Here is a list of some of the best native plants for water infiltration, pollinators and aesthetics:

Shrubs and Trees:

1. Serviceberry (Amelanchier arboria)

2. Alleghany serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)

3. American plum (Prunus americana)

4. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

5. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

6. New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)

7. Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes species)

8. Elderberry (Sambusus canadensis)

9. Viburnum species (Arrow-wood, Downy arrow-wood, Nannyberry, Maple-leaved viburnum)

10. Wild rose (Rosa blanda, Rosa carolina)

11. Oaks (Quercus species - native oaks support over 500 different species of native moths and butterflies)

Forbs (Flowers)

1. Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

2. Milkweed (Swamp - Asclepias incarnata, Poke - Asclepias exaltata, Common - Asclepias syricaa, Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa, Whorled - Asclepias vertcillata)

3. New England aster (Aster novae-angliae)

4. Lance-leaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

5. Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)

6. Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

7. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

8. Obedient plant (Physotegia virginiana)

9. Yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

10. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

11. Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)

12. Sky-blue aster (Symphyotrychum oolantangiense)

13. Large Beardtounge (Penstemon grandiflorus)

14. Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)

15. Shooting star (Dodecatheon pulchellum)

16. Zig Zag goldenrod (Solidago Flexicaulis)

17. Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

18. Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya)

19. St. John’s wort (Hypericum Perfoliatum)

20. Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)

21. White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

22. Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

GRASSES

1. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

2. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

3. Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

4. Switch grass (Panicum virgatum)

5. Side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

6. Eastern wild rye (Elymus virginicus)

Shallow-rooted turf grass doesn’t provide nearly the flood reduction and filtration benefits. Its tiny root system just can’t do what deep-rooted native plants do!

Additional Literature

• Shoreline Plants & Landscaping

Go Native!

Congratulations, you’re ready to go native! Below are some resources to get you planning and sourcing plants, converting turf to prairie and providing critical benefits to pollinators. Planting natives is an easy way to be a part of the solution. Here are the quick links to the information on this page:

1. Planning Your Plantings

2. OUR Top Ten Native Plant Lists

3. Local Sources for Native Plants

4. Problems with Too Much Turf

5. Benefits to Water Quality

6. Benefits to Pollinators

Wisconsin DNR - Natives for Beginners

UW-Wisconsin - Native and Naturalized

Johnson’s Nursery - Native Plant Guide

Prairie Nursery - Getting Started with Native Plants

Wisconsin has been a leader in native plant nurseries for decades. When possible, buy your plants from a nursery that propagates its own native stock. Some nurseries will ship plants. Check their websites.

Agrecol LLC: 10101 N. Casey Road, Evansville, WI, 53536 (608) 223-3571

Backyard Blooms Nursery: 1300 88th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144

Bombus: N2348 Walnut St, Juda, WI 53550 (608) 934-5258

Breezy Hill Nursery: 7530 288th Avenue, Salem, WI 53168 (262) 537-2111

Heritage Flower Farm: 33725 Co Rd L, Mukwonago, WI 53149
262-662-0804

Johnson's Nursery: W180N6275 Marcy Rd, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(262) 252-4988

Possibility Place: 7548 W. Monee Road, Monee, Illinois 60449
Click HERE to download their free catalog. It is an excellent resource!

Prairie Future Seed Company: Order through their website.

Taylor Creek Restoration Nursery: 17921 W. Smith Road, Brodhead, WI,

53520 (608) 897-8041

Wild Ones: Offers plant sales, find your local chapter here.

With approximately 90% of our wetlands and prairie gone or altered, its no wonder that we have increased flooding events and water quality issues. We are re-discovering the essential role that native plants play to healthy, vibrant watersheds. Storm water run-off (also referred to as sheet flow) transports soil, lawn clippings, leaves, herbicides, pesticides, deicing chemicals, and pet waste to our creeks, streams, rivers and lakes with far reaching and sometimes life-long consequences. This happens, in part, because of conventional landscaping practices – mainly turf grass and nonnative plants. Impervious surfaces such as roads, driveways, sidewalks and rooftops, which dominate urban areas and prevent subsurface infiltration, make matters worse. Cutting grass on a regular basis is far more costly and time intensive, and adds significant phosphorus to our rivers and lakes.

CONVERTING RESIDENTIAL TURF AREAS

One of the best turf conversion projects is where drainage issues persist on your property. Rain gardens make excellent improvements to your landscape’s functionality and aesthetics. Not only do they absorb significantly more water than turf grass, they can be planted so that there is always something blooming and that adds to your home’s sense of place. The pollinators will thank you too!

Landscape Management - Step-by-Step Conversion to Native Plants

Wild Ones - Guide to Rain Gardens

Yale University - In Midwest, Bringing Back Native Prairies Yard by Yard

Contact kristine@rootpikewin.org to discuss native plantings around your home.

CONVERTING COMMERCIAL TURF AREAS

Root-Pike WIN recently did a study on the conversion of turf to prairie for a local commercial property. The company was interested in lower operating costs and committed more to a cleaner environment. The projected savings over six years for 5.5 acres was more than 75%. In another study by the University of Northern Illinois, the first cost savings on a project in Grayslake was 42% lower to install and 29% cheaper to maintain over 10 years. So, aside from the ecological and environmental benefits, there are economic benefits for governments, businesses, churches, and schools, as well.

ConservationTools.org - From Lawn to Meadow

Environmental Protection Agency - Landscaping with Native Plants

Recreation Management - Go Native (Cost Comparison)

Contact dave@rootpikewin.org to discuss commercial turf conversion questions.

GET CONNECTED

Here is how it works. Native plants are connectors between earth and sky. When it rains, storm water runoff infiltrates underground along their extensive root systems instead of flowing directly into the storm water sewer systems or into the nearest body of water. That’s the way it is supposed to work! Eventually, water then bubbles up to the surface as a seep until it connects with a stream, a pond or a river. Conventional landscaping just does not have the root systems to accomplish that. And, of course, rainwater and snow melt simply flow straight away to the storm sewers over impervious surfaces, unchecked and unfiltered. Volume and velocity are not diminished, which compounds the flooding and water quality issues. Native plants solve this problem by providing deeper pathways for water to move down into the water table.

Isthmus Magazine - Its the End of the Lawn (As We Know It)

Good Neighbor Iowa - Turf-to-Prairie

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Micro-Prairies

THE BOTTOM LINE

Native plants are fantastic at preventing erosion. When soil is washed into the Root or Pike river for example, it does a several things that degrade water quality. First, there is turbidity or “murkiness.” Sunlight just doesn’t penetrate as it should, impacting both plants and animals. Then, there’s sedimentation. This decreases the amount of water flowing in the river and negatively impacts the ecology of the river bottom and the aquatic animals that live there. Increased phosphorous and nitrogen cause algal blooms with potential fish die-off. Native plant root systems hold onto the soil for dear life. That is why a diverse native plant community goes hand in hand with water quality. And, there are native plants species for every soil type the Root-Pike basin has to offer. Yes – even heavy clay soil!

UW-Extension - Shoreline Plants and Landscaping

Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine - Building a Rain Garden

Bob Vila - Xeriscaping and Water-friendly Landscaping

BEE Proactive

Okay – so the roots are great. But, what about the above ground parts of native plants? Wisconsin’s native plant and animal species evolved alongside one another. They are both hard wired, in a sense, to work together. Pollinator species recognize the native plants they need to survive and thrive. Native plant species rely on native pollinators (like the Rusty patched bumblebee) for their continued existence as well. It is an age-old relationship. In fact, all manner of insects rely on high-quality native habitats. And that means the species that depend on insects for their existence can also thrive.

Wild Ones - Guide to Pollinator Plants

Xerces Society - Picking Plants for Pollinators

UW-Wisconsin - Building Pollinator Gardens

Native habitats are the underpinning of healthy watersheds. Healthy watersheds are places where people want to live, work and play. They are also resilient places that support a grand diversity of life. Native plants are a WIN-WIN!  

Contact kristine@rootpikewin.org today to discuss your next native step!