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Native Wildflowers and Grasses
 Big Bluestem Grass: Andropogon gerardi: The most prevalent and widely distributed of all prairie grasses. Growing 3 to 8' thriving on a
tremendous range of soils, from wet, poorly drained clay to dry open sand. In late August it produces a distinctive three-parted seed head that resembles a turkey foot. The lush green of the leaves and stems change with the first frost to an attractive reddish-copper color that provides landscape interest well into the winter.
 Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa: Clusters of bright orange flowers appear mid summer at the top of 2 to 3' stems. Prefers well drained soil but tolerates soils from sand to clay. Don't let young seedling dry out, but once established plants are very drought tolerant. Emerges quite late in the spring, be careful not to cultivate too close as it doesn't like to be disturbed. Full sun, light shade.
 Cardinal Flower - Geranium maculatum: Loose cluster of five petaled lavender to blue flowers appearing April - May. Leaves create, full clumps great for background settings. Grows to a height of 1 to 2' in rich, dry to moist soils in light shade to partial sun.
 Christmas Fern - Polystrichum acrostichoides: Classic evergreen fern. The clump of deep green, leathery fronds stays fresh all winter. Thrives in shade, rich, moist, well-drained soil. , Mulch well with chopped and fallen leaves.
 Cinnamon Fern - Osmunda cinnamomea: Clumps of 3 to 5 ‘ tall fronds surround upright spikes of bright cinnamon-color. This plant makes a statement with groundcovers or among perennials. Habitat same as Christmas Fern.
 Columbine - Aquilega Canadensis: The orange/yellow flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds. They have long tubes at the end of which are little storage places for nectar. The height is 1' to 3', blooming May - July. Grows in most soils, full sun to dappled shade. Do not over fertilize or you will get mostly leaves. Good for rock gardens.
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 Great Blue Lobelia - Lobelia siphilitica: This Denizen of Dampness is covered in deep blue flowers in late summer and early fall. It is also adept at attracting hummingbirds. Grows one to four feet tall in damp sand, loam, or clay. Prefers full to partial sun.
 Jack in the Pulpit - Arisaema triphyllum: Partial to full shade.
Average, well-drained soil. Waxy green funnel shaped flowers, brilliant
red berries in fall relished by chipmunks and other wildlife.
 Lead plant - Amorpha canescens: This shrubby perennial grows to 3' tall
in dry, sandy soils. Tiny purple flowers are in a spike-like mass along
the upper 2 to 7 inches of the stems. The entire plant is hairy, so much
so that is has a whitish appearance.
 Pale Purple Coneflower - Echinacea pallida: Low-maintenance, versatile, showy plant with a long blooming season. Grows in rocky, gravel type
soil, full to partial sun, average to dry conditions. Growing 3' tall,
it's petal-like ray flowers are narrower & paler than purple cone & a
bit longer in their droop. Nectar for butterflies & hummingbirds. Seeds
for birds. Deadhead to prolong flowering.
 Prairie Dropseed Grass - Sporobolus heterolepsis: A drought resistant grass that grows in fountains of narrow leaves. Dry, rocky soil, full
sun. Height to 1' and spread to 2 ' or more. Forms arching, bright green
clumps that turn golden in fall & creamy brown in winter.
 Wild Ginger - Asarum canadense: A low growing vine has large deep green heart shaped leaves that make an ideal ground cover. Height is 6 to 12". Needs rich soil with organic matter and moisture. Full sun to partial shade.
 Wild Petunia - Ruellia humills: Normally less than 1' tall, depending on habitat. The opposite leaves are pointed ovals, usually less than 3
inches long. There may be up to 12 pairs of leaves along the stem giving
the plant a short bushy, leafy appearance. The showy flowers are
petunia-shaped and vary from light lavender to purple. They are smaller
& not as widely flared as the common petunia. Varied habitats from open
woodlands to moist prairies to sand plains. Blooms June to August.
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Rain Garden Kit: 15 different species
totaling 38 plug size plants. This selection of plants will take higher
water periods and can withstand some drought when the rains don't come.
The kit will include but is not limited to the following: Switch grass,
big bluestem grass, coreopsis, asters, swamp milkweed, coneflowers,
culvers root, ironweed, and bergamot. A design is also included.
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