Keystone Plants of the Midwest
The Midwest transitions from the eastern deciduous forest to tallgrass prairie — the most biodiverse grassland ecosystem that ever existed in North America. Keystone oaks and willows anchor the forest edges; native sunflowers, goldenrod, and big bluestem anchor the prairie remnants.
States: OH, IN, MI, WI, MN, IA, MO
Level III Ecoregions in this region
Top Keystone Trees
Ranked by caterpillar species supported (NWF / Tallamy data)
| Genus | Common name | Caterpillar spp. |
|---|---|---|
| Quercus | Bur / white oak | 436 |
| Salix | Willow | 289 |
| Betula | Birch | 284 |
| Populus | Cottonwood / aspen | 249 |
Top Keystone Perennials
Ranked by pollen specialist bee species supported (Fowler data)
| Genus | Common name | Specialist bees |
|---|---|---|
| Helianthus | Native sunflower | 50 |
| Solidago | Goldenrod | 42 |
| Symphyotrichum | Aster | 33 |
Native Plants in the Directory
4 plants listed
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Data source: Keystone plant rankings based on NWF Keystone Plants by Ecoregion and Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire (2020), Nature Communications. Specialist bee data from Fowler (2016), USDA Forest Service.
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