DEFINITION OF TERMS:
- KEYSTONE means they are listed by National Wildlife Federation as core plants for a wildlife garden in my ecoregion (Ecoregion 8).
- NOT QUITE NATIVE means they are slightly out of range but adjacent to NYS as determined by GoBotany and NY Flora Atlas.
- Otherwise the plant is a NY-native or native to the area noted.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
I love switchgrass — it has such clean-looking foliage.
Switchgrass is a good source of seeds in the winter for birds such as juncos that like to eat on the ground.
Switchgrasses are beautiful in the fall, too.
Wildlife: Seeds for birds; cover and nesting material
Larval host: Delaware skipper, Dotted skipper
Deer resistance: High
- Learn more:
- Wildflower Center: Switchgrass
Originally, I was excited about the cultivars available, so I have some cultivars (below) in addition to the plain species. Now that I know their disadvantages, I no longer buy cultivars!
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little bluestem is very attractive in the summer, but it really shines in the fall with its beautiful colors.
Wildlife: Cover, nesting materials, seeds for birds, small mammals
Larval host: Dusted skipper, Indian skipper, Crossline skipper, Ottoe skipper
Deer resistance: High
** PROVIDES NESTING MATERIALS / STRUCTURE FOR NATIVE BEES **
- Learn more:
- Wildflower Center: Little bluestem
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
Prairie dropseed is a beautiful plant, especially nice for edging a border.
Some things you have to wait for. Soon these dried-up looking mounds will be gorgeous mounds of finely-textured grass. I don’t clip off the dried foliage because soon the new foliage will be emerging and that will be the last I see of it. It’s important to leave it since this is the kind of area bees might find appealing for nesting.
They’re beautiful, fine-textured clumping grasses.
Their flowers are interesting and have an intriguing scent that has been described as “buttered popcorn.”
** PROVIDES NESTING MATERIALS / STRUCTURE FOR NATIVE BEES **
- Learn more:
- Wildflower Center: Prairie dropseed