Indian Grass

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans

Foliage 4' to 5' tall

Flower and seed plume 5' to 6' tall

This plume is in full flower. Each tiny yellow droplet is a tubular flower. They vibrate in the wind.

Yellow Coneflower

Yellow coneflower

Ratibida pinnata

4' tall

Flower attractive to butterflies
Fragrant seed head
Loved by songbirds

Pale Indian Plantain

Pale Indian Plantain

Cacalia atriplicifolia

5' tall
Red to purple waxy coated stem

Ironweed

Ironweed

Vernonia fasciculata
4' to 5' tall

Modern House in the Prairie

Compass Plant

Compass Plant

Silphium lacineatum

Leaves to 30 inches high

Flower stalk to 48 inches high.

Studies of mature prairie found roots of this plant extending over 35 feet deep down into the prairie subsoils.
Leaves align their edges north and south to take advantage of morning and late afternoon sun but avoid midday sun. This is a water conservation attempt, so mature plants that have deep enough roots no longer need to align their leaves to conserve moisture.

Tall Coreopsis

Tall coreopsis

Coreopsis tripteris

5' tall

Indian Grass with Forbs

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans

5' tall

Upright form good for landscaping

Bright rusty tan flower head followed by pale tan seed plume.

Compass plant in foreground and tall coreopsis in background.

Urban Prairie Dock

Prairie Dock

Silphium terebinthinaceum

Thick stiff sturdy basal rosette of sandpapery leaves about 2'tall
Wiry airy flower stalks that bob in the wind like a mobile sculpture with brilliant yellow blossoms in summer and seed heads in fall and winter that are favorites of songbirds.

Prairie Dock

Prairie Dock

Silphium terebinthinaceum
Basal leaf cluster 2' tall
Flower stalk 7' tall

A cool plant that kids find interesting

Goldenrod Gall

Immature gall on goldenrod resembing a seedpod

Harbors the larvea of a wasp

Mildweed Pod

Prairie Dock Flower Stalk

Prairie Dock

Silphuim laciniatum

5' to 6' tall stiff unbranched stalks tower over 2' tall basal rosette of deeply divided lobed leaves.

Indian Grass

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans


6' tall

Early fall

Tall Coreopsis Seedhead

Tall Coreopsis Seedhead
Coreopsis tripteris
6' tall

Loved by small songbirds who hang acrobatically to pick at the seeds

New England Aster

New England Aster

Aster novea-angliae

3' tall

Late September into October

Prolific seeder so remove seedheads to prevent over-spreading

Great cut flower

When used in gardens, the plant can be cut back to half its height every couple weeks through first week in July to keep it smaller and more dense

Rosin Weed

Rosin Weed

Silphium integrifolium

3' to 4' tall

Stiff upright stems

Good plant for perennial gardens

Yellow Coneflower Seedheads

Yellow Coneflower Seedheads

Ratibida pinnata

4' tall

Early and mid September with flowering goldenrod

Seedheads are fragrant when crushed and much enjoyed by small songbirds in winter

Compass Plant

Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
5' stiff thick flower stalks rise above basal rosette of deeply divided leaves
Plants have very deep roots, to 30 feet below ground
Leaves are cool to the touch with rough textured surface

Prairie Dock

Prairie Dock
Silphium terebinthinaceum

6' - 7' tall flower stalk towers above 2' tall basal rosette of thick ovoid leaves
Roots can reach to 30 feet below ground
Leaves feel cool to the touch