harvesting seed, and g Plants often less than 3 feet in group of species in wet sites, and limit yourself to taking no height the topsoil is either coal black to more than one-third of the seed several feet in depth, or the subsoil is crop produced. Taking actual g Leaves that are adapted to noticeably dull gray colored, or both. plants to transplant to another conserve moisture (thick surfaces, area is not acceptable, unless wilt throughout the day, or other construction or other activities actions to avoid water loss) on the site will cause the vegetation to be destroyed. Also, some native plants may not survive transplanting. Look for local information and assistance before you engage in collecting forays.

Prepared by Rich Pope and Linda Naeve, extension specialists, and Joyce Hornstein, former extension specialist, Department of Entomology. Photos by Rich Pope, Joyce Hornstein, Keven Arrowsmith, and Linda Naeve, Iowa State University Extension, and Steve Holland, Iowa Department of Transporta- tion. Edited by Julie Todd, former extension special- ist, Department of Entomology, and designed by Donna Halloum, Information Technology Services. Special thanks to content reviewers Dan Rockwell, Dick Faas, Inger Lamb, Jean Eels, and Carl Kurtz. File: Horticulture 2-10

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext. ISU FEEL RECONSTRUCTED PRAIRIE, BOONE COUNTY, IOWA

Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)—MESIC, height 2–3 ft. Flowers bloom in June and July. These long-lived perennials resemble daisies, but with backward-curving pink-purple ray flowers; the flower center contains a prickly raised dome.

Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants was originally printed as PM 1956.

8 Introduction to Iowa Native Prairie Plants