Content by Allison Dollen

South Dakota Native Plants for Winter Interest

“Winter interest” is a term used to describe plants with features valuable to wildlife, people, or the overall landscape in winter. Native perennials with winter interest provide either colorful stems, colorful foliage or structure for aesthetic value, wildlife habitat, or food for wildlife when resources are low in winter.

Native Plants to Know: Eastern Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens)

Eastern pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), your South Dakota state flower, could be the queen of all our native wildflowers. It often blooms while there is still snow on the ground and can give us hope that winter is coming to an end.

Native Plants to Know: Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) deserves a close look, especially when it blooms. This little shrub showcases spikes of bright purple flowers with striking yellow-orange stamens and silvery-gray leaves.

Fall Native Plant Care

One of the many great features of native plants is that they don’t need a lot of fall maintenance! The seed heads on native flowers and grasses provide winter interest in the garden, while also providing food and shelter for birds.

Asters of South Dakota

Once considered roadside weeds, native asters make a fine addition to gardens and prairies. With thoughtful selection, gardeners can have asters blooming from late summer through late fall, providing essential forage for pollinators.

Prairie Clovers of South Dakota

Many of us are familiar with the white clover growing in our lawns or the yellow sweet clover growing in rangelands, but did you know that South Dakota has several native prairie clovers that are beneficial for pollinators, birds, and wildlife?

SDSU Extension welcomes new native plant field specialist

June 02, 2026

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Allison Dollen as a new Native Plant Field Specialist.