Five Native Plants Located in Sauerman Woods

Sunflower

• Sunflowers are native to North America and are among the plants set for restoration in the Sauerman Woods. Woodland sunflowers have a golden center, reaching heights between 2 and 12 feet. Their unique trait is that they follow the sun's direction as it moves from east to west during the day. Black-eyed Susan's prefer the wild open spaces of prairies and woodlands, making the Sauerman Woods a natural home. Flowering happens during summer; typically the second season year.

Native Grasses

• Wild native grasses can be found in woodlands, savannas, prairies and marshes. Native plants adapt to moderate levels of disturbance. Perennials can grow from 2 to 5 feet in height and typically sprout tall stalks from clumps of long leafy grass. Wood reeds prefer the natural woodlands, swamps or savannas. Virginia wild rye has a fibrous root system, growing in sunlight or shade and the Woodland bromus is related to wheat grass.

Woodland Asters

• Asters tolerate freezing temperatures, needing just 90 days of frost-free climates to regenerate. Related to the daisy, they share similar characteristics with multiple petals and leggy stemmed growth. Short's asters bloom late in summer through fall. Calico asters change shades to match the fall colors; white blooms appear in August to October as the foliage turns purple. Smooth asters have blue flowers with smooth stems and leaves.

Marsh Plants

• An unused pond transformed itself into a marsh at the Sauerman Woods with plant vegetation taking root to wetland conditions. Cattails are edible plants; during early spring, you can boil the young flower spears like asparagus, and in summertime boil them like corn on the cob. Natural marshes attract American water plantains, which reproduce quickly in shallow waters and saturated soils. Plantains flower from May to September in a spray of white flowers with heart-shaped leaves.

Trees

• American ash is native to North America. White ash prefers moist forests soils; its name comes from the ashy powder on the underside of the leaves. Ornamental Silver maple has high tolerance to urban life conditions. Shallow root systems make them a nuisance for cracking sidewalks. In the wild they will sprout several trunks usually found around water.