Wildflowers of the Tallgrass PrairieThis collection profiles wildflowers of the tallgrass prairie. Stretching over 250 million acres, the tallgrass prairie was once the largest ecosystem in the United States. Its deep rich soils made excellent farmland. By 1860, most of the tallgrass prairies had fallen to the plow. Today, only about one million acres remain, making tallgrass prairie one of the most threatened natural communities. Native grasses form the prairie framework, comprising 50 to 95 percent of the vegetation. The four dominant species in the tallgrass prairie are little bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass. Forbs (broadleaf herbs), an integral part of the prairie, provide most of the species diversity. Most prairie species are perennials that die back in the winter. The wildflowers included in this collection are some of the most common tallgrass prairie species. |
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Thumb | Species | Characteristics | ||
Amorpha fruticosa Indigo Bush, False Indigo Bush, False Indigo, Desert False Indigo |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Anaphalis margaritacea Western Pearly Everlasting, Pearly-everlasting |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Anemone canadensis Canadian Anemone, Round-leaf Thimbleweed, Canada Anemone, Windflower, Meadow Anemone |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Shade, Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Asclepias tuberosa Butterflyweed, Butterfly Weed, Butterfly Milkweed, Orange Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Chigger Flower, Chiggerweed |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist, Dry |
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Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea Longbract Wild Indigo, Cream False Indigo, Plains Wild Indigo, Cream Wild Indigo, Large-bracted Wild Indigo |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Castilleja sessiliflora Downy Painted Cup, Downy Paintbrush, Great Plains Paintbrush, Great Plains Indian-paintbrush |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Coreopsis palmata Stiff Tickseed, Stiff Coreopsis, Finger Coreopsis |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: |
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Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens Carolina Larkspur, Prairie Larkspur, Plains Larkspur |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |
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Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master, Button Eryngo, Button Snakeroot, Beargrass, Bear's Grass |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |
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Euphorbia marginata Snow On The Mountain, Snow-on-the-mountain |
Duration: Annual Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum Texas Bluebells, Texas Bluebell, Bluebell, Showy Prairie Gentian, Prairie Gentian |
Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |
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Gaillardia pulchella Indian Blanket, Firewheel, Girasol Rojo |
Duration: Annual Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Glandularia canadensis Rose Vervain, Sweet William, Rose Mock Vervain |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Moist |
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Helianthus maximiliani Maximilian Sunflower, Max Sunflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist, Dry |
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Iris versicolor Harlequin Blueflag, Northern Blue Flag, Large Blue Iris |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Lilium philadelphicum Wood Lily |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Linum sulcatum Grooved Flax, Yellow Prairie Flax |
Duration: Annual Habit: Herb Light: Water: |
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Lithospermum canescens Hoary Puccoon |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Oenothera biennis Common Evening-primrose, King's Cure-all, Common Evening Primrose |
Duration: Biennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Penstemon albidus White Penstemon, White Beardtongue, Red-line Penstemon, Red-line Beardtongue |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: |
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Phlox pilosa Downy Phlox, Prairie Phlox, Fragrant Phlox |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Pulsatilla patens Eastern Pasqueflower, American Pasqueflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Ratibida pinnata Grayhead Coneflower, Gray-headed Coneflower, Grayhead Mexican Hat, Gray-headed Mexican Hat, Pinnate Prairie Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Moist, Dry |
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Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan, Common Black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan, Blackeyed Susan |
Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist, Dry |
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Silphium laciniatum Compassplant, Compass Plant |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry |
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Sisyrinchium angustifolium Narrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass, Narrow-leaf Blue-eyed-grass, Bermuda Blue-eyed Grass, Blue-eyed Grass |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part-shade Water: Wet, Moist |
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Tradescantia ohiensis Ohio Spiderwort, Bluejacket |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Part-shade Water: Dry |
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Vernonia baldwinii Western Ironweed, Baldwin's Ironweed, Ironweed |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |
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Viola pedatifida Prairie Violet, Purple Prairie Violet, Larkspur Violet, Crow-foot Violet, Coastal Violet |
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist |