Roadside Vegetation in Nebraska · Black-eyed Susan Native Species Used Statewide Nebraska...

GrassesElymus virginicus Virginia wildrye

LegumesChamaecrista fasciculata Partridge peaDesmanthus illinoiensis Illinois bundleflowerLespedeza capitata Roundhead lespedeza

FlowersAster laevis Smooth blue asterAster novae-angliae New England asterRatibida pinnata Grayhead coneflowerSalvia azuria Pitcher sageSilphium laciniatum Compass plant

GrassesCalamovilfa longifolia Prairie sandreedElymus virginicus Virginia wildryeNassella viridula Green needlegrass

FlowersAster laevis Smooth blue asterAster novae-angliae New England asterErysimum asperum Western wallflowerRatibida pinnata Grayhead coneflower

GrassesAndropogon hallii Sand bluestemCalamovilfa longifolia Prairie sandreedNassella viridula Green needlegrass

LegumesDesmanthus illinoiensis Illinois bundleflowerLespedeza capitata Roundhead lespedeza

FlowersArgemone polyanthemos Prickly poppyAster laevis Smooth blue asterAster novae-angliae New England asterCallirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallowErysimum aspera Western wallflower

GrassesAndropogon hallii Sand bluestemCalamovilfa longifolia Prairie sandreedElymus lanceolatus Thickspike wheatgrassElymus virginicus Virginia wildryeNassella viridula Green needlegrass

FlowersArgemone polyanthemos Prickly poppyAster laevis Smooth blue asterAster novae-angliae New England asterCallirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallowErysimum asperum Western wallflowerTradescantia species Spiderwort

GrassesCalamovilfa longifolia Prairie sandreedElymus lanceolatus Thickspike wheatgrassElymus virginicus Virginia wildrye

FlowersAster novae-angliae New England asterCallirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallowSilphium laciniatum Compass plantTradescantia Species Spiderwort

GrassesAndropogon hallii Sand bluestemCalamovilfa longifolia Prairie sandreedElymus lanceolatus Thickspike wheatgrassNassella viridula Green needlegrass

FlowersArgemone polyanthemos Prickly poppyAster laevis Smooth blue asterCallirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallowErysimum asperum Western wallflowerTradescantia Species Spiderwort

GrassesAndropogon gerardii Big bluestemBouteloua curtipendula Sideoats gramaBouteloua gracilis Blue gramaBuchloe dactyloides BuffalograssEragrostis trichodes Sand lovegrassElymus canadensis Canada wildryePascopyrum smithii Western wheatgrassPanicum virgatum SwitchgrassSchizachyrium scoparium Little bluestemSorghastrum nutans Indiangrass

LegumesAmorpha canescens LeadplantDalea purpurea Purple prairie clover

FlowersAchillea millefolium YarrowAnemone canadensis Canada anemoneCleome serrulata Rocky Mountain bee plantCoreopsis tinctoria Plains coreopsisEchinacea species Purple coneflowers / black SamsonHelianthus maximiliani Maximilian sunflowerLiatris species Blazing starLinum lewisii Blue flaxPenstemon grandiflorus Shell-leaf penstemonPolygonum species SmartweedRatibida columnifera Upright prairie coneflowerRatibida columnifera, red Mexican red hatRosa arkansana Prairie wild roseRudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan

Native Species Used Statewide

Nebraska Department of RoadsLandscape Regions

Discover Nebraska’sRoadside Flowers

and GrassesRoadside vegetation in Nebraska features plants thatare adapted to the state’s environmental conditions.Conditions such as climate, soils, and topographydiffer from region to region across the state. Rainfallvaries from about 16 inches annually in thenorthwest at Harrison to 34 inches annually in thesouthern part of the state at Falls City.

The plants you see along the roadside may occurnaturally, may have been intentionally seeded, or mayhave been carried there by wind, wildlife, or apassing vehicle. The Nebraska Department of Roads

Roadside Vegetation in Nebraska

Nebraska Roadside Plant Identification

Nebraska’s roadside seed mixtures have changed throughtime. The plants that you see along the highway are therebecause their seeds:

• occur naturally in prairie soil,• were included in a planted seed mixture, or• were introduced by wind, water, or other external factors.

Photos are included here to help satisfy your curiosityand to identify several prominent species of flowers,legumes and grasses in your roadside view. Because ofchanging philosophies regarding roadside management,some of the species pictured here are no longer used inDepartment of Roads’ seed mixtures, especially the plantsshown in the “non-native” section.

(NDOR) has developed a plan to promote the use ofnative plant species that are most likely to thrive in thedifferent regions of the state. Native plants that occur inthese regions within Nebraska are adapted for the specificgrowing conditions.

NDOR’s roadside seeding mixtures include cool- andwarm-season grasses, legumes, and flowers. Species areselected as a roadside seed mixture according to theNebraska region in which the NDOR project occurs.

www.transportation.nebraska.gov/docs/flowers

Benefits from these customized seed mixtures include:• Increased likelihood of the seeded plants germinating

and becoming established on the roadside• Increased durability and permanence of the plants that

stabilize and beautify roadsides• Active plant growth throughout the growing season• Increased control of soil erosion• Lower maintenance and mowing costs• Planted areas blend with the natural context of the

regions

The first 12 to 16 feet off the surfaced roadway is mowedregularly during the growing season. NDOR developsseed mixtures of short-growing grasses for this areaimmediately next to the pavement. Vegetation fartheraway from the roadway is mowed every 3 to 5 years. Seedmixtures for these areas include taller grasses and flowersthat add color and texture to the roadside.

Roadside soils are compacted and nutrient-poor - - adifficult setting in which to start new vegetation. Moistureand temperature conditions can be extreme, as well. Toattain successful re-vegetation after a road construction

project is completed, NDOR crafts seed mixtures usinga majority of native species, and uses commonagronomic practices. This results in improved soilstabilization, reduced maintenance requirements, and avisually-pleasing roadside.

Giant Goldenrod (6)State Flower

Little Bluestem (3)State Grass

and Grasses

Roadside vegetation in Nebraska features plants thatare adapted to the state’s environmental conditions.Conditions such as climate, soils, and topographydiffer from region to region across the state. Rainfallvaries from about 16 inches annually in thenorthwest at Harrison to 34 inches annually in thesouthern part of the state at Falls City.

regions

and Grasses

Roadside vegetation in Nebraska features plants thatare adapted to the state’s environmental conditions.Conditions such as climate, soils, and topographydiffer from region to region across the state. Rainfallvaries from about 16 inches annually in thenorthwest at Harrison to 34 inches annually in thesouthern part of the state at Falls City.

regions

Blazing Star (3) Blue Flax (5) Blue Vervain (3) Butterfly Milkweed (5) Big Bluestem (3) Blue Grama (5) Buffalograss (5)

Crown Vetch (1)

Hairy Vetch (1)

Bird’s Foot Trefoil (4)

Illinois Bundleflower (3)

Canada Wildrye (5) Green Needlegrass (10) Indiangrass (3)

Leadplant (2) Purple Prairie Clover (3)

Roundhead Lespedeza (3)

Partridge Pea (5)

Prairie Junegrass (5) Prairie Sandreed (3)

Sand Bluestem (3) Sand Lovegrass (5)

Sideoats Grama (5) Switchgrass (3)

Virginia Wildrye (2) Western Wheatgrass (5)

Upright Coneflower (5) Western Wallflower (5)

Canada Anemone (3)

Chickory (5)

Compass Plant (5)

Plains Coreopsis (3)

4-Point Evening Primrose (2) Giant Goldenrod (6)State Flower

Grayhead Coneflower (6) Indian Blanket Flower (5) Mexican Red Hat (5) New England Aster (5)

Shell Leaf Penstemon (5)

Pitcher Sage (5) Plains Sunflower (5) Prairie Wild Rose (3)

Prickly Poppy (5)

Pale Purple Coneflower (2)

Purple Poppy Mallow (3) Smartweed (5)

Smooth Blue Aster (6)

Maximilian Sunflower (5)

Wild Bergamot (5)

Rocky Mt. Bee Plant (3)

Flowers Grasses Legumes

(1) Photo by Scott Brummond (NDOR)(2) Photo by Alison Krohn (NDOR)(3) Photo by Steve Duecker (NDOR)(4) Photo by Dewaine Knutson (NDOR)(5) Photo by Carol Wienhold (NDOR)

(Photographer of Cover Photo)

(6) Photo by Mike Haddock(7) NDOR File Photo(8) Photo by Sheri Hagwood

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database(9) Photo by R. Soreng, courtesy of

Smithsonian Institution

(10) Photo taken from "GrasslandPlants of South Dakota and theNorthern Great Plains" by James R.Johnson and Gary E. Larson, usedby permission from South DakotaState University

Golden Glow (3)

Ox Eye Daisy (5)

Non-Native

Dame’s Rocket (7)

IntermediateWheat Grass (10)

Smooth Brome (6)

Black-eyed Susan (5)

Spiderwort (5)

Sand Dropseed (6)

Slender Wheatgrass (9)

Thick Spike Wheatgrass (8)

White Prairie Clover (2)

Crown Vetch (1)

Hairy Vetch (1)

Partridge Pea (5)

Canada Anemone (3)

Chickory (5)

Compass Plant (5)

Prickly Poppy (5)

Wild Bergamot (5)

Golden Glow (3)

Ox Eye Daisy (5)

Non-Native

Dame’s Rocket (7)

Smooth Brome (6)

Spiderwort (5)

Sand Dropseed (6)

Crown Vetch (1)

Hairy Vetch (1)

Partridge Pea (5)

Canada Anemone (3)

Chickory (5)

Compass Plant (5)

Prickly Poppy (5)

Wild Bergamot (5)

Golden Glow (3)

Ox Eye Daisy (5)

Non-Native

Dame’s Rocket (7)

Smooth Brome (6)

Spiderwort (5)

Sand Dropseed (6)

Roadside Vegetation in Nebraska · Black-eyed Susan Native Species Used Statewide Nebraska...

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