Piedmont Prairie Package

Package Description

Piedmont prairies are endangered, native grasslands ecosystems scattered throughout the Piedmont region of Virginia. Akin to the tallgrass prairie of the Midwest, these rare prairies boast an impressive diversity of native plants. A 2024, first of its kind floristic survey conducted by the Clifton Institute found that despite their small size and fragmented nature, Piedmont prairies harbor over 21% of all native plant species in Virginia (Coscia, 2024). This includes 52 state-listed or globally rare species, such as Torrey’s mountain mint.

In order to build awareness of and support the conservation of these rare grassland ecosystems, Hill House has created a plant package that reflects the unique plant compositions of the Virginia Piedmont prairie; this is no ordinary prairie! Our Piedmont prairie package includes 5 indicator species listed in the Clifton Institute’s floristic survey, whose presence in open lands indicate that it was once a Piedmont prairie. These indicator species in the package are Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), Elliot’s bluestem (Andropogon gyrans), false blue indigo (Baptisia australis), stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) and the globally rare Torrey’s mountain mint (Pycnanthemum torreyi).

Species Attributes and Seasonality

Blue and yellow false indigos erupt into bloom by early May and serve as a structural and ornamental border along your driveway to keep the prairie looking neat and the design intentional. Orange butterfly weed blooms appear in mid-May, continuing into mid-June as Torrey’s mountain mint starts attracting hordes of pollinators with its delicate flowerhead. The fuzzy, purple spikes of grass-leaved blazing stars bloom from mid-August through October. By mid-September, the attractive golden seedheads of Indian grass and Elliot’s bluestem are billowing in the wind and provide winter interest, especially once snow falls upon your prairie. In Fall, the prairie is punctuated by flat flowerheads of stiff goldenrod covered with butterflies and aromatic asters spilling over the prairie border with seemingly endless purple flowers.

Site Selection

This one-of-a-kind plant package will provide you with your very own ‘pocket prairie’, a vitally important and protected patch of this special ecosystem in your own yard. The Piedmont prairie package is deer resistant and will thrive in just about any location that receives half a day to full sun and is well drained. Tolerant of a wide variety of soil types including heavy clay or sandy soils, the species in this package are remarkably drought tolerant and long-lived once established. Install this package in your front yard to wow your guests when they arrive or create a backyard prairie!