Welcome! We chose the name Bluestem Farm to honor the four bunches of little bluestem that survived on what had been hard-grazed pasture. We started restoration work on our farm shortly after purchasing the land in 1988. At first we concentrated on restoring the prairie and oak savanna community and later our wetlands. We are also fortunate to have a mature red oak and maple woodland as well as stream and riparian habitats. Such diversity is common in the Baraboo Hills and has given us a breadth of experience that few other nurseries have. Observing and working with the plants in the nursery as well as in their natural habitat gives us valuable insights into the requirements of those plants. Scott has worked with several public and private organizations in ecological restoration since 1979. He has been fortunate to study the progress of these projects for almost thirty years!

Our primary business is propagating wildflowers and other plants native to south-central Wisconsin, including hardy orchids. For more information on the orchids, see the Orchid Conservation Coalition. We start most species from seed, but we propagate a few species by cuttings or division if seed propagation is impractical. All our orchids are started in our laboratory since their seeds have specialized requirements for germination. Our pot-grown plants are less likely to suffer from transplant shock than bare-root plants since the roots are undisturbed. Below is a list of native plants which we expect to have for sale in 2009, along with a brief description of the sun and soil preferences of each plant. Most plants are in 8.4 oz.(250 ml) or 1.1 qt. (1 liter) pots, a few are plugs or are in larger pots. We also do custom propagation of plants.

We sell at the Dane County Farmers’ Market in Madison - our stall is on Carroll St. between State St. and West Washington - and on the farm. We expect to be open on the farm many Sundays in May and June; call for hours. Other days we sell at the farm by appointment.

In addition to native plants and habitat restoration, we grow much of our own food. Initially we wanted organic fruit production for our own use, but what started out as a hobby has now become a collection of over a hundred varieties of apples, pears, cherries, plums, and grapes. These include both heirlooms and some new varieties bred for cold climates and disease resistance. We have selected some of our own apple varieties and are starting a grape breeding program. We eat the food that we grow, so we want it to be the finest possible. We avoid using poisons on our farm and use only natural fertilizers (composts, mulches, seaweed and rock powders) in the fields, although the potted perennials do receive some synthetic slow release fertilizer.

As part of keeping our footprint small, we:

• use no -cides on the fields or in the greenhouses
• use only a limited amount of synthetic fertilizer in the greenhouses
• use only sun heat in the greenhouses
• produce our plants from seed or cuttings produced by plants on our own farm
• have photovoltaics to provide most of the electric power for our house and farm
• try to avoid unnecessary energy expenditures--in heating and cooling, lighting, and miles driven

Wild Plum is an easy to grow small tree. It blooms young--when it's as small as 4 feet tall--and blooms very early, usually around the first week of May. The flowers are incredibly fragrant and well frequented by solitary bees. Wild plums are happy in either full sun or partial (filtered) shade, and in most soils as long as they aren't dry. On top of that they produce plums which make an awesome syrup or jam. The skin of the fruit is sharp tasting, but the flesh when fully ripe is as sweet as any other plum. They can eventually reach 10 to 15 feet tall. Wild plum has one potential problem as a yard tree: it sends up lots of sprouts from the roots, and will turn into a thicket if they are not mowed off.

Three Easy Species. These three species are very easy to grow rain or butterfly garden plants. All of them grow in full sun on intermediate to moist soils; Sweet Black-Eyed Susan can also grow in light shade. Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya, on the left) is a tall grower that blooms in late July or early August. The lavender flower spikes are full of nectar and pollen for butterflies. Some of the domestic blazing stars have been bred for reduced amounts of nectar; this negates their value to pollinators. Sweet Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa, upper right) is another tall grower, sometimes reaching five feet but usually shorter. It, too, is attractive to butterflies. The flowers look similar to the more common Black-Eyed Susans (Common Black-Eyed Susan, R. hirta and Showy Black-Eyed Susan, R. fulgida), but this one is taller and bushier, blooms slightly later in the summer, and is more reliably perennial. Its' stems are rough, but not hairy-prickly like the Common Black-Eyed Susan. Wisconsin is outside of the historic range of Showy Black-Eyed Susan. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata, lower right) blooms in late June or early July. In addition to being attractive, the flowers are very fragrant. It is a good nectar source for all sorts of pollinators. If you want to raise monarch butterflies you should know that it is one of the preferred milkweeds for the larvae to feed on. Swamp milkweed needs moist soils; you can get one year of blooming on average soils, but it is only likely to persist in wetter spots. The extra moisture in a rain garden may be just the thing to keep it going.






Yellow Lady Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens). This is a photo of a first bloom of one of our select crosses between two fine parents. By selectively breeding our best seedlings, we can increase the germination rate and seedling vigor for this species. Varieties of yellow lady slippers are found in woodlands, wet prairies, and fens. Most like a soil that has a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.





Showy Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae). The showy lady slipper is the largest and showiest of our native orchids. It is the state flower of Minnesota and likes alkaline muck soils in sun to part shade. It likes a garden with plenty of humus to retain soil moisture. This species germinates well and is relatively easy to cultivate. We have a good supply of this species; please inquire about wholesale pricing.





Grass pink orchid (Calopogon tuberosus). This native orchid is very hardy and easy to cultivate. It likes moist soil in full to part sun without heavy competition and will tolerate poor soil, either acidic or alkaline. Seedlings usually bloom by their third year.





Bluestem Farm co-owner and greenhouse manager, Martha Barrett, holding one of our potted showy lady slippers. All of our orchids are started from seed in the laboratory and raised in pots or nursery beds. We do not sell "salvaged" or wild dug plants of any kind; all are nursery propagated from seed or division.





Woodland Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata). We sell plants of prairies, wetlands, and woodlands. Wild blue phlox (not to be confused with the alien Dame's Rocket, often sold as phlox, but actually a mustard with four petals, not five) is getting scarce as more of our woodlands are developed or degraded by buckthorn, garlic mustard, and other introduced species.





Downy Gentian (Gentiana puberula). Downy gentian is one of the jewels of the prairie and blooms in fall, sometimes into November. Often difficult to propagate, we sell only seed of this species. It comes well from seed if planted with prairie dropseed or other short grasses. Blooms from seed in three to four years and grows fast on poor, rocky soils where competition is limited.





Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia). Many older folks remember shooting stars on the farms where they grew up. It is declining in abundance in the wild; it is now found mostly in savannas and open woodlands, but formerly was common in prairies throughout southern Wisconsin. It is usually in bloom for Mother’s Day. The flowers are incredibly fragrant. It is slow growing, but germinates well and should be included in more seed mixes.

Species List

(or print from PDF file)

 

FORBS Sauk, Dane, Columbia, and/or Iowa County ecotypes Mesic means medium moisture

Anemone canadensis Canada Anemone Sun, moist soil

Anemone quinquefolia Wood Anemone Partial shade to shade, rich soil

Antennaria neglecta Pussytoes Sun, poor dry to mesic soil

Antennaria plantaginifolia Pussytoes Sun to partial shade, mesic soil

Aquilegia canadensis Columbine Partial shade or sun, most soils

Aralia racemosa Spikenard Shade, rich woodsy soil

Asarum canadense Wild Ginger Shade, rich mesic soil

Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed Sun, rich moist soils

Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed Sun, sandy mesic to dry soils

Aster azureus Azure (Sky Blue) Aster Sun to light shade, mesic to dry soils

Aster laevis Smooth Aster Sun to light shade, mesic to dry soils

Aster macrophyllus Large-leaved Woodland Aster Partial shade, mesic soils

Aster novae-angliae New England Aster Sun, rich moist to mesic soils

Aster oblongifolius Savory-leaved aster Sun, dry calcareous soil

Aster prenanthoides Crooked Stem Aster Sun to light shade, moist to wet soil

Aster puniceus Red-Stemmed Aster Full sun, wet soil

Aster sagittifolius Arrow-Leaved Aster Partial sun, mesic soils

Baptisia leucantha White Wild Indigo Sun to light shade, mesic to moist soils

Baptisia leucophaea Cream Wild Indigo

Campanula rotundifolia Harebell Sun to partial shade, mesic to dry soils

Cassia hebecarpa Wild Senna Sun to partial shade, moist soil

Chelone glabra Turtlehead Sun, rich mesic to very moist soils

Coreopsis palmata Prairie Coreopsis Sun to light shade, mesic to dry soils

Cypripedium parviflorum Yellow Lady's Slipper Light shade, mesic neutral to slightly alkaline soil

Dioscorea villosa Wild Yam Partial shade, rich mesic soils

Dodecatheon meadia Shooting Star Sun to shade, most soils

Epilobium angustifolium Fireweed Sun, moist soils?

Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master Sun, mesic to wet-mesic soils

Eupatorium maculatum Wetland Joe-Pye Sun, moist soils

Eupatorium purpureum Woodland Joe-Pye Partial sun, mesic to moist soils

Fragaria vesca Woodland Wild Strawberry Shade, rich mesic to moist soils

Fragaria virginiana Wild Strawberry Sun or partial shade, dry to moist soils

Galium boreale Northern Bedstraw Sun, mesic to moist soils

Geum triflorum Prairie Smoke Sun, dry to moist soils

Helenium autumnale Sneezeweed Sun, moist soils

Helianthus occcidentalis Western Sunflower Sun to light shade, dry to mesic soils

Heliopsis helianthoides Ox-Eye Sun to partial shade, mesic to moist soils

Heuchera richardsonii Prairie Alum Root Sun to partial shade, dry to moist soils

Hypericum pyramidatum Great St. John’s-wort Sun, moist soils

Hypoxis hirsuta Yellow Star Grass Sun to light shade, dry to moist soils

Iris shrevei Wild Iris Sun, moist to very wet soils

Krigia biflora Cynthia (False Dandelion) Partial shade to sun, dry to moist soils

Lespedeza capitata Round-Headed Bush-Clover Sun to partial shade, most   soil conditions

Liatris aspera Rough Blazing Star Sun to light shade, wet-mesic to dry soils

Liatris cylindracea Dwarf Blazing Star Sun, dry sandy or limestone soils

Liatris pycnostachya Prairie Blazing Star Sun, mesic to moist soils

Lilium philadelphicum Wood Lily Sun, rich mesic soils

Liparis lilifolia Lily-Leaved Twayblade Partial shade, rich mesic soils

Liparis loeselii Loesel's Twayblade Sun to partial shade, moist to mesic soils

Lobelia siphilitica Great Blue Lobelia Sun to light shade, mesic to wet soils

Lupinus perennis Lupine Available primarily as seed. Sun to light shade, sandy dry soils

Maianthemum canadense Canada Mayflower Light shade, mesic to moist soils

Mimulus ringens Monkey Flower Sun, moist soils

Mitella diphylla Miterwort Partial shade to shade, rich mesic soils

Monarda fistulosa Bergamot Sun, most soils

Oenothera perennis Sundrops Sun, moist soils

Opuntia humifusa Prickly Pear Cactus Sun, sandy dry soils

Pedicularis canadensis Wood Betony Sun to shade, dry to moist soils

Penstemon pallidus White Penstemon Sun to light shade, mesic to dry soils

Petalostemum purpureum Purple Prairie Clover Sun, dry to mesic soils

Phlox divaricata Woodland Blue Phlox very limited supply Shade to partial shade, rich mesic soils

Phlox pilosa Downy (Prairie) Phlox Sun to light shade, dry to wet-mesic soils

Polemonium reptans Jacob’s Ladder Sun to shade, moist soils

Polygonatum biflorum Solomon’s Seal Shade, rich mesic soils

Potentilla arguta Prairie Cinquefoil Sun to light shade, dry to mesic soils

Pycnanthemum virginianum Mountain Mint Sun, dry to moist soils

Ratibida pinnata Yellow Coneflower Sun, mesic to wet-mesic soils

Rudbeckia laciniata Wild Golden Glow Sun to light shade, moist soils

Rudbeckia subtomentosa Sweet Black-Eyed Susan Sun to light shade, mesic to moist soils

Silene virginica Fire Pink Shade, rich mesic soil

Silphium integrifolium Rosin Weed Available as seed. Sun, dry to wet-mesic soils. Aggressive

Silphium laciniatum Compass Plant Sun, mesic soil

Silphium perfoliatum Cupplant Available as seed. Sun to partial shade, moist soil. Aggressive

Silphium terebinthinaceum Prairie Dock Sun, moist soil

Sisyrinchium campestre Blue-Eyed Grass Sun to light shade, dry to moist soil

Smilacina racemosa False Solomon’s Seal Shade, rich mesic soil

Smilacina stellata Starry False Solomon’s Seal Sun to partial shade, dry sandy soil

Solidago flexicaulis Zigzag Goldenrod Partial shade, rich mesic soil

Solidago graminifolia Grass-Leaved Goldenrod Sun, mesic to wet soils

Solidago nemoralis Old-Field Goldenrod Sun, dry soils

Solidago patula Swamp Goldenrod Sun to light shade, moist soils

Solidago rigida Stiff Goldenrod Sun, moist to dry soils

Solidago speciosa Showy Goldenrod Sun to light shade, mesic to dry soils

Thalictrum dasycarpum Purple Meadow Rue Sun, moist soils

Thalictrum dioicum Early Meadow Rue Shade to partial shade, rich mesic soils

Tradescantia ohiensis Spiderwort Sun to light shade, dry to moist soils

Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s Root Sun to partial shade, moist to mesic soils

Zizia aptera Heart-Leaved Golden           Alexanders Sun, dry soils

Zizia aurea Golden Alexanders Sun to light shade, mesic to moist soils

OTHER FORBS From outside of the Sauk, Columbia, Dane and Iowa County area

Allium cernuum Nodding Wild Onion Sun, mesic soil

Calopogon tuberosus Grass Pink Orchid Sun, moist soil

Cypripedium reginae Showy Lady’s Slipper Sun, moist soil

Dodecatheon amethystinum Amethyst Shooting Star Shade, mesic to moist soil

Echinacea pallida Pale Purple Coneflower Sun, mesic soil

Silene stellata Starry Campion Partial shade, mesic soil

GRASSES Sauk, Columbia, Dane, and Iowa Co. ecotypes.

Andropogon gerardi Big Bluestem

Andropogon scoparius Little Bluestem Sun, mesic to dry soil

Bouteloua curtipendula Side Oats Grama Sun, calcareous mesic to dry soil

Carex pensylvanica Penn Sedge Sun to light shade, mesic to dry soil

Danthonia spicata Wild Oat Grass Sun to light shade, acid infertile soils

Elymus canadensis Canada Wild Rye Sun, most soils. Short lived

Elymus riparius Riverbank Wild-Rye Light shade to full canopy, moist to wet soils

Elymus villosus Silky Wild Rye Partial shade, mesic soils

Hierocloë odorata Sweet Grass Sun, moist to wet soils

Hystrix patula ( = Elymus hystrix) Bottlebrush Grass

Koeleria cristata Junegrass Sun, dry soil

Luzula acuminata Hairy Wood Rush Shade, mesic to dry soil

Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass Sun, most soils

Spartina pectinata Prairie Cord Grass Sun, moist to wet soils

Sporobolus heterolepis Prairie Dropseed Sun, moist to dry soils

WOODY PLANTS Sauk, Columbia, Dane, and Iowa Co. ecotypes

Acer rubrum Red Maple Shade tolerant tree, mesic to wet soils

Acer saccharum Sugar Maple Shade tolerant tree, mesic to dry-mesic soil

Amorpha canescens Leadplant Low growing prairie shrub, dry to mesic soil

Amorpha fruticosa Indigo Bush 10 foot wetland shrub; sun and moist soil

Betula papyrifera Paper Birch Woodland tree, moist to dry soils and North slopes

Carpinus caroliniana Musclewood Shade to sun small multi-stemmed tree, moist soils

Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory Slow growing tree, full sun and dry to mesic soil

Cornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood Small woodland tree; mesic to moist soil

Corylus americana American Hazelnut Tall suckering shrub; nice nuts if you can get them

Ostrya virginiana Ironwood Woodland tree; most soils

Prunus americana Wild Plum Small suckering tree; sun to partial shade, dry to damp soils

Prunus nigra Canada Wild Plum Small tree, sun to partial shade, mesic to damp soils

Quercus alba White Oak Large tree, full sun preferred; most soils

Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak Large tree, Full sun and most soils

Quercus rubra Red Oak Large tree, full sun to light shade; mesic soils

Ribes americanum American Black Currant Small bush, sun to light shade; moist soils

Ribes missouriense Missouri Gooseberry Light shade, moist soil. Thorny!

Rubus occidentalis Blackcap Raspberry Thorny canefruit. Light shade and rich mesic soil preferred

Sambucus canadensis Elderberry Suckering shrub. Full sun and moist soil are best

Well Behaved Plants for Gardens and Landscaping

Amorpha canescens Leadplant

Anemone quinquefolia Wood Anemone

Aquilegia canadensis Columbine

Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed

Campanula rotundifolia Harebell

Cypripedium parviflorum Yellow Lady's Slipper

Cypripedium reginae Showy Lady's Slipper

Dodecatheon amethystinum Amethyst Shooting Star

Dodecatheon meadia Shooting Star

Echinacea pallida Pale Purple Coneflower

Geum triflorum Prairie Smoke

Heuchera richardsonii Prairie Alum Root

Hypoxis hirsuta Yellow Star Grass

Liatris aspera Rough Blazing Star

Liatris cylindracea Dwarf Blazing Star

Liatris pycnostacha Prairie Blazing Star

Lilium philadelphicum Wood Lily

Mitella diphylla Miterwort

Oenothera perennis Sundrops

Petalostemum purpureum Purple Prairie Clover

Phlox divaricata Woodland Blue Phlox ***can spread well in the absence of rabbits***

Phlox pilosa Downy (Prairie) Phlox

Polemonium reptans Jacob’s Ladder

Potentilla arguta Prairie Cinquefoil

Rudbeckia subtomentosa Sweet Black-Eyed Susan

Silphium laciniatum Compass Plant

Silphium terebinthinaceum Prairie Dock

Sisyrinchium campestre Blue Eyed Grass

Solidago patula Swamp Milkweed

Solidago rigida Stiff Goldenrod

Solidago speciosa Showy Goldenrod

Thalictrum dioicum Early Meadow Rue

Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s Root

Zizia aurea Golden Alexanders

Danthonia spicata Wild Oat Grass

Sporobolus heterolepis Prairie Dropseed

Betula papyrifera Paper Birch

Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory

Cornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood

Red, White and Bur Oaks
Red and Sugar Maples

Rock Garden type plants
Antennaria neglecta Pussytoes
Antennaria plantaginifolia Pussytoes
Campanula rotundifolia Harebell
Dodecatheon meadia Shooting Star
Dodecatheon amethystinum Amethyst Shooting Star
Geum triflorum Prairie Smoke
Heuchera richardsonii Prairie Alum Root
Hypoxis hirsuta Yellow Star Grass
Liatris cylindracea Dwarf Blazing Star
Mitella diphylla Miterwort
Oenothera perennis Sundrops
Penstemon pallidus White Penstemon
Phlox pilosa Downy (Prairie) Phlox
Potentilla arguta Prairie Cinquefoil
Sisyrinchium campestre Blue-Eyed Grass
Solidago nemoralis Old-Field Goldenrod
Danthonia spicata Wild Oat Grass
Koeleria cristata Junegrass

Aggressive Plants to be aware of

Many of these are fine in landscaping, as long as their tendencies are taken into account. Others are only suited for restoration work.

Anemone canadensis Canada Anemone Clonal. Roots must be contained.

Asarum canadense Wild Ginger Clonal--spreads slowly, but inexorably.

Aster laevis Smooth Aster Some people have a problem with this self sowing.

Aster macrophyllus Large-leaved Woodland Aster Clonal.

Aster novae-angliae New England Aster Aggressive self seeder.

Aster oblongifolius Savory-Leaved Aster Clonal.

Aster sagittifolius Arrow-Leaved Aster This can be an aggressive self-seeder.

Clematis virginiana Wild Clematis (Virgin’s Bower) Aggressive vine--roots wherever it touches the   ground.

Coreopsis palmata Prairie Coreopsis Clonal. May or may not be a problem.

Fragraria vesca and virginiana Wild Strawberries Spread vigorously, but seldom hard to control.

Galium boreale Northern Bedstraw Seeder, clonal, and suppresses the growth of other plants.

Helenium autumnale Sneezeweed Self-sows readily. Seedlings should be easy to control.

Helianthus occcidentalis Western Sunflower Clonal. Other Helianthus species are far more aggressive

Heliopsis helianthoides Ox-Eye Self seeds readily, and seedlings grow fast.

Iris shrevei Wild Iris Clonal.

Pedicularis canadensis Wood Betony Clonal. May suppress other plants’ growth

Polygonatum biflorum Solomon’s Seal Clonal.

Silphium integrifolium Rosin Weed Self sows vigorously. Not recommended.

Silphium perfoliatum Cupplant Self sows vigorously. Not recommended.

Smilacina racemosa False Solomon’s Seal Clonal. May be hard to contain.

Smilacina stellata Starry False Solomon’s Seal Clonal. May be hard to contain.

Solidago flexicaulis Zigzag Goldenrod Clonal. Possibly hard to contain.

Solidago graminifolia Grass-Leaved Goldenrod Clonal. Hard to contain.

Vernonia fasciculata Ironweed Clonal. Extremely vigorous when happy.

Andropogon gerardi Big Bluestem Self-sows vigorously. May be hard to contain.

Calamagrostis canadensis Blue Joint Grass Clonal. Not for gardens.

Hierocloë odorata Sweet Grass Clonal. Roots must be contained but may not spread to dry ground.

Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass Self-sows vigorously. May be hard to contain.

Spartina pectinata Prairie Cord Grass Clonal. Only for restoration plantings.

Prunus americana Wild Plum Clonal. Sprouts can be contained with the lawn mower.

Rubus occidentalis Black Raspberry Needs to be kept pruned.

Sambucus canadensis Elderberry Sends up root sprouts--not for small spaces.

 

Butterfly Plants Good sources for larval food or nectar (nectar sources are highlighted)

Asclepias incarnata or tuberosa Any milkweed is consumed by Monarch caterpillars

Antennaria either species is consumed by the American Painted Lady caterpillars

Asters Pearl Crescent larva Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster) is a superb nectar plant

Cassia hebecarpa Sleepy orange and cloudless sulfur larvae

Chelone glabra Baltimore larvae

Violas various fritillaries

Warm Season grasses Common Wood Nymph and various Skippers

Various other species develop on Black cherry, Hackberry, Oaks, aspens and willows.

Bergamot, Pycnanthemum (Mountain Mint), and all Blazing stars, Rudbeckias, Eupatoriums, and goldenrods are good nectar species

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Questions or comments? Please write to bluestem_farm(at)juno.com

Bluestem Farm

S5920 Lehman Road -- Baraboo, WI 53913 -- (608) 356-0179

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