FIELD GUIDE
How to use this guide This guide contains plant lists and profiles for the species planted in the formal landscape beds within Switchyard Park, all of which are Indiana natives or cultivars of native species. Use the Plant Zone Map on the next page to locate where you are within the park, then look at the Plant Lists By Zone to see what is growing in that area. Or, use the Species Profiles to match the description and identify a certain plant you see in the park. The contents are not an exhaustive list of all possible plants in the landscape. Plants growing in the restored wetland area outside of formal landscaping beds are described in the last section.
Definitions Shrub: woody plant, smaller than a tree, having multiple main stems originating at or near the ground Forb: herbaceous, broadleaf, flowering plant Graminoid: herbaceous plant with blade-like, narrow leaves, including grasses, sedges, and rushes
Table of Contents Switchyard Park Plant Zone Map . . . . 2 Plant List by Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Shrubs Species Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Forbs Species Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Graminoids Species Profiles . . . . . . .21 Switchyard Park Restoration . . . . . . .24 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Questions about the native landscaping in Bloomington? Interested in volunteering? Please contact: Joanna Sparks Bloomington Urban Greenspace Manager sparkj@bloomington.in.gov 812-325-5918 Local resources: Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS) https://indiananativeplants.org/ Monroe County Identify and Reduce Invasive Species (MC-IRIS) https://www.mc-iris.org/
Guide compiled by Jolie Blevins and Joanna Sparks October 2023 Photos on cover, below, and page 5 by Gillian Field Information sourced from Missouri Botanical Garden
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PLANT ZONE MAP
North
Grimes Street Entrance and Parking Sports Courts Fitness Circuits Community Garden
West Rogers Street Entrance and Parking Stormwater Planters
East Walnut Street Entrance and Parking Stormwater Planters
Central Stage at Performance Lawn Pavilion and Shelters Splash Pad and Playground Skate Park
South Dog Parks South B-Line Corridor
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Plant List by ZONE North Shrubs American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis ‘Adams’) Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' Summer Wine) Common witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Cutleaf staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata’) Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii ‘Mount Airy’) Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’) Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire’) Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’) Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’) Winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Sparkleberry’& ‘Southern Gentleman’)
Forbs Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ & ‘October Skies’)
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’) Bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’) Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’) Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Coreopsis (Coreopsis x ‘Creme Brulee’) Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’) Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’) Giant hyssop (Agastache x ‘Blue Fortune’) Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’) Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Joe’) Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) Marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Narrowleaf mountain mint (Pycnathemum tenuifolium)
Nodding onion (Allium cernuum) Northern blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ’Magnus’ & 'Prairie Splendor") Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale ‘Salsa’ Mariachi) Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis ‘Mrs. Loewer’) Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Little Henry’) White false indigo (Baptisia alba) White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Graminoids Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’) Bristle-leaf sedge (Carex eburnea) Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) Frank’s sedge (Carex frankii) Little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium ‘Carousel’) 3
Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolia) Oak sedge (Carex albicans) Palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis) Poverty grass (Danthonis spicata) Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘North Wind’) Torrey’s rush (Juncus torreyi) Yellow fox sedge (Carex annectens var. zanth)
WEST Shrubs Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’) Inkberry (Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’)
Forbs Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’) Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Northern blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Graminoids Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blond Ambition’) Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) Frank’s sedge (Carex frankii) Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Torrey’s rush (Juncus torreyi) Yellow fox sedge (Carex annectens var. zanth)
EAST Shrubs Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Dwarf buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCOSS’ Sugar Shack)
Forbs Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’) Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) Marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Northern blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Graminoids Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition') Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) Frank’s sedge (Carex frankii) Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Torrey’s rush (Juncus torreyi) Yellow fox sedge (Carex annectens var. zanth)
Central Shrubs Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) Dwarf buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCOSS’ Sugar Shack) Dwarf winged sumac (Rhus copallina var latifolia ‘Morton’ Prairie Flame) 4
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’) Inkberry (Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ ) Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire’) Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’) Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’) Winterberry (Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’ & 'Sparkleberry')
Forbs Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) Bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’) Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Coreopsis (Coreopsis x ‘Creme Brulee’) Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’) False Indigo (Baptisia australis) Giant hyssop (Agastache x ‘Blue Fortune’) Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Joe’) Marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Nodding onion (Allium cernuum) Northern blue flag iris (Iris versicolor)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis ‘Mrs. Loewer’) Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Little Henry’) White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Graminoids Bristle-leaf sedge (Carex eburnea) Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) Frank’s sedge (Carex frankii) Little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium ‘Carousel’) Oak sedge (Carex albicans) Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘North Wind’) Torrey’s rush (Juncus torreyi) Yellow fox sedge (Carex annectens var. zanth)
South Shrubs Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum 'Synnestvedt' Chicago Lustre) Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’)
Forbs False sunflower (Helianthus helianthoides var. scabra ‘Venus’) Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) Riddle’s goldenrod (Solidago riddellii) Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laevis ‘Bluebird’) White blazing star (Liatris spicata var. alba ‘Floristan White’)
Graminoids Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’)
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SHRUBS Species Profiles
Shrub species are organized by height from shortest to tallest first and alphabetically by scientific name second
Photos from Missouri Botanical Garden unless labeled G=Gardenia.net; AM=American Meadows; C=Chicago Botanic Gardens
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’) Height (ft): 2 - 3 Scale-like silver to green-grey foliage growing broad and compact, close to the ground Typically much wider growing than tall Berry-like cones
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Height (ft): 3 - 4 Leaves are toothed, broad-ovate and medium to dark green Young twigs are noticeably yellow Flowers in cylindrical clusters 1-2 inches long, white and fragrant
Redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire’) Height (ft): 3 - 4 Bright red stems persist through winter Leaves are smooth-edged ending in a pointed tip Flowers are white and occur in flat-topped clusters
G
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Inkberry (Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’) Height (ft): 3 - 4 Leaves are thick, spineless, smooth, olive in color Greenish white flowers in spring give way to black berries
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’) Height (ft): 3 - 4 Leaves turn from dark green to red-orange and last into the winter Flowers are white and form a cylindrical raceme
Dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii ‘Mount Airy’) Height (ft): 3 - 5 Leaves are leathery, ovate, and dark green with a bluish hue and develop a rich orange fall color Flowers are bottle-brush-like and white, blooms profusely
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Height (ft): 3 - 6 Leaves are glossy, elliptical to ovate and dark green, 2-3 in with finely toothed margins, turning purple and red in the fall Flowers are white and grow in clusters of 5-6
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Common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Seward’ SUMMER WINE) Height (ft): 4 - 6 Leaves are wine-red and grow compactly Exfoliating bark on mature strips which peels to reveal reddish brown inner bark Small pink and white flowers form dense cluster
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’) Height (ft): 4 - 8 Leaves are serrate, obovate to oblong, glossy and dark green Flowers are white to pink, giving way to dark brown seed capsules AM
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) Height (ft): 5 - 8 Opposite, elliptical to ovate shaped leaves with sawtooth margins Stems are slender, gray to reddish brown and foursided
Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum 'Synnestvedt' CHICAGO LUSTRE) Height (ft): 6 - 8 Leaves are coarsely toothed and dark green during the growing season, turning yellow or wine-red in the fall White flat-topped flowers, dark blue berries C
C
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Winterberry ‘Southern gentleman’ (Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’) Height (ft): 6 - 8 Leaves are serrated and veins are impressed and finely hairy underneath Stem is a copper-brown Golden-white flowers are male, producing no fruit AM
Winterberry ‘sparkleberry’ (Ilex verticillata ‘Sparkleberry’) Height (ft): 6 - 10 Leaves are lustrous, dark green, turning yellow in the fall Flowers are inconspicuous, occurring in leaf axils and give way to glossy red berries
American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis ‘Adams’) Height (ft): 5 - 12 Leaves are compound with 5-7 toothed leaflets Flowers are tiny, growing in umbrella-shaped clusters giving way to dark purple berry clusters
G
G
Dwarf buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCOSS’ SUGAR SHACK) Height (ft): 6 - 12 Leaves are ovate to elliptical glossy bright green Flowers appear in dense, spherical, long-stalked flower heads
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Northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Height (ft): 6 - 12 Glossy simple leaves, dark green, obovate, tapering more gradually to the base than to the tip Tiny pale yellow flowers bloom prior to leaf-out and develop glossy red fruit
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) Height (ft): 8 - 12 Leaves in palmate arrangement with 5-7 leaflets, red and dark green giving way to yellow in the fall Flowers in erect showy cylindrical panicles up to 1 ft long with red anthers and pink filaments
Dwarf winged sumac (Rhus copallina var. latifolia ‘Morton’ PRAIRIE FLAME) Height (ft): 10 - 20 Leaves are compound with distinct wing between leaflets, shiny and develop vibrant colors in fall Flowers form in dense panicles and become brown drupe fruits
Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) Height (ft): 12 - 15 Leaves are ovate, finely-toothed, glossy dark green becoming red and purple in the fall White flowers in flat-topped cymes develop into blue-black drupes
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Common witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Height (ft): 15 - 20 Leaves are oval to obovate, dark with wavy margins, turning yellow in fall Flowers are yellow-orange occuring in spindly strands
Cutleaf staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata’) Height (ft): 10 - 25 Leaves are deeply dissected Flower clusters appear in cones and develop into fuzzy, cranberry-like fruit Acts more like a shrub, although height is that of a tree
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FORBS
Species Profiles
Flowers are organized first by bloom color, then by bloom time Bloom time (months)
Bloom color
JFMAMJJASOND Photos from Missouri Botanical Garden unless labeled PM - Prairie Moon Nursery, IP - IndyPlants, NC - North Creek Nursery
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Height (in): 12 - 30 Features clusters of bright orange flowers atop upright to reclining hairy stems with narrow lance-shaped leaves, seed pods are spindle-shaped and release silky seeds
Bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’)
J J A S
J A
Height (in): 36 - 48 Grows in clumps of upright stems, bold red flowers arranged in dense globular terminal heads, bracts arranged in a whorl around the stem
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Height (in): 24 - 48 Featuring erect terminal spikes or racemes of bold red lip-like lobed flowers on unbranched alternate-leafed stalks with finely-toothed lance-shaped dark green leaves
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale ‘Salsa’ MARIACHI) Height (in): 36 - 60 Daisy-like flowers are bold red around a brown cone, grow densely, rigid winged stems which branch near the top, with alternate lance-shaped dark green leaves
J A S
J A S
IP 12
Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) Height (in): 12 - 24 Solitary yellow flowers with toothed rays and a flat center disk, with slender erect stems, and narrow hairy lance-shaped leaves in basal tufts and pinnately lobed on the stem
Black-Eyed Susan ‘Goldsturm’ (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’) Height (in): 24 - 36 Upright, clump-forming coneflower featuring daisy-like flowers with brown center disks, oblong to lanceolate dark green foliage
M J J
J J A S
IP
Black-Eyed Susan ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’ (Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’) Height (in): 10 - 15 Compact coneflower featuring daisy-like flowers with dark center disks, oblong to lanceolate medium green foliage
False sunflower (Helianthus helianthoides var. scabra ‘Venus’) Height (in): 24 - 36 Upright sunflower-like plant featuring orange-tinged rays, with hairy and rough textured leaves and thicker stems, upper leaves are entire with toothed basal leaves
Coreopsis (Coreopsis x ‘Creme Brulee’) Height (in): 12 - 20 Densely growing with butter-yellow flowers with toothed rays and darker yellow center disks, lacy deep green leaves
J J A S
J J A S
J J A S O
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Sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Little Henry’) Height (in): 36 - 60 Stiff upright stems, with yellow flowers having rolled quilled rays and a dome-shaped brown center disk, dark gray-green leaves in basal clumps, some lobed and some unlobed
Golden fleece goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’) Height (in): 15 - 18 Compact plant featuring small rounded leaves and sprays of tiny golden flowers in dense plume-like panicles, stiff multibranched stems, with rosettes of toothed heart-shaped foliage
riddle’s goldenrod (Solidago riddellii)
J A S O
A S O
S O
Height (in): 24 - 36 Tiny bright yellow flowers arranged in dense flat-topped inflorescences atop stiff stems, with narrow lance-shaped linear leaves
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
A M
Height (in): 12 - 36 Unbranched arching stems, with parallel-veined smooth leaves, with small bell-shaped flowers in light green that dangle from the leaf axils underneath the stem
Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
X
Height (in): 12 - 24 A fern (not a flowering plant), with robust leathery green fronds that retain their green year-round, once-divided fronds with pointed divisions, course textured, rust-colored spores underneath the leaves 14
Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
A M
Height (in): 24 - 36 Erect clump-forming plant with powdery blue star-like flowers in terminal clusters, with feathery needle-like alternate bright green leaves
Northern blue flag iris (Iris versicolor)
M J
Height (in): 24 - 30 Clump-forming plant, stalks with 3-5 bluish-purple flowers with bold veining and a central yellow blotch surrounded by white, with narrow arching sword-shaped leaves
False indigo (Baptisia australis) Height (in): 36 - 48 Upright stems hosting flower spikes covered with lupine-like purple flowers, with trifoliate clover-like leaves with a bluish tint
giant hyssop (Agastache x ‘Blue Fortune’) *hybrid non-native Height (in): 18 - 24 Dense terminal spikes of tiny 2-lipped tubular flowers, tall stiff square stems with opposite pairs of serrate gray-green leaves
Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) Height (in): 24 - 48 Densely packed blue-purple flowers in pencil-like terminal panicles, blooming a few at a time from bottom to top, with ovate coarsely-toothed stalkless gray-green hairy leaves
M J J
J J A S
J J A S
PM 15
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohioensis ‘Mrs. Loewer’) Height (in): 24 - 36 Soft pale-blue flower clusters, with arching slender leaves that resemble grass
J J A
PM
Aromatic aster ‘October Skies’ (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’)
S O
Height (in): 18 - 24 Small daisy-like flowers with blue-purple rays and yellow center disks, grows more compactly than the main species, rigid toothless oblong blue-green leaves on stiff hairy stems
Aromatic aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’)
S O
Height (in): 24 - 36 Mounded appearance, larger flowers and lighter purple color than October Skies NC
Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laevis ‘Bluebird’)
S O
Height (in): 30 - 36 Robust upright plant with arching stems, loose panicle-like clusters of small blue-violet rays and yellow centers, smooth green foliage NC
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
A M
Height (in): 30 - 36 Forms a bush-like mound of foliage, featuring pink to lilac upright-facing 5-petaled flowers, deeply cut palmately lobed dark green leaves 16
Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Height (in): 24 - 36 Large pale pink daisy-like flowers with thin drooping petals and knob-like orange center cones, with very narrow parallel-veined leaves
M J J
PM
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) Height (in): 24 - 36 Tiny bright violet flowers in dense cone-like heads atop erect wiry stems, with compound pinnate leaves and narrow leaflets
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Height (in): 24 - 60 Hairy stiff-stemmed plant with showy purple coneflowers and an orange center cone, coarse ovate dark green leaves
Purple coneflower ‘Magnus’ (Echinacea purpurea ’Magnus’) Height (in): 36 - 48 Stems are sturdier, pink color is lighter, flower head is wider and less drooping than core species
Purple coneflower ‘Prairie Splendor’ (Echinacea purpurea ’Prairie Splendor’) Height (in): 12 - 24 Stems are shorter, petals are flatter but still downturned, color is more rose than core species
J J A
J J A
J J A
J J A
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Marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Height (in): 36 - 48 Erect plant with small pink flowers forming tight clusters, each with five petals reflexed, narrow lance-shaped taper-pointed leaves
Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’)
J J A
J A
Height (in): 18 - 30 Upright with terminal spikes of rounded fluffy deep purple flowers, rigid leafy flower stalks, basal tufts of grass-like medium green leaves decreasing in size towards the top
Nodding onion (Allium cernuum) Height (in): 12 - 18 Clumps of narrow grass-like leaves, tiny bell-shaped pink to white flowers in loose drooping clusters, flower nodes curve sharply downward just below the flower heads
Joe pye weed (Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Joe’) Height (in): 36 - 48 Compact clump-growing plant with stiff upright purple-spotted stems, coarsely-toothed three-veined long leaves arranged in whorls, small pink disk flowers in dome-shaped clusters
Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’) Height (in): 24 - 48 Upright stiff stems, tubular five-petaled florets densely packed in tiered terminal clusters, with strongly veined opposite pointed elliptic leaves
J J A
J A S
J A S O
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White false indigo (Baptisia alba) Height (in): 24 - 48 Upright plant featuring small white pea-like flowers in erect racemes, clover-like trifoliate bluish green foliage
A M J
PM
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’) Height (in): 24 - 36 White two-lipped tubular flowers in panicles atop rigid stems, elliptic basal leaves and lance-shaped stem leaves that emerge with a deep maroon color
Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Height (in): 46 - 60 Smooth stems featuring branched clusters of flower heads, flowers are tiny and greenish white, packed into globe-shaped heads, with basal rosettes of bristly leaves
Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) Height (in): 48 - 72 Hairy stems with flat-topped clusters of small fluffy white flowers, with wrinkled lance-shaped leaves that wrap around the stem
Narrowleaf mountain mint (Pycnathemum tenuifolium) Height (in): 24 - 36 Erect and many-branched, extremely narrow needle-like leaves, featuring dense terminal clusters of small white flowers
A M J
J J A
J A S
J A S
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White blazing star (Liatris spicata var. alba ‘Floristan White’) Height (in): 36 - 48 Spikes of rounded fluffy white flower heads atop rigid leafy flower stalks, basal tuft of narrow grass-like leaves decreasing in size towards the top
White turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Height (in): 24 - 36 Stiffly erect clump-forming plant, hooded two-lipped white flowers with tinges of pink arranged in tight racemes, coarselytoothed lance-shaped dark green leaves
J A S
A S O
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GRAMINOIDS Species Profiles
Photos from Minnesota Wildflowers
Organized alphabetically by scientific name
Blue Gramma Grass (Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’) Height (in): 8 - 28 Fruiting: July - September 1-3 branches per stem, densely clumping with curly leaves 1-6 in long, mostly basal leaves
Oak Sedge (Carex albicans) Height (in): 12 - 16 Flowering: May Narrow grass-like bright green leaf blades, grows in dense tufts, often tinged with purple and whitemargined
Yellow fox sedge (Carex annectens var. xanth) Height (in): 18 - 40 Fruiting: June - August Bases are wrapped in a brown sheath, cluster 1.5 to 4 inches long at the top of stem
Bristle-leaf sedge (Carex eburnea) Height (in): 3 - 12 Fruiting: May - July Flowering spikes are whitish, essentially stalkless, having a scale-like bract with a tubular sheath, fruit forms in a cluster
Frank’s Sedge (Carex frankii) Height (in): 12 - 24 Flowering: May - September Blooms are green until they dry, then they turn brown, think thimble-shaped seed heads 21
Palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis) Height (in): 12 - 40 Flowering: May - September Alternate leaves spiraling the stem in a cycle of 3, leaves are hairless and flat, up to 10 in long, bright green and rough along the edges
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) Height (in): 4 - 18 Flowering: May - July Base of the leaves are wrapped in a red sheath that splits and has thread-like fibers along the edges, stems are slender, mostly smooth, three-sided
fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) Height (in): 12 - 36 Fruiting: June - July Bases wrapped in a brown sheath, spikes, cluster 2 - 4 in long at the top of the stem, leaves are hairless and V shaped when young
northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolia) Height (in): 24 - 60 Flowering: August - Sept Clump forming, upright grass with flat, dropping seed heads, hanging in terminal cluster on thread-like stem structure
poverty grass (Danthonis spicata) Height (in): 8 - 30 Fruiting: July - August Loose, erect branching clusters up to 2 inches long, sheaths have tufts of long white hair, clump-forming with curly basal leaves 22
Torrey’s rush (Juncus torreyi) Height (in): 12 - 40 Fruiting: July - October Up to 23 flowering heads in a tight cluster at the top of stem, 0.5 in in diameter, red to green colored flowers, stems are round, smooth, erect, and unbranched
Switchgrass ‘North wind’ (Panicum virgatum ‘North Wind’) Height (in): 36 - 72 Flowering: July - February Airy pyramidal flower cluster at the top of stems, 8 - 16 in long, clump-forming floppy leaves with a long open cluster of hairless spikes
Switchgrass ‘Shenandoah’ (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’) Height (in): 36 - 48 Flowering: July - February Fine-textured reddish-pink flowers, clump-forming, stiff columnar form retaining height and shape even when tall
Little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium ‘Carousel’) Height (in): 12 - 36 Fruiting: August - September During the growing season, the grass is multicolored with blues, purples, greens, and during the winter the grass is tan and pink, clump-forming
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Height (in): 12 - 36 Fruiting: August - October Seed head is elliptical to pyramidal in outline, clumpforming, low mounds of fine, dense, hair-like leaves
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Switchyard Park Wetland Restoration Formerly known as the McDoel Switchyard, this 65 acre property functioned as an active railroad operation until 2004. The abandoned Brownfield quickly became infested with invasive plants. As part of the Switchyard Park construction and remediation process, starting in 2017, extensive ecological restoration work was implemented by Eco Logic, LLC. This work included 20 acres of aggressive invasive management, creation of a 1 acre emergent wetland along the newly 'daylighted' West Branch of Clear Creek, extensive native tree and shrub plantings to expand the existing woodland edges, as well as native prairie plantings within the developed areas of the park. The developed areas of the property also include almost 3 acres of native landscaping, consisting of rain gardens and bioswales, as well as formal landscape beds. Park visitors can view the extensive native plantings on an easy walking tour of the property using paved trails. 2021
Notable Wetland Plant Species at SYP American sweet flag bristly cattail sedge brown fox sedge cocklebur common bur reed common hop sedge common ironweed common lake sedge common rush common three-seeded mercury common water horehound crested oval sedge cup plant dark-green bulrush fog fruit fowl manna grass lopseed panicled aster red-rooted spike rush rice cut grass riverbank tussock sedge southern blue flag iris spotted jewelweed Sullivant’s orange coneflower swamp milkweed three-square bulrush Torrey's rush wild mint
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Index Aesculus parviflora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Agastache x Blue Fortune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Allium cernuum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Amsonia hubrichtii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Aronia melanocarpa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Asclepias incarnata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 tuberosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Baptisia alba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 australis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Bouteloua gracilis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Callicarpa americana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Carex albicans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 annectens var. xanth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 eburnea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 frankii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 muskingumensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 pensylvanica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 vulpinoidea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Ceanothus americanus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cephalanthus occidentalis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Chasmanthium latifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Chelone glabra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Clethra alnifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Coreopsis lanceolata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 x Creme Brulee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cornus sericea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Dalea purpurea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Danthonis spicata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Echinacea pallida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 purpurea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Eryngium yuccifolium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Eupatorium perfoliatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Eutrochium dubium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fothergilla gardenii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Geranium maculatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Hamamelis virginiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Helenium autumnale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Helianthus helianthoides var. scabra . . . . . .13 Ilex glabra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 verticillata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Iris versicolor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Itea virginica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Juncus torreyi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Juniperus virginiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Liatris spicata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 spicata var. alba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Lindera benzoin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Lobelia cardinalis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Monarda didyma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Panicum virgatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Penstemon digitalis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Phlox paniculata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Physocarpus opulifolius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Polygonatum biflorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Polystichum acrostichoides . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Pycnathemum tenuifolium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Rhus copallina var. latifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 typhina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Rudbeckia fulgida var. speciosa . . . . . . . . . .13 fulgida var. sullivantii . . . . . . . . . .13 subtomentosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Sambucus canadensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Schizachryium scoparium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Solidago riddellii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 sphacelata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Sporobolus heterolepis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Symphyotrichum laevis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 oblongifolium . . . . . . . . . . 16 Tradescantia ohioensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Verbena stricta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Viburnum dentatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 prunifolium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 25