NPS/Gordon Dietzman
Introduction
Prairies are plant communities dominated by the grasses. However, they also preserve a large diversity of wildflowers, butterflies, and birds. The flowering season begins in early spring, sometimes before the last snowfall, and doesn't end until killing frosts of late autumn. These characteristics make prairies and savannas favorite destinations for hikers, birders, and wildflower enthusiasts.
Trees and Shrubs
Grasses
Big Bluestem
Blue Joint Grass
Canada Wild Rye
Hairy Grama
Indian Grass
June Grass
Prairie Cordgrass
Prairie Dropseed
Sideoats Grama
Slender Wheatgrass
Switchgrass
Wildflowers
Aster spp.
Blue Vervain
Boneset
Black-eyed Susan
Butterfly Weed
Culver's Root
Golden Alexander
Ironweed
Leadplant
New England Aster
Nodding Wild Onion
Pasque Flower
Prairie Blazingstar
Prairie Spiderwort
Purple Coneflower
Purple Prairie Clover
Stiff Goldenrod
Wild Bergamont
Yellow Coneflower
Invasive Species
Black Locust
Canada Thistle
Smooth Brome Grass
Spotted Knapweed
Eastern Redcedar
Explore the plants of other plant communities
Visit a Restored Prairie
Cenaiko Lake, Etter Creek, Sixth Avenue Greenway, City of Hastings, Coldwater Spring (NPS)
Visit a Natural Prairie
Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, Pine Bend Bluff Scientific and Natural Area