Illinois Native Grasses

Rice cut grass wild bergamot switch grass purple prairie clover water smartweed common mountain mint swamp white oak bur oak pin oak yellow cone flower black eyed susan broadleaf arrowhead peachleaf willow black willow.

Illinois native grasses. Dry prairies include the hill prairies and sand prairies where the soil drains rapidly. Echinochloa muricata muricata awned barnyard grass echinochloa muricata wiegandii awnless barnyard grass eleocharis acicularis needle spikerush eleocharis compressa flat stemmed spikerush eleocharis obtusa blunt spikerush eleusine indica goose grass elymus canadensis glaucifolius canada wild rye blue form. Illinois holds a great diversity of natural habitats and communities from cypress swamps in the south beech maple forests in the east. Feather reed grass calamagrostis acutiflora plume grass erianthus ravennae perennial fountain grass pennisetum alopecuroides.

Big bluestem black eyed susan compass plant and rattlesnake master are some of the plants of mesic prairies. In the prairie garden the addition of grasses helps keep all of the plants upright. Chinese fountain grass pennisetum alopecuroides is also known as fountain grass chinese. Early in summer prairie dropseed forms mounds of fine green leaves.

Native grasses mingle perfectly with wildflowers and play an important role in any native planting. Little bluestem leadplant purple prairie clover and rough blazing star can be found in dry prairies. Indian wood oats chasmanthium latifolium is also known as northern sea oats broadleaf uniola. Northern sea oats chasmanthium latifolium is another smaller native grass that works well in wide range of light and soil conditions.

Prairie dropseed sporobolus heterolepis naturally elegant prairie dropseed bears wispy fragrant flower spikes over narrow deep green leaves in late summer. Little bluestem hardstem bulrush chairmaker s rush river bulrush soft stem bulrush compass plant prairie dock late goldenrod stiff goldenrod. The illinois native plant society depends on the support and engagement of its members to accomplish its mission. Become a member or donate to support the inps mission.

It has a neat and interesting seed structure similar to oats that matures into a beautiful purplish color by late summer. In a larger landscape grasses can be the foundation of a design that incorporates a succession of flowering perennials. Ornamental grasses in illinois chinese fountain grass.