Audubon® Native Prairie Dock

What a drama queen! Prairie Dock bursts out of the ground in spring, quickly making a mound of huge foliage. The leaves may be 18 inches long and a foot wide! In summer, smooth, leafless stems shoot up to a height of 10 feet or more and are topped by a bevy of sunny yellow Daisy-like flowers. You’ll want a first-row seat to the extravaganza, and so will the birds and butterflies. Monarchs and Swallowtails will come to sip the flowers’ nectar, as will Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds. In fall and winter, finches will arrive to sample the seeds.

Prairie Dock is native to the Midwest and was once abundant from Wisconsin to Arkansas; it also grew in scattered places throughout the Southeast. The majestic tallgrass prairies where it grew are mostly gone now, plowed under or paved over. Prairie Dock was an especially long-lived member of those communities. It can live 100 years. A long, thick taproot allows the plant to withstand drought, grazing, strong winds, and fire, so it often would outlast its neighbors. Like its cousin, the Compass Plant, Prairie Dock is also special in its ability to orient its foliage for maximum photosynthesis. The leaves normally point north and south.

Another name for Prairie Dock is Rosin Weed, for the sticky substance found inside the stems. Native American kids used to scrape off this rosin and use it as chewing gum. You can try it, too—just don’t expect it to taste like Juicy Fruit! (It tastes more like Pine Tree.

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

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