Native Plant Garden Design in Oklahoma - Tallgrass Prairie & Cross Timbers

Recreate Oklahoma's iconic tallgrass prairie with native grasses (50-60%) and wildflowers (40-50%). Use big bluestem, Indian grass, and little bluestem as backbone. Add prairie wildflowers in naturalistic drifts. Design for the drama and movement of prairie grasses in Oklahoma's persistent winds.

Incorporate post oak, blackjack oak, and associated understory plants representing Oklahoma's unique cross timbers ecosystem. Include woodland edge species bridging prairie and forest. Design layered plantings from grassland to woodland creating diverse habitat.

Select heat and drought-tolerant species for Oklahoma's challenging summers. Group plants by water needs. Eliminate or minimize lawn. Use mulch to conserve moisture. Design water harvesting features to capture occasional heavy rains. Once established, prairie gardens thrive on rainfall alone.

Provide critical stopover habitat for migrating birds and monarchs. Include milkweeds for monarch reproduction. Plant seed-producing grasses and flowers for resident and migrating birds. Add berry shrubs. Leave seed heads standing through winter for wildlife food.

Select sturdy, deep-rooted species handling Oklahoma's strong winds. Avoid brittle plants requiring staking. Use prairie grasses whose movement adds dynamic beauty. Position wind-tolerant shrubs as windbreaks. Embrace wind as asset rather than challenge.

Control weeds aggressively during establishment. Use prescribed burning or mowing for long-term management. Accept natural succession and self-seeding. Allow gardens to develop authentic prairie character with minimal intervention once mature.