North Dakota Native Species and Where to Find Them

Hoping to use this information in the future, I wanted to make sure to find reliable resources for anyone in North Dakota trying to find which plants are native and successful in urban areas, and where to find them. The sources for this post are specific to North Dakota, but the process is applicable across the United States if you just do a little digging on the internet. 

Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses of North Dakota is a 35-page document by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department that is fully accessible to the public. Their Introduction explains the importance of diversity in North Dakota better than I could when stating that,

"Loss of diversity and distribution of prairie grass and forbs are of great concern, but it’s not just the plants that have suffered. Grasslands not only provide primary nesting habitat for a variety of bird species, but also are important staging and feeding areas for waterfowl and shorebirds during long migratory flights. In addition, prairies provide an important food source for small mammals and insects, which in turn support larger wildlife species. From a human standpoint, prairies can help to maintain clean air and water, control erosion, provide rich soil, are rich in history and folklore, and provide community income as a result of wildlife related recreation and tourism. All this combined makes it easy to see why prairies are now considered to be the most endangered ecosystems. Historically, North Dakota was predominantly mixed-grass prairie in the southwest and tallgrass in the northeast. As the total annual precipitation increases eastward across the state, conditions allowed for taller, more robust grasses. Today some of the best places to find prairie plants in North Dakota are federal grassland refuges, state-owned land, railway right-of-ways, ditches, old cemeteries, and pastures on private property throughout the Missouri Coteau in central and western parts of the state."

The purpose of the Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses guide is 

"... intended to provide beginners with an overview of North Dakota’s prairie wildflowers and grasses. It is by no means an exclusive list, but it outlines many of the common prairie species in the state. It is not a scientific key, but does include descriptive clues for identification and other interesting facts. The flowers have been arranged into three primary groups based on when they bloom. The grasses follow at the end. We hope the guide will help you identify prairie wildflower and grass species and foster an appreciation of why it is important to continue conservation and restoration efforts of prairies in North Dakota. Learning to identify prairie plants can be rewarding. This guide will get you started on more than 50 species." 

Here are some examples of the kinds of North Dakota wildflowers and native grasses found in the Fish and Game document.

Spring Blooming Wildflowers:

Western Wallflower

Smooth Fleabane

Wild Blue Fax

Summer Blooming Wildflowers:

Prairie Rose

Prairie Lily

Black Eyed Susan

Late-Summer Blooming Wildflowers:

Lavender Hyssop

Curlycup Gumweed

Dotted Blazing Star

Native Grass Species: 21

Little Bluestem

Switchgrass

Foxtail Barley

Where to Find Them and How to Start:

We live in a wonderfully accessible time where almost everything is available to use instantly through the power of the internet. Many of these seeds are widely available on wildflowers distributing sites. If you want to support local or small businesses, check around your community gardens and other local resources. For North Dakota residents, North Dakota State University published an article on Starting a Backyard Prairie. NDSU is encouraging backyard prairies in urban areas because "backyard prairies add a natural touch to landscapes. The plants put on a dynamic display of colors and textures as they emerge, bloom and fade. As a bonus, your prairie will attract all kinds of butterflies and birds to the backyard." The final tip for this post, follow the instructions on the back of the seed packet, as all plants have slightly different needs for successful growth. 

The next post is titled Sharing Environmental Leadership With Others and is a resource on how to start various types of conversations with others about living eco-conscious lifestyles.

Article Sources:

https://gf.nd.gov/sites/default/files/publications/prairie_wildflowers_grasses.pdf 

https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/yardandgardenreport/2014-09-01/starting-a-backyard-prairie

Image Sources:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/erysimum_capitatum.shtml

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/yellow-alpine-fleabane-erigeron-aureus-bob-gibbons.html

https://nativefoodsnursery.com/wild-blue-flax/

https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/north-dakota/state-flower/wild-prairie-rose

https://www.prairiepollination.ca/plante-plant/lis_rouge_orange-western_red_lily/

https://www.almanac.com/plant/black-eyed-susans

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/hyssop/growing-hyssop-plant.htm

https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/curlycup-gumweed-grindelia/

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/dotted-blazing-star

https://gardenforwildlife.com/products/little-bluestem-3-plant-set

https://www.americanmeadows.com/perennials/ornamental-grass/red-switch-grass-shenandoah

https://www.gardenia.net/plant/hordeum-jubatum-foxtail-barley