Planting a Traditional Prairie with Perennial Flowers and Grasses

The prairie is native to the Midwestern regions of North America and may be seen as the American version of the European meadow. The plants of the prairie have evolved to cope with a variety of conditions, ranging from freezing winters to baking rainless summers. Prairie plants have also learned to cope with the devastation of excessive buffalo grazing and wild fires. As such the plants of the prairie represent a significantly hardy group for the gardener from a number of perspectives.

Were and How to Plant a Traditional Prairie and Subsequent Maintenance

Prairie plants will cope with a wide range of soils and conditions; prairie planting is especially suited to dry and drought prone areas of the garden. Ideally a site should be chosen which receives the benefit of full sun for at least a good portion of the day. Although the plants of the prairie are at home in almost any size garden, the best effect is achieved by planting a larger area. In order to cope with drought conditions, prairie plants like to spread their roots wide and deep.

Planting a prairie makes use of a variety of plants which are mostly perennial in their nature and consist of both herbaceous flowing forms and grasses. In order to plant a prairie effect, the gardener should select a range of plants and aim to plant in a random fashion, planting in small groups rather then en masse.

The easiest way to establish a prairie effect is through the buying of container grown specimens, rather than by seed. If plants are brought early enough in the year, this is still often a cost effective option. During the first season it is recommended that flowers are removed from specimens; whilst this may be a disappointment in the first year, the extra growth in the roots will yield dividends in the second season.

Prairie planting has a number of advantages. Firstly the prairie has an extremely long season of interest. A plantation will bring a pallet of fiery oranges and yellows right the way into late autumn. Secondly, once established the prairie also requires relatively little maintenance, with no watering or feeding required. Old growth should be cut back at the end of the autumn to allow the plants to renew in the spring; this is the sole maintenance required for the entire season.

Planting for Autumn Colour the Perennial Plants of the Traditional Prairie – Grasses and Flowers

There is no definitive list as to what plants should or should not be included in a prairie however, here are a few of the most common specimens which are widely available at a reasonable price.

Rudbeckia – This is a classic yellow flowering perennial of the prairie; flowers are large and have a black ‚”dot” in the centre. The flowering season is a long one, staring as early as the end of July and running right the way through the autumn.

Echinacea – Another long flowing perennial not too dissimilar to Rudbeckia. Flowers range in colour from yellows through to bright pink colours in the form of Echinacea ‚”purpurea”. In addition to providing a wide range of colours Echinacea also has culinary uses and makes a good infusion.

Helenium – A large flowing perennial, colours range from yellow to bright orange.

Stipa Gigantea – As the name suggests this is a tall grass and as such only suitable for the larger of sites. The grass is a Spanish version of the oat; the grass has a deep green colour and is topped with golden oat like flowers from spring onwards.

Anemanthele Lessoniana – Known as pheasant’s tail grass, this grass is a smaller variety reaching less than a meter in height. The grass is semi evergreen, producing a golden orange colour in late autumn. As such this is ideal for planting in a prairie context.

Sources:

Ardle, J. 2007. RHS Bamboos and grasses.