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Help us monitor these most wanted plants!
Big bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Big bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
One of the largest grasses in the tall grass prairie. The flowers are distinctive because they branch out from the stem in 3 to 7 'fingers' and usually have short fine hairs.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium campestre
Blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium campestre
A white flower with 6 pointed petals which occurs in prairies and fields, especially in dry sandy sites. Called prairie blue eyed grass because it is more drought tolerant than other species of blue-eyed grass. You can distinguish this species by it having only one umbel of white flowers per stem. Iris family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Butterfly milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
A showy orange milkweed with long lasting flowers which is a popular garden plant for attracting butterflies and bees. It is a widespread native in the Midwest, eastern US and Southwest. Unique in its orange flowers and clear sap. Milkweed family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Chokecherry has white flowers that are distinctive because they are attached on stems forming long racemes. Most other cherries have flowers in short rounded clusters.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Creamy indigo
Baptisia bracteata
Creamy indigo
Baptisia bracteata
Showy early wildflower with creme-colored pea-like flowers and hairy stems that sprawl along the ground. Common in prairies and fields in the Midwest and eastern Great Plains. Popular waterwise garden plant. Pea family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Junegrass
Koelaria cristata
Junegrass
Koelaria cristata
Attractive small native bunchgrass with distinctive clusters of dense flower spikes up to 1 1/2' tall that turn tan when dry. A cool season grass that grows mostly in spring or early summer (hence its name). Common from short grass prairies in West to dry sandy habitats in the Midwest. Grass family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Lead plant
Amorpha canescens
Lead plant
Amorpha canescens
Showy plant with long spikes of purplish pea shaped flowers. Up to 3 feet tall, often sprawls along ground, especially in shade. Leaves often covered with whitish hairs (looking like lead dust). Associated with native prairie, limestone glades and woodlands. Pea family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Prairie blazingstar
Liatris pychnostachya
Prairie blazingstar
Liatris pychnostachya
Blazing stars are popular garden plants for their colorful clusters of pink or white flowers on spikes up to 5' tall. This species is a popular garden flower since it flowers late in summer and can stay in flower for a month. In contrast to rough blazingstar it occurs in deeper richer soils, and moist sites, often along streams or wetlands but can occur along railroad right of ways, fields, and rocky bluffs. Sunflower family
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Prairie phlox
Phlox pilosa
Prairie phlox
Phlox pilosa
A showy pink phlox up to 2' tall associated with rich black soils in native prairie, wetlands, fields and rocky open forests. Stems are covered with fine white hairs. Good plant for attracting butterflies. Phlox family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Rough blazingstar
Liatris aspera
Rough blazingstar
Liatris aspera
Blazing stars are popular garden plants for their colorful clusters of pink or white flowers on spikes up to 5' tall. This species only flowers for a short time and is well adapted to droughty or rocky sites in prairies or fields or oak woodlands. Flowers are pink to purple in clusters attached to long narrow stem. Sunflower family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
Wild quinine
Parthenium integrifolium
Wild quinine
Parthenium integrifolium
Unique looking plant with flat-topped clusters of small white pearl-like flowers, associated with rich soils and moist, open prairie. Sunflower family.
Read more on the species info page.
Read more on the species info page.
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Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Learn more about the Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge and explore it with the Friends of the Prairie Learning Center.
