2. What are native plants?
Native plants are plants that existed in an
area prior to European settlement. Good
sources of information –
Field guides
Web searches
Nature clubs
University professors
3. Why native plants?
Flourish without fertilizers or
synthetic pesticides and little
water
Provide food and habitat for
wildlife
Contribute to biodiversity
Connect us to our history and help
celebrate things that are unique
to our region
Teach us about nature
4. Lewis & Clark
In the winter of 1804, while at Fort Mandan, North Dakota, Lewis
records information about the prairie coneflower (Echinacea
angustifolia), noting that it was used by native Americans as “an
excellent poltice for swellings or soar throat.” A native of dry
prairies, this plant--also called black samson or narrow-leaved
purple coneflower--is right at home in naturalistic gardens.
Purple Coneflower
5. The Prairie State
The largest original prairie type in Illinois was the Grand
Prairie (black soil prairie) of central Illinois, with flat
landscapes, and poor natural drainage resulting in wet
conditions during part of the year. This kind of prairie is the
rarest today because the soil is so productive for
agricultural crops.
Along the shores of Lake Michigan and the Illinois,
Kankakee, and Mississippi rivers, are extensive sand
deposits, often forming dunes or ridges and swales, and
several kinds of sand prairies can be found in such areas.
Hill prairies are found on dry, southwest-facing, loess-
covered hill tops above bluffs overlooking floodplains of
rivers, especially the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
In northeastern Illinois some distinctive prairie vegetation
can be found in very wet alkaline fens and marl flats.
6. Ecoregions of the U.S.
36 – Central Tall
Grass Prairie
38 – Ozarks
44 – Interior Low
Plateau
45 – North Central
Tillplain
46 – Prairie-Forest
Border
Copyright 2004 – The Nature Conservancy
7. What happened?
Loss of habitat
Colonization/urbanization
Agriculture
Industrial sites
Public opinion/suburban landscapes
Invasive species
Fire restrictions
8. What’s changed?
Plants are more readily available
Economics
Environmental concerns
More acceptable
9. Getting started
Create a plan
Analyze your yard
and soil types
Research plants
Look at existing
yards or prairies
Start small & plan for
expansion
Be patient
10. Planning
Where to locate your plants
What size an area to plant
What is your soil type
What is the sun/shade level
What do you want to attract
11. Soil Considerations
Wet – soggy or marshy
most of the year
Wet mesic – wet in
winter, spring and after
heavy rains
Mesic – medium soil,
water soaks in without
runoff
Dry Mesic – well
drained, water moves
readily, not rapidly
Dry – excessively
drained
12. Sun or Shade?
Full Sun – normally grow
in full sun, can tolerate
up to 20% shade
Partial Sun – shaded 20%
- 70% of the day (often
under tree cover)
Shade – 70% - 100%
shade
Illinois can
have 14 hours
of sun during
the heat of
the summer!
13. Root Zones of Prairie Plants
http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/plants/npg/NPG-rootsystems.html
Blue
Grass
Compass
Plant Pale Purple
Coneflower
Big Bluestem
Switch
Grass
Purple Prairie
Clover
15. Pick Your Plants
Create your list
Seeds or Plants
Find a provider you trust
Be wary of seed mixes
16. Prepare your site
Smother unwanted plants
Plastic
Cardboard
Newspaper
Disc up the plot
Apply herbicides
Seed into dead sod
17. Planting
Seeds
By hand
By machine
Any time of year – based on the
plants
Water when planting in spring
Plants
Usually in late April/Early May
although some can be planted in
the fall
Check space needed for full grown
plants and let them fill in naturally
Water initially, then let them get
their own moisture
18. Weed Control
Mow – during the first year mowing on a
high setting will knock down weeds and
keep them from shading the seedlings
Hand weed small plots – especially the
first year
Fire – established plots should be burned
yearly if possible
