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Prairie Plants
Below is an extensive but not comprehensive list of prairie plants found in Saint John's Arboretum.
Plants in bold are NOT native to Minnesota prairie.
| Plant Common Name | Scientific Name | Family | Habitat |
| Water Plantain | Alisma triviale | Alismataceae | wet |
| Broad-leaved Arrowhead | Sagittaria latifolia | Alismataceae | wet |
| Rattlesnake Master | Eryngium yuccifolium | Apiaceae | mesic |
| Golden Alexanders | Zizia aurea | Apiaceae | Dispersed |
| Dogbane | Apocynum androsaemifolium | Apocynaceae | |
| Prairie Dogbane | Apocynum cannabinum | Apocynaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Clasping Dogbane | Apocynum sibiricum | Apocynaceae | mesic |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | Aquifoliaceae | mesic |
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | Asclepiadaceae | wet |
| Common Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | Asclepiadaceae | xeric |
| Butterfly Milkweed | Asclepias tuberosa | Asclepiadaceae | xeric |
| Whorled Milkweed | Asclepias verticillata | Asclepiadaceae | mesic |
| Common Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | Asteraceae | Dispersed |
| Prairie Dandelion | Agogeris cuspidata | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Ragweed | Ambrosia artemisiifolia | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Pussytoe | Antennaria neglecta | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Absinthe Wormwood | Artemisia absinthium | Asteraceae | |
| Pasture Sage | Artemisia frigida | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Prairie Sage | Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Heath Aster | Aster ericoides | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Smooth Aster | Aster laevis | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Lowrie's Aster | Aster lowrianus | Asteraceae | Dry |
| New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae | Asteraceae | wet |
| Aromatic Aster | Aster oblongifolius | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Azure Aster | Aster oolentangiensis | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Red Aster | Aster patens | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Arrow-leaved Aster | Aster sagittifolius | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Silky Aster | Aster sericeus | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Panicled Aster | Aster simplex | Asteraceae | Dry |
| Bur Marigold | Bidens sp. | Asteraceae | Wet |
| Spotted Knotweed | Centaurea maculosa | Asteraceae | Wet |
| Ox-eye Daisy | Chrysanthemum leucanthemum | Asteraceae | Dispersed |
| Canada Thistle | Cirsium arvense | Asteraceae | Dispersed |
| Pasture Thistle | Cirsium pumilum | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Bull Thistle | Cirsium vulgare | Asteraceae | mesic-dry |
| Stiff Tickseed | Coreopsis palmata | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Large Rough Hawksbeard | Crepis biennis | Asteraceae | |
| Narrow-Leaved Hawksbeard | Crepis tectorum | Asteraceae | Dispersed |
| Pale Purple Coneflower | Echinacea pallida | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Horseweed | Erigeron canadensis | Asteraceae | meisc |
| Daisy fleabane | Erigeron strigosus | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Joe-Pye Weed | Eupatorium maculatum | Asteraceae | wet |
| Common Boneset | Eupatorium perfoliatum | Asteraceae | wet |
| Gaillardia | Gaillardia aristata | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Blanket Flower | Gaillardia pulchella | Asteraceae | |
| Curlycup Gumweed | Grindelia squarrosa | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Sneezeweed | Helenium autumnale | Asteraceae | wet |
| Common Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Giant Sunflower | Helianthus giganteus | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Prairie Sunflower | Helianthus laetiflorus | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Maximillian Sunflower | Helianthus maximilliani | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Stiff Sunflower | Helianthus rigidus | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Jeruselem Artichoke | Helianthus tuberosus | Asteraceae | Dry |
| Common Ox-Eye | Heliopsis helianthoides | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Hairy Golden-Aster | Heterotheca villosa | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Orange Hawkweed | Hieracium aurantiacum | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Rough Blazing Star | Liatris aspera | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Meadow Blazing Star | Liatris ligulystilus | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Dotted Blazing Star | Liatris punctata | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Prairie Blazing Star | Liatris pycnostachya | Asteraceae | wet |
| Dense Blazing Star | Liatris spicata | Asteraceae | |
| Pineapple-Weed | Matricaria matricarioides | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Prairie Coneflower | Ratibida columnifera | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Gray-Headed Coneflower | Ratibida pinnata | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Brown Coneflower | Ratibida pulcherrima | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Green Headed Coneflower | Rudbeckia faciniatum | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Orange Coneflower | Rudbeckia fulgida | Asteraceae | |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Golden Glow | Rudbeckia laciniata | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Prairie Ragwort | Senecio plattensis | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Rosinweed | Silphium integrifolium | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Compass Plant | Silphium lachiniatum | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Tall Goldenrod | Solidago canadensis | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Giant Goldenrod | Solidago gigantea | Asteraceae | meisc |
| Grass-Leaved Goldenrod | Solidago graminifolia | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Thin Goldenrod | Solidago juncea | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Missouri Goldenrod | Solidago missouriensis | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Gray Goldenrod | Solidago nemoralis | Asteraceae | xeric-mesic |
| Sneezewort Aster | Solidago ptarmicoides | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Downy Goldenrod | Solidago puberula | Asteraceae | |
| Stiff Goldenrod | Solidago rigida | Asteraceae | xeric |
| Showy Goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | Asteraceae | mesic-wet |
| Common Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | Asteraceae | Dispersed |
| Goat's Beard | Tragopogon dubius | Asteraceae | meisc |
| Common Ironweed | Vernonia fasciculata | Asteraceae | mesic |
| Viper's Bugloss | Echium vulgare | Boraginaceae | xeric |
| Stickseed | Hackelia virginiana | Boraginaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Madwort | Alyssum alyssoides | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Hoary Alysum | Berteroa incana | Brassicaceae | Dispersed |
| Charlock | Brassica kaber | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Black Mustard | Brassica nigra | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Field Mustard | Brassica rapa | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Shephard's Purse | Capsella bursa-pastoris | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Dog Mustard | Ericastrum gallicum | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Dame's Rocket | Hesperis matronalis | Brassicaceae | mesic-wet |
| Poor-Man's Pepper | Lepidium virginicum | Brassicaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Yellow Cress | Rorippa islandica | Brassicaceae | Wet |
| Field Pennycress | Thlapsi arvense | Brassicaceae | xeric |
| Bedstraw Bellflower | Campanula aparinoides | Campanulaceae | |
| Creeping Harebell | Campanula rapunculoides | Campanulaceae | mesic-wet |
| Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | Campanulaceae | xeric |
| Great Blue Lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | Campanulaceae | mesic-wet |
| Trumpet Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens | Caprifoliaceae | mesic |
| Tartarian Honeysuckle | Lonicera tartarica | Caprifoliaceae | mesic |
| Wolfberry | Symphoricarpos occidentalis | Caprifoliaceae | mesic |
| Mouse Eared Chickweed | Cerastium vulgatum | Caryophyllaceae | mesic-wet |
| Deptford Pink | Dianthus armeria | Caryophyllaceae | mesic |
| Bouncing-Bet | Saponaria officinalis | Caryophyllaceae | xeric |
| White Cockle | Silene alba | Caryophyllaceae | mesic |
| Bladder Campion | Silene cucubalus | Caryophyllaceae | Dispersed |
| Lesser Stitchwort | Stellaria graminea | Caryophyllaceae | mesic-wet |
| Lamb's Quarters | Chenopodium album | Chenopodiaceae | xeric |
| Common St. John's Wort | Hypericum perforatum | Clusiaceae | mesic |
| Great St. John's Wort | Hypericum pyramidatum | Clusiaceae | wet |
| Hedge Bindweed | Calystegia sepium | Convolvulaceae | mesic |
| Low Bindweed | Calystegia spithameus | Convolvulaceae | xeric |
| Field Bindweed | Convulvulus arvensis | Convolvulaceae | mesic |
| Fox Sedge | Carex scoparia | Cyperaceae | wet |
| Stalk Grain Sedge | Carex stipata | Cyperaceae | wet |
| Tufted Sedge | Carex stricta | Cyperaceae | wet |
| Dark Green Bulrush | Scirpus atrovirens | Cyperaceae | wet |
| Wool Grass | Scirpus cyperinus | Cyperaceae | wet |
| Horsetail | Equisetum laevigatum | Equisetaceae | wet |
| Leadplant | Amorpha canescens | Fabaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Canada Milk Vetch | Astragalus canadensis | Fabaceae | mesic |
| Prairie Plum | Astragalus crassicarpus | Fabaceae | xeric |
| Crown Vetch | Coronilla varia | Fabaceae | mesic |
| White Prairie Clover | Dalea candidum | Fabaceae | xeric |
| Purple Prairie Clover | Dalea purpureum | Fabaceae | xeric |
| Silky Prairie Clover | Dalea villosa | Fabaceae | |
| Showy Tick Trefoil | Desmodium canadense | Fabaceae | mesic |
| Bush Clover | Lespedeza capitata | Fabaceae | mesic |
| Round-Headed Bushclover | Lespedeza hirta | Fabaceae | mesic |
| Bird's Foot Trefoil | Lotus corniculatus | Fabaceae | xeric |
| Wild Lupine | Lupinus perennis | Fabaceae | mesic-wet |
| Black Medick | Medicago lupulina | Fabaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | Fabaceae | mesic |
| White Sweet Clover | Melilotus alba | Fabaceae | Dispersed |
| Yellow Sweet Clover | Melilotus officinalis | Fabaceae | Dispersed |
| Rabbit's Foot Clover | Triflorum arvense | Fabaceae | Dispersed |
| Least Hop Clover | Trifolium dubium | Fabaceae | |
| Alsike Clover | Trifolium hybridum | Fabaceae | Dispersed |
| Red Clover (Purple) | Trifolium pratense | Fabaceae | mesic |
| White Dutch Clover | Trifolium repens | Fabaceae | xeric-mesic |
| American Vetch | Vicia americana | Fabaceae | mesic |
| Bottle Gentian | Gentiana andrewsii | Gentianaceae | mesic-wet |
| Bicknell's Cranesbill | Geranium bicknellii | Geraniaceae | xeric |
| Wild Geranium | Geranium maculatum | Geraniaceae | wet |
| Large Blue Flag | Iris versicolor | Iridaceae | wet |
| Blue Eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium | Iridaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Giant Hyssop | Agastache foeniculum | Lamiaceae | xeric-mesic |
| American Dragonhead | Dracocephalum parviflorum | Lamiaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Hemp Nettle | Galeopsis tetrahit | Lamiaceae | |
| American Bugleweed | Lycopus americanus | Lamiaceae | wet |
| Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | Lamiaceae | wet |
| Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | Lamiaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Spotted Bee Balm | Monarda punctata | Lamiaceae | xeric |
| Catnip | Nepeta cataria | Lamiaceae | xeric |
| Obedient Plant | Physostegia virginiana | Lamiaceae | mesic |
| Heal-all | Prunella vulgaris | Lamiaceae | mesic |
| Slender Mountain Mint | Pycnanthemum tenuifolium | Lamiaceae | mesic |
| Hairy Mountain Mint | Pycnanthemum virginianum | Lamiaceae | mesic |
| Marsh Skullcap | Scutellaria epilobiifolia | Lamiaceae | wet |
| Marsh Hedge Nettle | Stachys palustris | Lamiaceae | mesic |
| Wild Garlic | Allium canadense | Liliaceae | xeric |
| Prairie Onion | Allium stellatum | Liliaceae | xeric |
| Michigan Lily | Lilium michiganense | Liliaceae | mesic |
| Wild Lily-of-the-Valley | Maianthemum canadense | Liliaceae | mesic-wet |
| Soloman's Seal | Polygonatum biflorum | Liliaceae | wet-mesic |
| Starry False Soloman's Seal | Smilacina stellata | Liliaceae | wet-mesic |
| Wild Four O'Clock | Mirabilis nyctagnea | Nyctagenaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Yellow Water Lily | Nuphar variegatum | Nymphaceae | aquatic |
| Fragrant Water Lily | Nymphaea odorata | Nymphaceae | wet |
| Tooth-Leaved Primrose | Calylophus serrulatus | Onagraceae | xeric |
| Yellow Evening Primrose | Oenothera biennis | Onagraceae | xeric |
| Evening Primrose | Oenothera parviflora | Onagraceae | mesic |
| Gray-Green Wood Sorrel | Oxalis dillenii | Oxalidaceae | mesic |
| Yellow Wood-Sorrel | Oxalis stricta | Oxalidaceae | mesic-wet |
| English Plantain | Plantago lanceolata | Plantaginaceae | xeric |
| Common Plantain | Plantago major | Plantaginaceae | xeric |
| Ribwort | Plantago patagonica | Plantaginaceae | xeric |
| Tickle Grass | Agrostis hyemalis | Poaceae | |
| Foxtail | Alopecurus spp. | Poaceae | |
| Big Bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | Poaceae | mesic |
| Side Oats Gramma Grass | Bouteloua curtipendula | Poaceae | xeric |
| Blue Gramma | Bouteloua gracilis | Poaceae | xeric |
| Hairy Chess | Bromus commutatus | Poaceae | mesic |
| Smooth Brome | Bromus inermis | Poaceae | xeric |
| Wild Chess | Bromus kalmii | Poaceae | mesic |
| Canada Wild Rye | Elymus canadensis | Poaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Quack Crass | Elytrigia repens | Poaceae | mesic |
| Western Wheatgrass | Elytrigia smithii | Poaceae | xeric |
| Stinking Lovegrass | Eragrostis cilianensis | Poaceae | xeric |
| Meadow Fescue | Festuca elatior | Poaceae | |
| Foxtail Barley | Hordeum jubatum | Poaceae | mesic |
| June Grass | Koeleria pyramidata | Poaceae | xeric |
| English Rye Grass | Lolium perenne | Poaceae | |
| Deer-Tongue Grass | Panicum clandestinum | Poaceae | |
| Switch Grass | Panicum virgatum | Poaceae | mesic |
| Reed Canary Grass | Phalaris arundinacea | Poaceae | wet |
| Timothy Grass | Phleum pratense | Poaceae | mesic |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | Poa pratensis | Poaceae | Dispersed |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachrium scoparium | Poaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Green Foxtail | Setaria viridis | Poaceae | mesic |
| Indian Grass | Sorghastrum nutans | Poaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Prairie Cordgrass | Spartina pectinata | Poaceae | wet |
| Sand Dropseed | Sporobolas cryptandrus | Poaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Prairie Dropseed | Sporobolas heterolepis | Poaceae | mesic-wet |
| Porcupine Grass | Stipa spartea | Poaceae | mesic |
| Prairie Phlox | Phlox pilosa | Polemoniaceae | xeric |
| Pale Smartweed | Polygonum lapathifolium | Polygonaceae | Mesic-wet |
| Pennsylvania Smartweed | Polygonum pensylvanicum | Polygonaceae | wet |
| Sheep Sorrel | Rumex acetosella | Polygonaceae | wet |
| Curled Dock | Rumex crispus | Polygonaceae | wet |
| Western Dock | Rumex occidentalis | Polygonaceae | mesic |
| Canada Anemone | Anemone canadensis | Ranunculaceae | wet |
| Long-Fruited Thimbleweed | Anemone cylindrica | Ranunculaceae | xeric |
| Pasque Flower | Anemone patens | Ranunculaceae | xeric |
| Columbine | Aqualegia canadensis | Ranunculaceae | mesic |
| Prairie Larkspur | Delphinium virescens | Ranunculaceae | mesic |
| Macoun's Buttercup | Ranunculus macounii | Ranunculaceae | mesic |
| Tall Meadow Rue | Thalictrum dasycarpum | Ranunculaceae | mesic |
| New Jersey Tea | Ceanothus americanus | Rhamnaceae | xeric |
| Wild Strawberry | Fragaria virginiana | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Yellow (Rough) Avens | Geum alleppicum | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Prairie Smoke | Geum triflorum | Rosaceae | xeric |
| Silvery Cinquefoil | Potentilla argentea | Rosaceae | Dispersed |
| Prairie Cinquefoil | Potentilla arguta | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Rough Cinquefoil | Potentilla norvegica | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Rough Fruited Cinquefoil | Potentilla recta | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Common Cinquefoil | Potentilla simplex | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Prairie Rose | Rosa arkansana | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Pasture Rose | Rosa carolina | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Common Blackberry | Rubus alleghensis | Rosaceae | mesic |
| American Red Raspberry | Rubus strigosus | Rosaceae | mesic |
| Meadowsweet | Spiraea latifolia | Rosaceae | wet |
| Northern Bedstraw | Galium boreale | Rubiaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Sweet-scented Bedstraw | Galium triflorim | Rubiaceae | mesic |
| Long-Leaved Bluets | Hedyotis longifolium | Rubiaceae | mesic |
| Sandbar Willow | Salix exigua | Salicaeae | |
| Prairie Willow | Salix humhilis | Salicaeae | mesic |
| Alum Root | Heuchera richardsonii | Saxifragaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Turtlehead | Chelone glabra | Scrophulariaceae | mesic |
| Butter and Eggs (Toad-Flax) | Linaria vulgaris | Scrophulariaceae | xeric-mesic |
| Monkey Flower | Mimulus ringens | Scrophulariaceae | mesic |
| Foxglove Beardtounge | Penstemon digitalis | Scrophulariaceae | mesic |
| Slender Penstemon | Penstemon gracillis | Scrophulariaceae | xeric |
| Large-Flowered Beardtongue | Penstemon grandiflorous | Scrophulariaceae | xeric |
| Pale Beardtongue | Penstemon pallidus | Scrophulariaceae | xeric |
| Figwort | Scrophularia lanceolata | Scrophulariaceae | mesic-wet |
| Common Mullein | Verbascum thapsus | Scrophulariaceae | xeric |
| Culver's Root | Veronicastrum virginicum | Scrophulariaceae | mesic |
| Black Nightshade | Solanum nigrum | Solanaceae | mesic |
| Bur Reed | Spargania sp. | Sparganiaceae | wet |
| Common Cattail | Typha latifloia | Typhaceae | wet |
| Wild Carrot | Daucus carota | Umbelliferae | mesic |
| Slender Nettle | Urtica gracilis | Urticaceae | wet |
| Blue Vervain | Verbena hastata | Verbenaceae | xeric |
| Hoary Vervain | Verbena stricta | Verbenaceae | xeric |
| White Vervain | Verbena urticifolia | Verbenaceae | wet-mesic |
| Missouri Violet | Viola missouriensis | Violaceae | mesic-wet |
| Prairie Violet | Viola pedatifida | Violaceae | xeric |
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