Pocket prairies

Designed to showcase Colorado native plants, pocket prairies turn small spaces into thriving natural areas.

What is a pocket prairie?

A pocket prairie is a small, intentionally planted area of native grasses and wildflowers that mimics the function of a natural prairie ecosystem. These habitats are often tucked away into parks, yards, medians, or open spaces. Pocket prairies provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. They also help keep soil healthy, prevent erosion, soak up rainwater, and use less water and care than regular grassy areas.

Pocket prairie locations

Species are selected to provide a variety of colors, bloom times, and habitat benefits while thriving in local conditions. Louisville has pocket prairie plantings at three Open Space properties:

Dutch Creek Open Space

Featured species include:

Silver wormwood (Artemisia lucoviciana)
Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Rocky mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata)
Lewis flax (Linum lewisii)
Plains prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha)
White tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)
Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
Sulfur-flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)
Fringed sage (Artemisia frigida)
Nodding onion (Allium cernuum)
Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Prairie purple clover (Dalea purpurea)
Prairie wine cups (Callirhoe involucrata)
Rocky mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
Sidebells penstemon (Penstemon secundiflorus)
Silkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca)

Hecla Lake Open Space

Featured species include:

White tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)
Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
Pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
Blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Sidebells penstemon (Penstemon secundiflorus)
Prairie winecups (Callirhoe involucrata)
Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa)
Western sandcherry (Prunus pumila var. besseyi)
Golden currant (Ribes aureum)
Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora)
Wild four o'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea)
Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Plains prickly pear (Opuntia oplyacantha)
Green-flowered hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus viridiflorus)
Plains nipple cactus (Escobaria missouriensis)
Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca)
Buffalo bur (Solanum rostratum)
Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Western spiderwort (Tradescantia accidentalis)
Silver wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana)
Golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum)
Rocky mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
Golden banner (Thermopsis divaricarpa)
Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Aquarius Open Space

Featured species include:

Rocky mountain bee plant (Cleomella serrulata)
White tufted primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)
Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Silver wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana)
Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Prairie winecups (Callirhoe involucrata)
Blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Prairie rose (Rose arkansana)
Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata)
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa)
Rocky mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
Red rocks penstemon (Penstemon mexicali)
Skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata)
Western sandcherry (Prunus pumila var. besseyi)
Shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa)

Some pocket prairie species you may see

Allium cernuum

Nodding onion

Linum lewisii

Lewis flax

Oenothera macrocarpa

Missouri primrose

Oenothera speciosa

Pink evening primrose

Escobaria missouriensis

Plains nipple cactus

Opuntia polyacantha

Plains prickly pear

Rosa arkansana

Prairie rose

Callirhoe involucrata

Prairie winecups

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