About the Native Plant Initiative
Originally, the landscape in the Northern Great Plains was dense and diverse with native grasses and forbs (wildflowers). However, many areas in the Northern Great Plains are now degraded due to natural and anthropogenic causes such as, but not limited to, invasive species and saline/sodic soils. Historically, native vegetation management involved removing invasive species from areas dominated native plants or restoring small degraded areas. Now, our grasslands are so full of invasive plants and such large areas are degraded that restoration is a much more difficult endeavor. We are restoring native plants into areas dominated by invasive species and restoring expanses of degraded land. This new reality requires a more thorough understanding of native plant restoration and production than currently exists for native plants of the Northern Great Plains.
Mission
To conduct research, education, and outreach to support excellence in native plant restoration and production for the Northern Great Plains
Vision
- To produce rigorous, innovative, and reliable data-driven science to inform native plant restoration and production
- To disseminate this information to the scientific community, stakeholders, public and private land managers, and the public
- To engage students at every level (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate) in our research and outreach activities
Native Plant Spotlight
Allium stellatum
USDA Plants Database Common Name: Autumn Onion
Native American (Lakota) Name1: Psin
Other Common Names: Pink wild onion
Allium stellatum is a perennial that will grow 8 inches to 2 feet tall2. It is native to the Plains regions of US and Canada3. Allium stellatum has deep pink/lavender flowers in erect umbels. It blooms throughout the late summer. It is a wild onion which is obvious by smell of this plant (especially the bulbs).
1Reese, N.; Native Plant Research at South Dakota State University, Allium stellatum, 29: South Dakota State University; 2019 November 26; Click OpenPrairie.
2 Johnson, J. R., and G. E. Larson. (2007). Grassland plants of South Dakota and the northern Great Plains. South Dakota Experiment Station, Brookings, SD
3USDA Plants Database
Archives
- Ratibida columnifera
USDA Plants Database Common Name: Upright prairie coneflower
Native American (Lakota) Name1: Napostan
Other Common Names: Prairie coneflowerRatibida columnifera is a perennial that will grow 1-3 feet tall2. It is native to most of the US and Canada3. Ratibida columnifera’s flower head is unique with a cylindric disk and droopy yellow rays2. R. comumnifera is palatable and seed can produce viable seedlings after being ‘dispersed’ by cattle4.
1Reese, N.; Native Plant Research at South Dakota State University, Ratibida columnifera, 27: South Dakota State University; 2019 April 26; Click OpenPrairie.
2Johnson, J. R., and G. E. Larson. (2007). Grassland plants of South Dakota and the northern Great Plains. South Dakota Experiment Station, Brookings, SD
3USDA Plants Database
4Doucette, K. M., Wittenberg, K. M., & McCaughey, W. P. (2001). Seed recovery and germination of reseeded species fed to cattle. Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archives, 54(5), 575-581.
- Monarda fistulosa
USDA Plants Database Common Name: Wild Bergamot
Native American (Lakota) Name1: Hexaka Tapezuta
Other Common Names: Beebalm or horsemintMonarda fistulosa is a perennial that will grow 2-4 feet tall2. It is native to most of the US and Canada3. Monarda fistulosa has minty smelling foliage and produces pink/lavender flowers in dense clusters on terminal heads2. It is visited by many types of pollinators4 when it blooms in July and August.
Photograph by April L. Stahnke 
Photograph by April L. Stahnke 
Photograph by R. Neil Reese 1Reese, N.; Native Plant Research at South Dakota State University, Monarda fistulosa, 20: South Dakota State University; 2019 April 26; Click OpenPrairie.
2Johnson, J. R., and G. E. Larson. (2007). Grassland plants of South Dakota and the northern Great Plains. South Dakota Experiment Station, Brookings, SD
3USDA Plants Database
4Tucker, E. M., & Rehan, S. M. (2016). Wild bee pollination networks in northern New England. Journal of insect conservation, 20(2), 325-337.
Penstemon grandiflorus
USDA Plants Database Common Name: Large Beardtongue
Native American (Lakota) Name1: Kimimila tawanatica
Other Common Names: Shell-leaf Penstemon, Large-Flowered Penstemon, Showy BeardtonguePenstemon grandiflorus is a perennial that will grow 1-3 feet tall. It is native to the Midwest and Southwestern US. It provides abundant resources for pollinators2 when it blooms from April through July. It is commonly found in sandy to loamy prairie soils and will grow in bare patches like those created by pocket gophers3.
1Reese, N.; Native Plant Research at South Dakota State University, Penstemon grandifloras, 22: South Dakota State University; 2019 April 26; Click OpenPrairie.
2Clinebell, R. R., & Bernhardt, P. (1998). The pollination ecology of five species of Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) in the tallgrass prairie. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 126-136.
3Davis, M. A., Ritchie, B., Graf, N., & Gregg, K. (1995). An experimental study of the effects of shade, conspecific crowding, pocket gophers and surrounding vegetation on survivorship, growth and reproduction in Penstemon grandiflorus. American Midland Naturalist, 237-243.
Our People
Lora Perkins
Associate Professor / AHPS Affiliate Associate Professor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture & Plant Science
Krista Ehlert
Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Range Specialist
Department of Natural Resource Management
SDSU Extension
Maribeth Latvis
Assistant Professor / Herbarium Director
Department of Natural Resource Management
Herbarium
Pete Bauman
SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist
Department of Natural Resource Management
SDSU Extension
Alexander Smart
Professor & SDSU Extension Rangeland Management Specialist
Department of Natural Resource Management
SDSU Extension
