April 2012

Listen to the podcast of this information.

Spring is here! Have you considered adding a few native plants to your garden? Native plants provide beauty as well as food and shelter for wildlife. Native species are adapted to the Illinois climate. They require little or no watering and are resistant to drought, insects and most diseases. Because they are perennials, you can welcome their presence year after year.

meadow anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Photo © 2012, River Valley Photographic Resources, Ltd., rvprltd.com

Meadow anemone grows in woodlands and moist prairies in the northern two-thirds of Illinois and in scattered locations in southern Illinois. Its flowers are produced from May through July. Flowers are produced singly on a long stalk. The five white "petals" are actually sepals. The three-part leaves are not stalked. There are two leaves, and they surround the stem at their base. This plant, a member of the buttercup family, may grow to a height of one to two feet.

For more information about native Illinois plants, including where to purchase them and planting guides, the following publications are available through the order form at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/publications.

Prairie Establishment and Landscaping

Landscaping for Wildlife

Butterfly Gardens