List of Native Prairie Plants for Use Along Roadsides in Illinois.
This is Part 1. Scientific Names A - H

Go to Part 2. Scientific Names I - Z

Developed for the Corridors for Tomorrow Project"

Kenneth R. Robertson
Center for Biodiversity
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 East Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820 USA

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	Scientific Name	Common Name	Natural Habitat in Illinois1	Regions of Illinois Where Native2	Ultimate Height3	Pollinator Type and Insect Visitors4	Fruit Type5	Wildlife Attracted6	Special Features7	Establishment8	Adaptability8
	Allium canadense	wild onion	mesic prairies; dry woods; disturbed areas	N, C, S	0.5-1.5'	Diptera	capsules with black seeds	small mammals	not competitive with grasses	moist stratification of seeds	does not favor dry or sandy areas
	Allium cernuum	nodding onion	dry, mesic, wet prairies	N	1-2'	Diptera	capsules with black seeds	small mammals	not competitve with grasses	probably similar to A. canadensis
	Allium stellatum	cliff onion	hill and gravel prairies; barrens	C, S	0.5-1'	Diptera	capsules with black seeds	small mammals		probably similar to A. canadensis
	Amorpha canescens	leadplant	sand, hill, gravel, prairied; dry to mesic prairies; rocky open woodlands	N, C, S	1.5-3'	long-tongued bees (10), short-tongued bees (15), other Hymenoptera (16), Diptera (4)	small one seeded legume	butterfly larvae, bees	nitrogen fixing; attractive purple flowers and foliage	easy from scarified, innoculated, and moist stratified seed	strong survivor, deep taproot
	Andropogon gerardii	big bluestem	hill, sand prairies; wet to mesic prairies; barrens	N, C, S	4-8'	wind	hairy grain	small mammals, songbirds	fall color; excellent nesting cover	easy from dry stratified seeds	prefers wet areas, but adapts well
	Anemone canadensis	meadow anemone	mesic to wet prairies; open woodlands; calcareous or alluvial soils	N, C	1-2'	bees, syrphid flies	cottony plumed achene			very easy by division, root cuttings, or seed	large colonies form quickly
	Anemone cylindrica	thimbleweed	hill and sand prairies; dry to mesic prairies; open woods	N, C	1-1.5'	bees, syrphid flies	cottony plumed achene			easily propagated from dry stratified seed
	Anemone patens	pasque flower	gravel hill prairies	N	0.5-1'	bees, syrphid flies	cottony plumed achene		pretty spring flowers	best propagated from fresh or dry stratified seed	does not tolerate shade competition; will not tolerate water logged soil
	Apocynum sibiricum	Indian hemp	dry, mesic, or wet prairies; rocky or sandy habitats; rocky woods	N, C, S	3'	long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, other Hymenoptera	follicle with hairy seeds		seed fluff used in bird's nests
	Aquilegia canadensis	columbine	prairie edges; rocky woods; sandy areas	N, C, S	2'	hummingbirds	follicles with shiney black seeds	hummingbirds	beautiful orange-red flowers	easily propagated from scarified and dry stratified seeds	adapts to various habitats
	Arabis glabra	tower mustard	mesic prairies; limestone woods, ledges and cliffs	N, C, S	2-4'	long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, other Hymenoptera, Diptera	slender siliques				rather weedy
	Asclepias hirtella	tall green milkweed	dry and sand prairies	N, C, S	2'	Diptera, bees	follicles with hairy seeds	butterflies, songbirds		easily propagated from dry stratified seed
	Asclepias incarnata	swamp milkweed	wet ditches, marshes, bogs	N, C, S	3-6'	Diptera, bees	follicles with hairy seeds	butterflies, songbirds		easily propagated from dry stratified seed
	Asclepias sullivantii	prairie milkweed	mesic prairies	N, C, S	2-5'	long-tongued bees (12), short-tongued bees (6), other Hymenoptera (42), Diptera (8), Lepidoptera (15), Coleoptera (3)	follicles with hairy seeds	butterflies, songbirds		easy from dry stratified seeds
	Asclepias syriaca	common milkweed	dry to mesic prairies; roadsides; often weedy	N, C, S	3-4'	long-tongued bees (11), other Hymenoptera (4), Diptera (3), Lepidoptera (7)	follicles with hairy seeds	butterflies, songbirds	thrives along roadsides	easily propagated from dry stratified seed
	Asclepias tuberosa	butterfly-weed	dry or sandy prairies; savannas	N, C, S	1-2'	long-tongued bees (15), short-tongued bees (6), other Hymenoptera (12), Diptera (14), Lepidoptera (8), Coleoptera (1), Hemioptera (4)	follicles with hairy seeds	butterflies, songbirds, hummingbirds	thrives along roadside; attractive color	easy from dry stratified seedsand root cuttings
	Asclepias verticillata	horsetail milkweed	hill prairies; dry to mesic prairies; roadsides; open soil; dry woods	N, C, S	1-1.5'	long-tongued bees (5), short tongued bees (1), other Hymeonptera (4), Diptera (1), Lepidoptera (8)	follicles with hairy seeds	butterflies, songbirds		transplant seedlings
	Aster azureus	sky-blue aster	hill and sand prairies; moist to dry prairies; dry open woods	N, C, S	1-4'	long-tongued bees (10), short-tongued bees (10), other Hymenoptera (32), Diptera (16), Lepidoptera (3)	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals		easy from dry stratified seed
	Aster ericoides	heath aster	hill and sand prairies; dry to mesic prairies; degraded prairies; colonizing species	N, C, S	1-3'	probably similar to A. ericoides	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals	soil forming	easy from dry stratified seed	often found along dry roadsides
	Aster laevis	smooth aster	mesic to dry prairies; woods	N, C, S	1-3'	long-tongued bees (37), short-tongued bees (53), other Hymenoptera (54), Diptera (119), Lepidoptera (30), Coleoptera (6), Hemiptera (3)	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals		easy from seed
	Aster novae-angliae	New England aster	mesic to wet prairies; degraded prairies; colonizing species	N, C, S	1-4'	probably similar to A. ericoides	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals	extremely aggressive	easy from seeds, moist stratification improves germination	adjusts to dry soil
	Aster pilosus	hairy aster	hill and sand prairies; dry to mesic prairies; degreaded prairies; disturbed areas	N, C, S	1-4'	long-tongued bees (13), short-tongued bees (7), Diptera (11), Lepidoptera (10)	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals		probably similar to A. novae-angliae
	Aster praealtus	willow aster	mesic prairie	N, C, S	2-4'	probably similar to A. ericoides	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals		probably similar to A. novae-angliae
	Aster ptarmicoides	white goldenrod	hill and sand prairies; dry prairies; calcareous bluffs	N, C	1-2'	probably similar to A. ericoides	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, small mammals		probably similar to A. novae-angliae
	Baptisia leucantha	white wild indigo	mesic to wet prairies; savannas	N, C, S	2-4'	bumble bee workers	inflated legumes with hard seeds; seeds often parasitized by Bruchid beetles	bees	soil forming; nitrogen fixing; beautiful flowers; deep taproot	easy from scarified, inoculated and moist stratified seed	sturdy plant
	Baptisia leucophaea	cream wild indigo	dry to mesic prairies	N, C, S	1-2.5'	bumble bee queens	inflated legumes with hard seeds; seeds often parasitized by Bruchid beetles	bees	soil forming; nitrogen fixing; beautiful flowers; seeds often parasitized; often acts like tumbleweed	easy from scarified, inoculated and moist stratified seed	prone to wind damage; does poorly on exposed soils
	Blephilia ciliata	pagoda plant	mesic prairies; woods	N, C, S	1-3'	long-tongued bees (25), short-tongued bees (16), other Hymenoptera (4), Diptera (12), Lepidoptera (15)	tiny nutlets			seeds may be difficult to obtain
	Boltonia asteroides	false aster	mesic prairies; gravelly shores; along streams; roadside ditches	N, C, S	1-3.5'	long tongued bees (21), short-tongued bees (20), other Hymenoptera (12), Diptera (60), Lepidoptera (20), Coleoptera (4), Hemiptera (1)	achenes with tufts of hair	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals
	Bouteloua curtipendula	sideoats gramma	hill prairies; dry prairies; upland sites; calcareous soil	N, C, S	1-3'	wind	hairy grain	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals, ungulates	soil forming; forms attractive bunches; excellent nesting cover	easy from dry stratified seeds; moderately aggressive
	Bromus kalmii	brome grass	dry to mesic calcareous prairies	N, C	1.5-3'	wind	grain	gamebirds, songbirds, samll mammals	excellent grass species; important nesting cover	very easy from seed
	Cacalia tuberosa	Indian plantain	mesic to wet calcareous prairies	N, C, S	2-5'	hawk-moths, bees, hoverflies	achenes with tufts of hair			seeds may be difficult to obtain, and have low germination
	Calystegia sepium	American bindweed	mesic soils; disturbed areas; fields; roadsides	N, C, S	3-7''	long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, other Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera	capsules with hard seeds
	Camassia scilloides	wild hyacinth	mesic prairies; savannas; open woods	N, C, S	1-1.5'	insects	capsules with black seeds	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals		easy from seed and bulbs
	Carex annectens	sedge	mesic prairies	N, C, S	2-3'	monoecious; wind	achenes	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Carex bicknellii	prairie sedge	dry to mesic prairies	N, C	1-2.5'	monoecious; wind	achenes	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Carex granularis	sedge	mesic to wet prairies; bottomland woods; streambanks	N, C, S	1-2'	monoecious; wind	achenes	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Carex gravida	sedge	mesic to wet prairies; swales, shores	N, C	1-3'	monoecious; wind	achenes	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Carex meadii	Mead's sedge	mesic to wet prairies	N, C, S	2'	monoecious; wind	achenes	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Carex molesta	sedge	moist to dry prairies; borders of woods	S	1-3'	monoecious; wind	achenes	gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Carex prairea	sedge	calcareous bogs and fens	C, S	1.5-3'	monoecious; wind	achenes	upland gamebirds, bees	excellent nesting cover	easy from seed
	Cassia fasciculata	partridge pea	hill and prairies; dry, mesic, or wet prairies	N, C, S	2-3'	probably similar to C. marilandica	flat legumes with flat black seeds	upland gamebirds, bees, butterfly larvae	excellent nesting cover; nitrogen fixing		adapts to roadsides
	Cassia marilandica	Maryland senna	dry prairies; roadsides; thickets	N, C, S	2-3'	long-tongued bees (1), ants (4), Coleoptera (1)	cylindrical legumes with plump black seeds	hummingbirds, ungulates, bees, butterfly larvae	excellent nesting cover; nitrogen fixing		adapts to roadsides
	Castilleja coccinea	Indian paintbrush	dry, mesic, or wet prairies; usually sandy soils	N, C	1-2'	hummingbirds, insects	capsules with tiny seeds	ungulates, butterflies	parasitic associations	easy from seeds, difficult to transplant
	Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey tea	hill and sand prairies; mesic to dry prairies; open woods	N, C, S	1.5-3'	long-tongued bees (6), short-tongued bees (18), other Hymenoptera (35), Diptera (42), Lepidoptera (2), Coleoptera (14), Hemiptera (4)		songbirds	important food source	low germination from seeds, improved germination from scarification, and soaked in hot water
	Cirsium discolor	field thistle	dry to mesic prairies; fields; open woods; disturbed areas; weedy	N, C, S	3-5'	long-tongued bees (14), short-tongued bees (5), Diptera (2), Lepidoptera (9), Coleoptera (1)	achenes with tufts of hair	songbirds, butterflies	seed fluff used in nests	easy by seedling transplant
	Claytonia virginica	spring beauty	mesic prairies; savannas; woods	N, C, S	3-5''	long-tongued bees (21), short-tongued bees (37), Diptera (35), Lepidoptera (9)	capsules with black seeds	small mammals	attractive spring flowers	easy by seed; spreads by rhizomes
	Comandra umbellata	false toadflax	hill and sand prairies; dry to mesic prairies; open woods	N, C, S	0.5-1'	long-tongued bees (4), short-tongued bees (8), Diptera (28), Lepidoptera (2), Coleoptera (2)	small nut		parasitic associations; spreads by rhizomes and often forms dense stands	difficult because must be associated wih host plants
	Coreopsis lanceolata	sand or tickseed coreopsis	hill and sand prairies; savannas	N, C, S	1-2'	probably similar to C. palmata	achenes	songbirds	little food value	easy from dry stratified seed
	Coreopsis palmata	prairie coreopsis	hill prairies; mesic to dry prairies; open woods	N, C, S	1.5-3'	long-tongued bees (33), short-tongued bees (21), Diptera (30), Lepidoptera (14)	achenes	songbirds	little food value; often thrives along roadsides	easy from dry stratified seed, aggressive establisher
	Coreopsis tripteris	tall tickseed	mesic to wet prariries; calcareous soil	N, C, S	3-7'	long-tongued bees (18), short-tongued bees (12), other Hymenoptera (10), Diptera (9), Lepidoptera (3), Coleoptera (1)	achenes	songbirds	flowers when not many other species are in bloom, providing pollen for pollinators	easy from dry stratified seed
	Desmanthus illinoensis	Illinois mimosa, sensitive plant, or bundle flower	sand prairies; dry, mesic or wet prairies; along levees and railroads	N, C, S	3-6'	long-tongued bees	curved legumes	butterflies, quail, small mammals	nitrogen fixing; soil forming	easy by scarified, innoculated and stratified seed
	Desmodium canadense	hoary tick trefoil	dry to mesic prairies; open woods	C, S	2-4'	long-tongued bees (6)	legumes broken into one seeded segments	butterflies, quail, small mammals	nitrogen fixing, soil forming, showy flowers	easy by scarified, innoculated and stratified seed
	Desmodium illinoense	Illinois tick trefoil	dry, mesic, wet prairies; open woods	N, C, S	3-6'	long-tongued bees (7), short-tongued bees (1), Lepidoptera (1)	legumes broken into one seeded segments	butterflies, quail, small mammals	nitirogen fixing; soil forming; showy flowers	easy by scarified, innoculated and stratified seed
	Dodecatheon meadia	shooting star	mesic prairies; woods	N, C, S	1'	long-tongued bees (8), Lepidoptera (1)	capsules with tiny seeds	small mammals, songbirds	showy spring flowers	easy by fresh or stratified seeds, and root division
	Echinacea pallida	pale coneflower	hill prairies; dry to mesic prairies	N, C, S	2-3'	bumble bees, beetles	achenes	small mammals, songbirds	showy long lasting flowers	very easy from moist stratified seed; very aggressive
	Echinacea purpurea	purple coneflower	mesic prairies; open woods	N, C, S	2-4'	bumble bees, beetles	achenes	songbirds, gamebirds	showy long lasting flowers	very easy from moist stratified seed; very aggressive
	Elymus canadensis	nodding wild rye	hill and sand prairies; dry to mesic prairies; shaded bottomlands	N, C, S	2-3'	wind	grain	small mammals, songbirds		easy by seed
	Eryngium yuccifolium	rattlesnake master	dry to mesic prairies; woods	N, C, S	3-4'	bees	nutlets covered with seeds		use cautiously because of aggressive seeding; unusual seedhead	best from transplants, but still easy from seed	drought resistent, very adaptable
	Eupatorium coelestinum	mistflower	wet prairies; low woods; borders of streams	C, S	3-4'	long-tongued bees (6), short-tongued bees (5), other Hymenoptera (1), Diptera (5), Lepidoptera (8), Coleoptera (1)	achenes with tufts of hair	upland gamebirds, songbirds, butterflies		easy by seed, self sows
	Eupatorium serotinum	late boneset	mesic prairies; open woods and clearings	N, C, S	3-4'	long-tongued bees (21), short-tongued bees (11), other Hymenoptera (44), Diptera (34), Lepidoptera (15), Hemiptera (1)	achenes with tufts of hair	upland gamebirds, songbirds, butterflies		easy by seed, self sows
	Euphorbia corollata	flowering spurge	sand and hill prairies; dry to mesic prairies; savannas; open woods	N, C, S	2-3'	monoecious; short-tongued bees (7), other Hymenoptera (22),Diptera (21), Lepidoptera (1), Hemiptera (1)	capsules with hard seeds	upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	seed difficult to get	best propagated from moist stratified seeds
	Fragaria virginiana	wild strawberry	wet to mesic prairies; woods	N, C, S	5-8''	long-tongued bees (12), short-tongued bees (15), other Hymenoptera (1), Diptera (21), Lepidoptera (7)	fleshy with tiny achenes	small mammals, songbirds, gamebirds	excellent fruit	easy from seed
	Galium boreale	northern bedstraw	wet to mesic prairies; shores; woodland borders	N	1-2.5'	Diptera, Lepidoptera , sawflies	nutlets			seed or seedling transplant, needs no stratification,	readily spreads
	Gaura biennis	butterfly-weed	hill prairies; dry, mesic, wet prairies; open woods; roadsides	N, C, S	3-6'	long-tongued bees (5)	nut-like			easy from seed
	Gentiana alba (G. flavida)	pale gentian, yellowish gentian	mesic prairies; wooded slopes	N, C, S	1-3'	probably similar to G. andrewsii	capsules with tiny seeds			probably similar to G. andrewsii
	Gentiana andrewsii	closed gentian	mesic to wet prairies; swales	N, C, S	2-3'	bumble bees, Coleoptera	capsules with tiny seeds		unusual blue, balloon-like flowers	easily grown from moist stratified seeds
	Gentiana puberulenta	downy gentian	mesic to dry prairies	N, C	1-2'	bumble bees	capsules with tiny seeds			probably similar to G. andrewsii
	Gentiana saponaria	soapwort gentian	sand prairies and woods; mesic prairies	N, S	1.5-4'	probably similar to G. andrewsii	capsules with tiny seeds			probably similar to G. andrewsii
	Gentianella quinquefolia	stiff gentian	hill and gravel prairies; calcareous meadows and woods	N, C	1.5-2.5'	probably similar to G. andrewsii	capsules with tiny seeds			probably similar to G. andrewsii
	Geum trifolium	prairie smoke	calcareous gravel hill prairies	N	1-2'	long-tongue bees (1), short-tongued bees (9), other Hymenoptera (6), Diptera (3), Coleoptera (2)	plummed achenes		unusual fruit; mature plants form dense stands	establish by fresh or dry stratified seeds or rhizomes
	Helenium autumnale	sneezeweed	wet prairies; sedgemeadows; lowland woods; shors;	N, C, S	2-5'	long-tongued bees (15), short-tongued (3), other Hymenoptera (7), Diptera (4), Lepidoptera (4), Hemiptera (1)	achenes	upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals		readily grown
	Helianthus grosseserratus	sawtooth sunflower	mesic to wet prairies; degraded prairie remnants	N, C, S	6-10'	long-tongued bees (29), short-tongued bees (9), other Hymenoptera (3), Diptera (14), Lepidoptera (13), Hemiptera (1)	achenes	upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	important food source	easy from dry stratified seed	spreads rapidly with moisture
	Helianthus mollis	downy sunflower	dry to mesic prairies; woods	C, S	2-4'	long-tongued bees (12), short-tongued bees (7), Diptera (6), Lepidoptera (2)	achenes	upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	important food source	easy from dry stratified seed	spreads rapidly with moisture
	Helianthus occidentalis	western sunflower	sand prairies	N, C	1-3'	probably similar to H. grosseseratus	achenes	upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	important food source	easy from dry straified seed	spreads rapidly with moisture
	Helianthus rigidus	prairie sunflower	hill prairies; dry to mesic prairies	N, C, S	3'	probably similar to H. grosseseratus	achenes	upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals	important food source	easy from dry stratified seed	spreads rapidly with moisture
	Heliopsis helianthoides	false sunflower	open woods; dry prairies	N, C, S	2-5'	long-tongued bees (19), short-tongued bees (11), other Hymenoptera (4), Diptera (11), Lepidoptera (4)	achenes	probably similar to H. occidentalis		easy from seed
	Heuchera richardsonii	prairie alumroot	hill and sand prairies; dry to mesic prairies; ledges	N, C	2-3'	bees	capsules with small seeds	upland gamebirds, small mammals	tiny seeds	from fresh or dry stratified seeds
	Hieracium longipilum	hairy hawkweed	sand prairies; dry prairies; old fields	N, C, S	2-4'	bees, Diptera	capsules with tiny seeds			readily from seed
	Houstonia purpurea	broad-leafed bluets	mesic prairies	S	0.5-3'	long-tongued bees (9), short-tongued bees (9), Diptera (9), Lepidoptera (7), Coleoptera (3)	capsules with tiny seeds			sometimes stubborn from seed, but once established self-sows
	Hypericum sphaerocarpum	round fruited St. John's-wort	mesic prairies; dry woods	N, C, S	1-2'	flying insects, Diptera	capsules with tiny seeds		one of several species of Hypericum to consider
	Hypoxis hirsuta	yellow star grass	hill prairies; dry, mesic, wet prairies; calcareous soil;bluff tops	N, C, S	3-7''	long-tongued bees (4), short-tongued bees (9), Diptera (2), Coleoptera (1)	capsules		difficult to find seeds	easy from seed

Click here for published references consulted for this project.

1 Almost all species of prairie plants occur in habitats other than prairies; in this column the emphasis is on the different types of prairies in which the species occur. Information on habitat based primarily on Evers (1955); Kirt (1989); Korling (1972); Lunn (1982); Mohlenbrock (1986); Runkel & Roosa (1989); Swink & Wilhelm (1979); Voight & Mohlenbrock (1979); White (1978) as well as personal observations.

2 Information on region based primarily on Mohlenbrock & Ladd (1978); Mohlenbrock (1986); "n" = north of Interstate 80; "c" = central, between Interstate 80 and Interstate 64; "s" = south of Interstate 64; a capital letter indicates that the species is native to that region while a lower case letter indicates that the species can be cultivated in the region although it is not native there.

3 Information on height based primarily on Kirt (1989); Korling (1972); Lunn (1982); Mohlenbrock (1986); Runkel & Roosa (1989); Voight & Mohlenbrock (1979).

4 All flowers perfect unless otherwise mentioned; information on pollination mostly from Robertson (1929). Perfect flowers = flowers have both female & male parts; monoecious = separate female and male flowers on the same plant; dioecious = separate female and male flowers on different plants; polygamous = a mix of perfect and/or female and male flowers on the same plant. The numbers in parentheses refer to the number of species reported visiting this species by Robertson (1929).

5 Information of fruits largely from Fernald (1950) and personal observations by K. R. Robertson.

6 Information on wildlife primarily based on: DeGraaf & Witman (1979); Ehrlich et al. (1988); Gill & Healy (1974); Martin et al. (1951).

7 Information on special largely from Kirt (1989); Runkel & Roosa (1989); Voss & Mohlenbrock (1979).

8 Information on Establishment and Adaptability mostly from McClain (1986); Rock (1979).

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