The "Prairie Glacial Plains" is a 1,800-acre restoration area at Midewin
The Prairie Glacial Plains project is a 1,800-acre area on the west side of Midewin that was identified as the next area to be restored to a tallgrass prairie landscape. You can drive in on Explosives Road & park in the parking lot & walk in.
Against a backdrop of piles of gravel from WWII bunkers that once stood in the area you might see volunteers, staff and partners planting mountain mint, cinquefoil, black-eyed Susans & more. Across the 18,500 acres of the Midewin, we are working with over 275 species of native Illinois prairie plants. Ultimately, over 160 different species of native Illinois prairie plants will be planted in the Prairie Glacial Plains.
Plant species were chosen based on soils, topography, moisture regime and historic records. The Prairie Glacial Plains area was identified as a restoration site to connect existing restorations with one another and create a large, contiguous restoration area. The project began in 2016.
The large scale of this project makes splitting the area into phases a necessity. Around 400 acres were put into soybeans for two growing seasons to prepare the ground for planting into prairie. Initial planting took place in winter 2018-19. Plugs were installed in the summer of 2019. Over seeding is planned for this winter. Invasive species control will be ongoing for years to come.
Pollinator Plants from the "Prairie Glacial Plains" At Midewin
Considering plants for your 2020 pollinator garden? When thinking about pollinator plants – species that attract butterflies, bees, moths, caterpillars, birds and other pollinators –milkweed usually first comes to mind. There are so many more native Illinois pollinator plants available, and a variety of prairie pollinator plants in your garden will attract more species of pollinators.
Ecologists have judiciously strategized a recipe of some 160 plants for restoring the Prairie Glacial Plains. These are just some of the 275 different species of plants that are part of restoration projects at Midewin. In 2016, the Prairie Glacial Plains, an area on the west side of Midewin, was dedicated for seven years of accelerated restoration. Hearts and hands involved in this concentrated restoration focus are with the USDA Forest Service, The Wetlands Initiative, The Nature Conservancy & the National Forest Foundation.
Below is a list of some of the pollinator plants from the Prairie Glacial Plains restoration project. These plants will provide an array of heights to your prairie pollinator garden while dazzling with a variance of bloom times throughout the season.
The nectar & pollen of the tiny white flowers of common boneset is a favorite of bees, butterflies, beetles & insects of other varieties. It is also loved by moths, including the lined ruby tiger, blackberry looper moths & more.
Full or partial sun; wet or moist soil
2 - 4 feet
Late summer to early fall
Butterfly Weed
While the bright orange color of the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, including even the ruby-throated hummingbird and more, the nectar of the flowers attracts a variety of bees; as well as monarchs, swallowtails and other butterflies. Butterfly weed also attracts many different bugs, moths & butterfly larvae.
Full sun; dry or mesic; rocky or sandy and acidic soil
1-2 feet
Early- to mid-summer
Cardinal flower
With its striking red blooms, cardinal flower attracts a variety of pollinators.
Full sun to light shade; moist or wet soil
3-6 feet
July to October
Cinquefoil (prairie)
With its white-green colors, prairie cinquefoil attracts an array of pollinators. Its flower nectar and pollen attracts small bees, and the larvae of some small insects, including some grasshoppers find food on the leaves.
Full sun; dry or mesic conditions. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil conditions.
1-3 feet
Mid-summer for about one month
Compass plant
Craning well above other plants with its bright yellow colors, compass plant is a stand-out pollinator that shouts “prairie” to knowledgeable enthusiasts, even from a distance. The leaves of the compass plant grow vertically north to south, which is how they provided direction to plant-savvy settlers in the 1800s. Limit the number of compass plants in your garden to just one or two- it will help narrow the chances of this large plant overwhelming other plants while still giving your garden the look and feel of a prairie.
Full sun; moist to slightly dry and loamy, deep soil. Plant on flat ground to help avoid drooping.
12 feet
Mid-summer for about six weeks
Coreopsis (prairie)
The bright orange-yellow flowers of prairie coreopsis are some of the first to bloom.
Full sun; mesic to dry-mesic; clay-loam or loamy soil, sandy loam or gravely soil
2 feet
June through August
Culver’s root
Culver’s root is a member of the snapdragon family. Its flowers grow in an arrangement that resembles a decorative candelabra. Mason bees bumble bees, honey bees and other long- and short-tongued bees are attracted to its nectar; also butterflies, moths and a variety of insects
Full or part sun; moist or average; grows best in loamy and rich soil
5 feet
June to September,
Cylindrical blazing star
A member of the aster family, the purple colors of cylindrical blazing star flowers are as brilliant as its cousin the New England aster. The nectar is favored by butterflies, bees, as well as bee flies and skippers. The seeds and flowers attract the rare glorious flower moth caterpillars.
Full sun and dry conditions with poor soil
1-2 feet
July to September
Cylindrical blazing star
A member of the aster family, the purple colors of cylindrical blazing star flowers are as brilliant as its cousin the New England aster. The nectar is favored by butterflies, bees, as well as bee flies and skippers. The seeds and flowers attract the rare glorious flower moth caterpillars.
Full sun and dry conditions with poor soil
1-2 feet
July to September
Milkweed (prairie)
Of all the rosy or purplish/pink or brown blooms, only a few flowers are pollinated, which is how those recognizable large pods filled with silky, plumy seeds take shape. You can also tell milkweed by its white sap. While the flowers draw in a wide array of pollinators, only a few insects can eat milkweed leaves – including the larvae of the very popular monarch butterfly. Also known as Sullivant’s milkweed.
Full sun; mesic or moist; loamy, rich soil
2-3 feet
Early- to mid-summer
Milkweed (swamp)
One of the only milkweeds that grows well in wetland areas, swamp milkweed can attract a wide array of pollinators of all kinds to areas around ponds, marshes, streams & more.
Full sun; medium to wet soils
2-6 feet
Late summer for about one month
Milkweed (whorled)
Whorled milkweed is identifiable by its leaves, which are noticeably narrower than the leaves of other milkweeds.
Full sun; soil with good drainage
½-2 feet
June to September
Mountain mint (common)
Pretty, delicate, white blooms of mountain mint attracts a variety of pollinators.
Full sun; tolerates shade
3 feet
June into September
New England aster
The hearty bright purple blooms of the New England aster have stark, vibrant centers. The nectar is a favorite of bees, including bumble, miner and leaf-cutter bees & also bee flies. Butterfly & moth caterpillars, as well as lace and plant bugs, love to eat the leaves and stems.
Full or partial sun; rich, moist soil
4-6 feet
late summer to fall for about two months
Old-field goldenrod
A member of the aster family, the bright, cheerful blooms of old-field goldenrod add lively pops of yellow colors that attract a wide variety of bees, butterflies, beetles & more.
Full sun and dry-mesic to dry soil
3 feet
Mid- to late-summer for about 4-6 weeks
Pale purple coneflower
Widely known as echinacea, this member of the sturdy aster family provides soft pops of light pinks & purples that attract pollinators.
Full sun; average or dry soil; can droop with too much water
3½ feet
May to August
Partridge pea (common)
A variety of bees, insects, butterflies and other pollinators are attracted to the perky yellow blooms of partridge pea.
Full sun; average or dry soil; can droop with too much water
3½ feet
May to August
Purple prairie clover
A purple wreath of flowers attracts an array of pollinators, including insects, bees, butterflies & even hummingbirds.
Full shade; dry soil
¾-3 feet
Early to mid-summer; for about 4-6 weeks
Rough blazing star
The stunning purple hues f rough blazing star flowers are popular with bees, butterflies, skippers, caterpillars, bee flies and more.
Full sun; dry or mesic conditions
4 feet
Late summer to early fall for about 3 weeks
Savanna blazing star
Monarch butterflies, in particular, are attracted to the stunning purple blooms of savanna blazing star.
Full sun or partial sun; mesic or moist soil
2/5-5 feet
Late summer to mid-fall for about 6 weeks
Spiderwort (common)
The brilliant purple blooms of spiderwort attract a variety of pollinators, particularly several different species of bees.
Sun to partial shade; partially dry to moist soil (tolerates wet)
Up to 3 feet
Late spring to mid-summer for about 6 weeks
Sweet Black-eyed Susan
With its dark brown centers and robust yellow petals this member of the hearty aster family is an icon of the prairies when in bloom. The flowers attract a wide array of bugs, moths, butterflies, bees & other pollinators.
Full sun; medium clay soils
Up to 48 inches
July through September
Western sunflower
The crisp bright yellow flowers of western sunflowers draw interest from bees, beetles, some butterflies, grasshoppers & more.
Full sun; sandy soil; mesic to dry soil
2-4 feet
Mid-summer to early-fall for about one month
Wild senna
Yellow flowers attract bees & more. At the base of each leafstalk is a tiny, club-shaped gland that produces nectar. The nectar attracts ants, ladybird beetles and more. A variety of butterfly species and moth larvae feast on the foliage.
Sunny or partly shaded areas; soil with good drainage
Up to 6 feet
July to August
Yellow coneflower
Extend the season with yellow coneflower- it attracts a variety of pollinators with its hearty, bright yellow blooms from July all the way through October.
Grows best in loamy, clay and sandy soils; dry or medium moisture.
2-4 feet
July through October
If you are interested in learning more about these and other native Illinois prairie pollinator plants, the Midewin Interpretive Association provides an array of resources in the Midewin Welcome Center.
On Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m., the Midewin Interpretive Association, as well as Midewin staff and volunteers, will lead a community planting activity as part of Midewin’s annual “Spring into The Prairie” event, which is part of the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival. Information on native Illinois prairie pollinators will be presented before the planting activity. To register, call 815-423-6370 or e-mail SM.FS.Midewin_RSVP@usda.gov.
Plant List
Eventually, some 160 different species of native Illinois prairie plants will be planted in the Prairie Glacial Plains. This is a significant number, but yet these are just some of the 275 different species that volunteers and staff are working with in restoration projects at Midewin. These plants are part of the Prairie Glacial Plains restoration project:
