Right Place, Right Plant
by Kelsay Shaw

Much of what is thought about the Illinois native landscape is that of grand expanses of the tall grass prairie. In actuality, the native landscape of our state is varied to a degree that many may not be aware of. The kinds of grasses and forbs change from site to site corresponding with the kinds of trees and shrubs that set the structural backbone of the ecotype you are viewing.

In Illinois there are four basic ecotypes that are further broken down into a myriad of smaller enclaves, but for the sake of this introduction only the basic four need to be outlined. Your home may be located in one of these ecotypes and it is important to identify which so you get the best performance from your plants and the site you're planting on. Soil conditions, moisture levels, drainage and amount of sun light will play an important role in the types of plants you may want to choose. This outline is meant to lend a hand in determining the ecotype that may exist on your site and to give insight into those communities.

The four basic classifications are as follows:

Savanna: an area where the concentration of large trees is low or centered in groups allowing grasses, forbs and shrubs to establish as the dominate community. This type of community can usually be found on woodland edges or out in the prairie, which allows for a wide range of species to be successful. Location is not the only varying characteristic of the savanna, climate and site conditions also play a large role in determining what type of savanna community is found. For example, in a drier community like a dune, xeric species are commonly found, but, out on the prairie mesic species may dominate.

Prairie: this type of community is largely composed of grasses and forbs, and a surprising amount of woody plants as well. This ecotype is commonly an open expanse of land that tends to be relatively free of larger species of tree. The prairie is as varied as the soil types of Illinois, ranging from the very wet to the very dry and the plants found there offer a wonderful diversity. Prairie plants are extremely durable and many can adapt to conditions found in the urban environment.

Wetlands: typically this community is only associated with fens, marshes, swamps and other bodies of water. However, we must include any area that experiences extended amounts of time inundated with water followed by periods of dry. A majority of the plants in this community are found within 15' of the water's edge and often in the water itself. Plants found in these areas often exhibit morphological features that are somewhat exaggerated to deal with the wet conditions. (i.e. wide, flat stems to ""float"" on the water.)

Forest: look at all the trees!! Yes, woodlands are composed largely of trees, unlike the savanna. However, the forest is very much like the savanna in that its under story is what makes it a study in species wealth. Many of the woodland wild flowers are up and flowering much earlier than the canopy, so spring is the time of year to observe this ecotype. Woodland forbs and grasses are well adapted to the lower levels of soil nutrients available to them than their prairie counterparts. Many of these species are also very shade tolerant and adapted to cooler soil temperatures allowing them to deal with the low light conditions around homes. These basics definitions may assist you in identifying the type of site conditions you may have at your home or business. It is important to keep in mind that after you have identified the site, that you install plants that are suited to the site. Planting a plant that is not suited to your locality (soil type, moisture level, etc.) many times leads to greater maintenance needs and poorer plant performance. Keeping the relationship of ecotype and site conditions in mind when choosing plants will improve your success. Good luck in you native gardening endeavors!