Putting Conservation On the Land
12 Hwy. 28 E, Suite 2Morris, MN 56267
320-589-4886 ext. 4
Native Grass Plant Guide
The native grasses and forbs (flowers) shown here are all part of our CP-25 seed mix, which we use on nearly all our native grass plantings. We’ve found this mix to be the most versatile for the soil types in our area, and the flowers included provide beauty throughout the year.
For more information about planting native grasses on your land, please stop by, call or e-mail Matt Solemsaas today!
Native Grasses
Big BluestemWarm season perennial | 1.5-6.5 feet
Grows in prairies, moist soils, open woods, and roadsides on a wide range of soils. Especially abundant in lowland prairies, wet overflow sites and sandy areas.
Blue GramaWarm season perennial | 6 inches to 1.5 feet
Begins growing in mid May. Blooms in late July and flowering culms remain through the summer. Most abundant on the short-grass prairie. Very common drier upland sites and dry prairies. Will be found in sandy or gravelly soils as well as heavy clays and claypans.
Canada Wild RyeCool season tufted perennial | 2.5-5 feet
Begins growth in late April and flowers from June through August. Found in sparse stands along rivers, stream banks, lakeshores, ditches and roadsides, open prairie and disturbed ground. Adapted to a wide variety of soil moistures, but mostly suited to sandy, gravelly, rocky soils.
Green Needle GrassCool season perennial | 1.5-3 feet
Starts growing in late April, maturing in early August and completely cured by mid September. Found on dry soils in prairies and open woodlands. Grows best in loamy to heavy clay soils.
IndiangrassWarm season perennial | 2-6.5 feet
Begins growing in mid to late May, heading out in July and August. Commonly grows in lowlands and overflow swales or areas with a lot of moisture. Often associated with big bluestem grass communities.
Little BluestemWarm season perennial
Begins growth in early May and flowers from late July through September. Adapted to a broad range of soil textures, most common in moist lowland prairies, open prairie, open woodlands, and other moist areas. Commonly planted on moist soils due to ability to tolerate flooding for short periods.
Prairie CordgrassWarm season perennial | 3-8 feet
Commonly found in moist areas such as swales and wet prairie, becomes very common in ditches and drainageways. Provides nesting habitat for birds and wildlife.
Side Oats GramaPerennial warm season grass
Begins growth in early May and flowers in early July through August. Most commonly found on fine textured soils and weakly developed soils of steeper slopes, often in limestone or chalky soils on dry plains, rocky ridges, open grasslands and hills.
Slender WheatgrassCool season perennial bunchgrass | 1-3.5 feet
Begins growth in April and flowers from June to August. Found in moist to relatively dry soils along river banks and rolling hills. Most abundant in well-drained medium to fine-textured soils. Somewhat tolerant to alkali soils, moderate levels of drought and long, wet periods.
SwitchgrassWarm season perennial | 1.5-4.5 feet
Starts growth in early May and flowers from late July through September. Adapted to a broad range of soil textures, most common in moist lowland prairie, open prairie, open woodland and other moist areas.
Western WheatgrassCool season perennial | 1-2 feet
Begins growth in mid to late April and flowers late June through July. Seeds ripen about 110 days after leaves emerge. Found on moist to dry soils and upland prairie. Grows in fairly dense stands on clay soils and has a high saline-alkali tolerance. Well-adapted to well-drained bottom lands.
Native Forbs (Flowers)
American VetchCool season perennial with sprawling vines | up to 3 feet
Grows mid-spring to mid-summer. Found in prairies, thickets, open woodlands. Usually in areas that are somewhat moist.
Black-eyed SusanWarm season biennial or short-lived perennial | 1-3.5 feet
Begins growth in May and flowers from late June through September. Found growing on disturbed prairies, rangeland, along roadsides and waste areas. Can become a weedy pest, especially on disturbed areas.
Canada Milk VetchWarm season perennial | Up to 5 feet
Grows in summer in moist thickets, low areas in prairies, along streams and along prairie/woodland edges.
Illinois Bundle FlowerCool season perennial | About 3 feet
Grows early to mid-summer. Common in disturbed prairies, pastures, sandy thickets and along prairie edges. An important food for livestock and wildlife, used in re-vegetation plantings and prairie restoration.
Lewis Blue FlaxWarm season perennial | Up to 1 foot
Grows June through August. Found in dry upland prairies, often on hill prairies or sandy soils.
Maximillian SunflowerWarm season perennial | Up to 9 feet
Growing midsummer to fall often on exposed rocky slopes, dry prairies, and sometimes in moist sites. Often found in sandy soil.
Partridge PeaWarm season perennial | 3.5 feet
Grows summer through fall, most commonly in pastures, fields, prairies and along roadsides, often in disturbed sandy soil.
Purple ConeflowerWarm season perennial
Grows beginning in May and flowers from June through August. Grows abundantly on most upland soil types. Prefers dry prairies and rocky hillsides with weakly developed soils.
Purple Prairie CloverWarm season perennial | 1-3 feet
Starts growing in May and flowers from July through August, settling seed in September.Adapted to a wide variety of soil types. Most common on thin dry soils. Can be found on rocky prairie plains, hillsides, open woods, and roadsides.
White Prairie CloverWarm season perennial | 1-3 feet
Begins growth in May and flowers July through August. Common prairies, rocky sidehills, open woodlands and roadsides.
Yellow ConeflowerWarm season perennial | Up to 4 feet
Starts growing in late spring, flowering through the fall. Commonly found in mesic to dry prairies, on sites with a history of disturbance, in open thickets, along banks and draws in prairies.