Fragaria virginiana – wild strawberry

  Wild strawberry is an edible ground cover that tolerates full sun or shade.  An excellent addition to a permaculture lawn.   Best of all is supports early season pollinators. WIN! Tiny, sweet, groundcover pretty much says it all. Not only is the fruit edible, but the leaves can be used for tea.  Wild strawberry, just like cultivated strawberries, reproduces by …

Helenium flexuosum – Purple sneezeweed

    This shorter and more colorful version of sneezeweed is somewhat common in eastern North America, but rare in Kansas and virtually unknown to Nebraska.  In fact, there is only one known population in Nebraska, although it is possible that others are out there.   Purple sneezeweed stands 4 feet tall as opposed to the 4 to 5 foot height …

Allium canandense var. lavendulare – Prairie Wild Onion

    Allium is the genus name for onion.  We have 6 species of native onion in Nebraska.  Most common in the eastern third of the state is wild garlic and prairie wild onion.  Both are Allium canadense, but one produces bulblets where the flowers should be with an occasional floret between the bulbs.  This is Allium canadense variety (var.) …

Carex bushii – Bush’s sedge

    Bush’s sedge was a pleasant surprise on Wedding Prairie at Witt’s End Homestead.  We first noticed it in the wheel tracks of the path to this go-back prairie in a year when rain was plentiful.  Like most sedges, it likes mesic or moist sites, but it also grows well in this upland prairie hillside. It still shows up …