Landscaping with Native
Plants Factsheet
Plant Lists
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081012005334im_/http://epa.gov/grtlakes/greenacres/images/top.gif)
If you are landscaping in the Midwest, you may want to consider plants
from the following lists. These lists include some of the species that
are commonly available in nurseries and are relatively easy to grow.
They are directed towards individuals doing a modest first planting.
For large projects, which can accommodate a wide variety of species,
you may want to consider consulting a professional with expertise in
natural landscaping.
The herbaceous plant lists are divided into plants which thrive in
full sun, partial sun and shade. A general rule is that prairie
species need full sun; savanna species will grow in partial shade (and
many will grow as well, or better, in full sun); and woodland species
will grow in shade. It is very important to check catalogs and nursery
information before you buy, because plants also vary in their need for
moisture.
FULL SUN
|
Grasses: |
Big Bluestem
Little Bluestem
Sideoats Grama
Switch Grass
Indian Grass
Prairie Dropseed
Prairie Cord Grass
Porcupine Grass |
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon scoparius
Bouteloua curtipendula
Panicum virgatum
Sorghastrum nutans
Sporobolus heterolepis
Spartina pectinata
Stipa spartea |
Forbs
(flowers): |
![](forbs-flwr.jpg)
|
Lead Plant
Pasque Flower
Heath Aster
Silky Aster
Cream Wild Indigo
Sand Coreopsis
Prairie Coreopsis
Pale Purple Coneflower
Rattlesnake Master
Prairie Smoke
Western (or Naked) Sunflower
False Boneset
Round Headed Bush Clover
Rough Blazing Star
Cylindrical Blazing Star
Pale Spiked Lobelia
Wild Quinine
Prairie Cinquefoil
Gray Goldenrod
Riddell's Goldenrod
Golden Alexanders |
Amorpha canescens
Anemone patens
Aster ericoides
Aster sericeus
Baptisia leucophaea
Coreopsis lanceolata
Coreopsis palmata
Echinacea pallida
Eryngium yuccifolium
Geum triflorum
Helianthus occidentalis
Kuhnia eupatorioides
Lespedeza capitata
Liatris aspera
Liatris cylindracea
Lobelia spicata
Parthenium integrifolium
Potentilla arguta
Solidago nemoralis
Solidago reddellii
Zizia aurea |
FULL SUN-PART
SHADE |
Forbs: |
![](forbs.jpg)
|
Nodding Wild Onion
Prairie Thimbleweed
Butterfly Weed
Smooth Blue Aster
Sky Blue Aster
New England Aster
White Wild Indigo
Showy Tick Trefoil
Shooting Star
Purple Coneflower
Wild Bergamot (Beebalm)
Foxglove Beard Tongue
Obedient Plant
Black-Eyed Susan
Ohio Goldenrod
Spiderwort
Heart-Leaved Meadow Parsnip
|
Allium cernuum
Anemone cylindrica
Asclepias tuberosa
Aster azureaus
Aster laevis
Aster novae-angliae
Baptisia leucantha
Desmodium canadense
Dodecatheon meadia
Echinacea purpurea
Monarda fistulosa
Penstamon digitalis
Physostegia virginiana
Rudbeckia hirta
Solidago ohiensis
Tradescantia ohioensis
Zizia aptera |
Grasses: |
![](grasses.jpg)
|
Common Wood Reed
Canada Wild Rye
Virginia Wild Rye
Fowl Meadow (Manna) Grass
Bottlebrush Grass |
Cinna arundinacea
Elymus canadensis
Elymus virginicus
Glyceria striata
Hystrix patula |
SHADE
|
Woodland: |
![](woodland.jpg)
|
Wild Columbine
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Wild Ginger
Dutchman's Breeches
Yellow Trout Lily
Wild Geranium
Virginia Waterleaf
Virginia Bluebells
Mayapple
Solomon's Seal
Bloodroot
Trillium |
Aquilegia canadensis
Arisaema triphyllum
Asarum canadense
Dicentra cucullaria
Erythroniuim americanum
Geranium maculatum
Hydrophyllum virginianum
Mertensia virginica
Podophyllum peltatum
Polygonatum canaliculatum
Sanguinaria canadensis
Trillium spp. |
Oak
Savanna: |
![](oaksav.jpg)
|
Big Bluestem Grass
Little Bluestem Grass
Shagbark Hickory
New Jersey Tea
American Hazelnut
Purple Love Grass
June Grass
Rough Blazing Star
White Oak
Bur Oak
Black Oak
Indian Grass |
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon scoparius
Carya ovata
Ceanothus americanus
Corylus americana
Eragrostis spectabilis
Koehleria cristata
Liatris aspera
Quercus alba
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus velutina
Sorghastrum nutans |
GENERALLY
WET CONDITIONS
|
Marsh: |
![](marsh.jpg)
|
Swamp Milkweed
Blue Joint Grass
Sedges
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Common Boneset
Rice Cut Grass
Common Water Horehound
Dark Green Rush
Great Bulrush
Prairie Cordgrass
Common Cattail |
Asclepias incarnata
Calamagrostis canadensis
Carex sp.
Eupatorium maculatum
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Leersia oryzoides
Lycopus americanus
Scirpus atrovirens
Scirpus validus
Spartina pectinata
Typha latifolia |
Lake
and Pond: |
![](lake.jpg)
|
Hornwort
Common Rush
Rice Cut Grass
Small Duckweed
Pickerel Weed
Common Arrowhead |
Ceratophyllum demersum
Juncus effusus
Leersia oryzoides
Lemna minor
Pontederia cordata
Sagittaria latifolia |
More
Information
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081012005334im_/http://epa.gov/grtlakes/greenacres/images/top.gif)
State Resources Fact Sheet on native plants. These documents are in
Portable Document Format (PDF) only (about
PDF files)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Green Landscaping with Native Plants
1-800-621-8431 (for IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI).
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC)
Under a U.S. EPA grant, NIPC developed a natural landscaping tool kit
for local officials which includes Natural
Landscaping for Public Officials: A Source Book, 1997, a poster
illustrating the benefits of natural landscaping and an annotated
slide show. Call NIPC at (312) 454-0400, or U.S. EPA at
800-621-8431 to receive a copy of the tool kit. The Source Book is
available on U.S. EPA's Internet site.
National Wildlife Federation ![Exit disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081012005334im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
The Backyard
Wildlife Habitat Program run by the NWF is an excellent source of
information at:
National Wildlife Federation
Backyard Wildlife Habitat Questions
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5362.
(703) 438-6100
Wild Ones ![Exit disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081012005334im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
A non-profit organization encouraging natural yards in harmony with
nature. Contact them at:
Wild Ones - - Natural
Landscapers, Ltd.
P.O. Box 1274
Appleton, Wisconsin 54912-1274
Tel: (877) 394-9453
Prairie Nursery ![Exit disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081012005334im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
Helpful information on planting with native plants is available at:
Prairie Nursery Inc.
P.O. Box 306
Westfield, WI 53964
1-800-476-9453 (1-800-GRO WILD)
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