Prairie Plants
Showing 57–64 of 85 results
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Lobelia siphilitica Great lobelia Z 4-9
A striking, erect spike of sky to blueberry-blue blossoms. On top club-shaped buds, below trumpet-shaped, open flowers, made of a tube flaring open with the bottom divided into three, each segment pointed at the ends. From late summer to early fall.
A striking, erect spike of sky to blueberry-blue blossoms. On top club-shaped buds, below trumpet-shaped, open flowers, made of a tube flaring open with the bottom divided into three, each segment pointed at the ends. From late summer to early fall.
Size: 3' x 12"
Care: Full sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: Connecticut to Wyoming, south to Texas then east to Georgia and all states in between, Wisconsin native.
Wildlife Value: attracts bumble bees, hummingbirds and some butterfliesLobelia is named for Matthias L’Obel (1538-1616) a French expatriate who emigrated to England and became physician to English King James I. Oneidas considered this good medicine for distemper. Sioux treated bloat, diarrhea and dysentery as well as a love charm by adding powdered root to the food of the intended. Cherokee used the root to treat headaches, stomachaches, worms, nosebleeds, colds and syphilis. 1st collected by Rev. John Banister (1649-1692) who moved to colonial Virginia in 1678. A gunman mistakenly shot and killed him while he collected plants. In 1749 Swedish botanist Peter Kalm wrote that Natives used five species of Lobelia to cure venereal disease, having “an infallible art of curing it.” According to John Bartram (1699-17760) “The learned Pehr Kalm (who gained the Knowledge of it from Colonel Johnson, who learned it of the Indians, who, after great Rewards bestowed on several of them, revealed the Secret to him) saith, That the Roots of this Plant cureth the Pox much more perfectly and easily than any mercurial Preparations, and is generally used by the Canada Indians, for the Cure of themselves.” (Better than mercury!) Offered for sale in Bartram Garden’s 1783 Broadside, America’s 1st plant catalog.
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Lupinus perennis Sun-dial lupin, Old maid’s bonnet, wild pea Z. 4-9
Many flowered blue, pea flowered raceme May-June
Many flowered blue, pea flowered raceme May-June
Size: 1-2' x 12"
Care: full sun in well drained soil. A legume, so it enriches the soil by adding nitrogen.
Native: Maine to FL, Ontario to MN to Louisiana, Wisconsin native.
Wildlife Value: Attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. The only food for larvae of endangered species, Karner Blue butterfly.Lupinus is Latin from Lupus meaning “wolf.” Cherokee used this to stop bleeding. The Menominee fattened their horses with this Lupin and made them spirited. They rubbed the plant on themselves to give power to control the horses. Likely sent from its native Virginia to England by Tradescant the Younger in 1637. Collected by André Michaux(1746-1802) in late 1700’s. Grown by Jefferson. Grown at America’s 1st botanic garden, Elgin Botanic Garden 1811.
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Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamont Z 3-9
Whorls of hooded lavender tubes in July - August
Whorls of hooded lavender tubes in July – August
Size: 3-4' x 2' spreading
Care: Sun to part shade any soil.
Native: central U.S., Wisconsin native
Wildlife Value: Checkered white, Tiger swallowtail, Giant swallowtail and Melissa blue butterflies relish Wild bergamot’s nectar. Supports over 70 bee species including Rusty patched Bumble Bee.Used medicinally by many Native tribes- Blackfoot, Cherokee, Chippewa, Choctaw, Crow, Dakota and Flathead. Cherokee: to cure colic, flatulence, nosebleed, measles, flu, hysteria and insomnia. Blackfoot called it “Single-young-Man.” Teton Dakotas boiled the leaves and flowers to cure abdominal pain. Ho-Chunk boiled the leaves to remove pimples. Choctaws cured chest pain in children. The Flathead cured colds and sore teeth with Wild Bergamot. HoChunk inhaled fumes in a sweat bath to cure colds. Oneidas made a tea. For the Sioux it was nourishment and a panacea: tea, stomach ache, fever, indigestion, sore throats, fainting, whooping cough, wounds, sore eyes, ulcers, and snakebites. First documented by French explorers before 1635. Plant exported to Europe by Tradescant the Younger in 1637. Grown by Washington at Mount Vernon. Today it is a flavor in Earl Grey tea.
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Oenothera speciosa Evening primrose Z 5-8
June to August pale pink saucer-like blossoms
ARCHIVED
Note: This is a plant not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.
June to August ballerina pink saucer-like blossoms, excellent groundcover.
Size: 12" x 12" spreader
Care: Full sun moist well-drained to well-drained soil
Native: Southwest U.S. to MexicoAnother Thomas Nuttall discovery – 1819.
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Packera obovata syn. Senecio obovata Round-leaved ragwort, Golden groundsel Z. 3-8
Clusters of perky yellow daisies with sunny centers atop nearly leafless, erect stems blooming late spring to early summer. After flowering basal foliage makes an attractive groundcover.
Clusters of perky yellow daisies with sunny centers atop nearly leafless, erect stems blooming late spring to early summer. After flowering basal foliage makes an attractive groundcover.
Size: 1-2’ x 6-12”
Care: sun to part shade in moist to moist well-drained soil
Native: curved swath from eastern Canada to FL west to IL and NM
Wildlife Value: attracts bees. Deer resistantObovata means egg-shaped describing the shape of its basal leaves. First named in 1803 from a plant of Rev. Henry Ernest Muhlenberg (1742-1852) Pennsylvania plantsman, sent to German botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765-1812). Packera named for a Canadian botanist, John C. Packer.
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Parthenium integrifolium Wild Quinine Z 3-8
Frosty white blooms from July to September
Frosty white blooms from July to October, not especially showy but so reliable and sturdy, excellent. It’s a work horse.
Size: 2-4' x 18"
Care: Full sun in moist well-drained to well-drained soil. Drought tolerant.
Native: Mass. to Georgia, west Minnesota to Arkansas, Wisconsin nativeSeeds fragrant when crushed. Named Quinine because it was used to treat fevers similar to malaria. Catawabe Indians used leaves to treat burns and flowers to treat fever.
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Penstemon digitalis Foxglove beardtongue Z 2-8
Palest of pink tubular bells
OUT OF STOCK
Palest of pink tubular bells in June – deadhead for rebloom. More vigorous and longer blooming than its well-known cultivar ‘Husker Red.’
Size: 24-48” x 18”
Care: sun or part shade in moist to moist, well-drained soil
Native: Maine to So. Dakota, south to Virginia and Texas and all in between, Wisconsin
Wildlife Value: host for caterpillar of Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly. Feeds several bees and hummingbirds pollen and nectar.Penstemon is named for its five stamens, penta meaning “five” in Greek. Used medicinally by the Dakota and Pawnee – to remedy chest pains, chills and fevers. P. digitalis first transported to Europe when the son of the royal Spanish gardener sent it to Kew in England, 1793.
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Penstemon grandiflorus Large beard tongue Z 3-9 short-lived perennial that reseeds
Large pink to lavender trumpets along the 3’ stem in early summer
OUT OF STOCK
Large pink to lavender trumpets along the 3’ stem in early summer
Size: 3’ x 10”
Care: full sun in well-drained soil
Native: IL to N. Dakota, south to TX, Wisconsin
Wildlife Value: attracts Baltimore butterflyDiscovered by Thomas Nuttall, (1786-1859) who searched entire No. American continent, describing this Penstemon as “splendid and beautiful,” on his trip up the Missouri River in 1811. Cured chest pains and stomach aches for the Dakota and chills and fever for the Pawnee. Sioux made decoctions of this to remedy chills and fever and chest pain.
