Native Plants of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
- kristina908
- Jan 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 23, 2024
The glacial features and rolling terrain of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit provide a variety of natural habitats for various plants and animals. Whether you are looking to identify plants as you hike through the state forest or would like to create a natural habitat at your home, we have compiled a list of native plants of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit. Planting a pollinator-friendly garden is a win-win.
Native Flowers
Common Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias syriaca
Bloom Time: June - August
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Swamp Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias incarnata
Bloom Time: July -
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Butterfly Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa
Bloom Time: July - August
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Whorled Milkweed
Scientific Name: Asclepias verticillata
Bloom Time: June - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Moths
Purple Prairie Clover
Scientific Name: Petalostem Purpureum
Bloom Time: June - August
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Moths
Lead Plant
Scientific Name: Amorpha canecens
Bloom Time: June-July
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Moths
Swamp Thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium muticum
Bloom Time: July - October
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Field Thistle
Scientific Name: Cirsium discolor
Bloom Time: July - October
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
New England Aster
Scientific Name:Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Bloom Time: August - October
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Calico Aster
Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Bloom Time: August - November
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Moths
Culver's Root
Scientific Name: Veronicastrum virginicum
Bloom Time: June - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Rattlesnake Master
Scientific Name: Eryngium yuccifolium
Bloom Time: September - November
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Blazing Stars
Scientific Name: Liatris spicata
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Ironweed
Scientific Name: Vernonia fasciculata
Bloom Time: July -September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Anise Hyssop
Scientific Name: Agastache foeniculum
Bloom Time: June - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Wild Bergamot
Scientific Name: Monarda fistulosa
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Pale Purple Coneflower
Scientific Name: Echinacea pallida
Bloom Time: June - October
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Evening Primrose
Scientific Name: Oenothera biennis
Bloom Time: June - September
Attracts: Bees, Hummingbirds, Moths
Columbine
Scientific Name: Aquilegia canadensis
Bloom Time: April - May
Attracts: Hummingbird & Moths
White Wild Indigo
Scientific Name: Baptisia alba
Bloom Time: June - July
Attracts: Bees, Hummingbirds, Moths
Cardinal Flower
Scientific Name: Lobelia cardinalis
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Great Blue Lobelia
Scientific Name: Lobelia siphilitica
Bloom Time: August - September
Attracts: Bees & Hummingbirds
Smooth Beardtongue
Scientific Name: Penstemon digitalis
Bloom Time: May - July
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Black-Eyed Susan
Scientific Name: Rudbeckia Hirta
Bloom Time: June - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths
Goldenrods
Scientific Name: Solidago rigida or speciosa
Bloom Time:
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths
Joe-Pye Weed
Scientific Name: Eupatorium maculatum
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Moths
Boneset
Scientific Name: Eupatorium perfoliatum
Bloom Time: July - October
Attracts: Bees, Hummingbirds, Moths
Pasque Flower
Scientific Name: Pulsatilla vulgaris
Bloom Time: March April
Attracts: Bees
Bird's Foot Violet
Scientific Name: Viola pedata
Bloom Time: April - June
Attracts: Bees & Butterflies
Hoary Puccoon
Scientific Name: Lithospermum canescens
Bloom Time: April - June
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Moths
Downy Phlox
Scientific Name: Phlox pilosa
Bloom Time: April to June
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, & Hummingbirds
Ohio Spiderwort
Scientific Name: Tradescantia ohiensis
Bloom Time: May - July
Attracts: Bees & Butterflies
Compass Plant
Scientific Name: Silphium laciniatum
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Bee & Butterflies
Native Grasses
Little Bluestem
Scientific Name: Schizachyrium scoparium
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Bees & Butterflies
Indian Grass
Scientific Name: Sorghastrum nutans
Bloom Time: July - September
Attracts: Bees & Butterflies
Switch Grass
Scientific Name: Panicum virgatum
Bloom Time: August - September
Attracts: Bees & Butterflies
How to Learn More
If you enjoyed this article, there are a few ways to learn more about native plants.
Visit Headquarters
Located within the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit Headquarters, the Nature History Museum includes various displays showcasing rare plant community, pollinators & prairie flowers, birding, glacial formations, and more! The gift shop offers various books to learn more about native plants, pollinators, geography, and history of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit.
iNaturalist Resource
iNaturalist helps you identify plants and animals while generating data for science and conservation. It is a great way to learn more about nature!
