Native Skokie Parks

Native Skokie Parks
Pollinators and plants native to Illinois in Skokie Parks

Skokie Park District’s native habitat areas were made possible by a generous grant from the Illinois Clean Energy 2020 Pollinator Meadows Grant program.

At Skokie Sport Park, one acre of turf was converted to Illinois native plants in order to provide food and habitat for birds, pollinators and other local fauna. The native flowers and grasses planted are accustomed to the ecology of our region and do not require additional water or fertilizer once established.

At Hamlin Park an additional one acre was converted to Illinois native plants. This section of the Native Habitat Area was created by Skokie Park District staff, volunteers, the Student Conservation Association’s Women’s Crew and the hard work and support of an Eagle Scout community from Boy Scout Troop 923.​ 

This native planting will help create a base for a food web that attracts pollinators and insects which produces food for birds and small mammals which in turn provides food for larger animals that keep our ecosystem in balance.

Here are some of the native plants and flowers that you'll find in our Native Skokie Parks areas:

Click on thumbnail image for a larger view.

PLANT	COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	COLOR	BLOOM	HEIGHT
	Big bluestem	Andropogon gerardii	Tan	June – September	3'–8'
	Prairie milkweed	Asclepias sullivantii	Pink	June–August	2'–3'
	White prairie clover	Dalea candida	White	June–September	1'–2.5'
	Purple prairie clover	Dalea purpurea	Purple	July–September	2'–5'
	Round-headed bush clover	Lespedeza capitata	Pale green	August–September	2'–5'
	Marsh gay feather	Liatris spicata	Purple	July–September	2'–5'
	Wild quinine	Parthenium integrifolium	White	June–September	2'–3'
	Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	Yellow	June–October	1'–2.5'
	* Little bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium	Green-blue	July–October	2'–3'
	Rosinweed	Silphium integrifolium	Yellow	July–September	3'–5'
	Compass plant	Silphium laciniatum	Yellow	June–September	6'–12'
	* Prairie dock	Silphium terebinthinaceum	Yellow	July–September	3'–10'
	Indian grass	Sorghastrum nutans	Tan	August–September	3'–7'
	Prairie dropseed	Sporobolus heterolepsis	Green-tan	August–October	1'–2'
	Smooth blue aster	Symphyotrichum laeve	Blue/lavender	August–October	1.5'–3'

Photos by Bill Glass except where noted*.