FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER
Plants of the Chicago River Watershed
Boxelder
R
Acer negundo
50-70 feet tall
Giant Ragweed
R
Ambrosia trif ida
The boxelder tree is a fast-grow ing, shortlived tree. Its three leaflets resemble those
of poison ivy, but it’s a tree of the maple
family with a woody trunk – not a v ine.
This plant has large three-pointed leaves
that resemble a bird foot. It is a weedy
plant that can tolerate poorer soils. H ay
fev er is caused by Ragweed, not goldenrod.
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Eastern Cottonwood
Populus de ltoids
R
75- 100 feet tall
Black Willo w
Salix nig ra
R
30-40 feet tall
Cottonw oods are the trees that release the
w hite fuzzy seeds that float all over in the
late spring to early summer. The leaves are
heart-shaped w ith course rounded teeth.
Aspirin w as developed from the bark of
w illows. This tree often grow s multiple
trunks. It requires consistently moist soil to
reach maturity .
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Larry Allai n @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
American Elm
Ulmus americana
R
80- 120 feet tall
American Basswood
Tilia americana
R
60- 80 feet ta ll
American elms were almost completely
obliterated in the U nited S tates after the
appearance of Dutch elm disease, a fungus
that attacks this tree.
The basswood is a very soft wood as it is a
fast-grower. The tree is valued for shade
and for the flavorful honey that is produced
w hen bees pollinate their flowers.
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Green Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
R
60- 80 feet tal l
Common Ragweed
X- N
Ambrosia artemisifo lia
This species is dioecious (male and female
flow er parts on different trees) and is very
tolerant to siltation. This tree has been
used to replace elms in urban forests.
The pollen of this plant causes hay fever. It
is ty pically categorized as a pioneer species
and a plant that w ill quickly grow in
disturbed areas w ith poor soils.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Downey Hawthorne
Crataegus mollis
R
20- 40 feet t all
Oxeye Daisy
Heliopsis helian thoides
X- NN
Yell ow flow ers
It is very difficult to categorize 100 or so
species of haw thorne native to N orth
America, w ith some of them ev en forming
hybrids together.
O xeye daisy is the w ell-know n yellow daisy .
It is ty pically found on roadsides and old
fields. It tolerates drought, but does better
w hen w ater is available.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Honeylocust
Gleditsia tricanthos
R
75- 80 feet tall
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
X- NN
Yellow flowers
The large thorns of the honey locust were
once used as pins. This tree produces seed
pods, 6 to 8 inches long, w hich are
flattened, redish-brow n, and leathery .
Dandelions produce seedy w ith "fuzz" on
them w hich kids love to scatter. It is
ty pically found in law ns, roadsides and old
fields, and is very difficult to get rid of.
John M. Randall, The Nature Co nservancy
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Silver Maple
R
Acer saccharinum
60- 80 feet tall
Japanese Barberry
Berberis thu nbergii
I- NN
Yell ow flow ers
S ilver maple tw igs release an unpleasant
odor w hen crushed. The trunk is usually
short, w ith several subtrunks. Without
competition, it can grow to be 100 feet tall.
This plant is widely used in landscaping
because it retains red berries in the winter.
It has escaped cultivation to become
invasiv e in many different habitats.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
R.A. Howard @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
R
75-100 feet tal l
White Sweet Clover
Melilotus alba
I- NN
White flowers
The sap of sugar maple is w here we get
maple sy rup once it is harvested and
processed. It is a common shade tree in
America and is the national tree of Canada.
White sw eet clover w as used as fodder for
livestock by early settlers. It has become a
nasty invader in prairies, sav annas, and
w oodlands across the state.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
P = Prairie
S = Sav anna
R = Riparian/Floodplain Woodland
F = Forest or Upland Woods
W = Wetland
I- NN = Inv asiv e Non-Nativ e Species I- N = Inv asiv e Nativ e Species X- NN = Non-Nativ e Weed X-N = Nativ e Weed
FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER
Plants of the Chicago River Watershed
Joe Pye Weed
P/F
Eupatorium pu rpureum
Pink flowers
American Hazel
Corylus americana
S/F
15- 25 feet tal l
The flower of Joe Pye weed has a very
pleasant scent resembling vanilla that
attracts many butterflies. They give way to
seed heads which persist w ell into w inter.
H azel is a small shrub, usually found in
clumps reaching 15 feet in height. The
fruit, or hazelnut, is oval and enclosed in a
leathery , leafy cluster called a husk.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
White Heath Aster
Aster e rico ides
P/F
W hite flow ers
Black Oak
Quercus velu tina
S/F
50- 70 feet tal l
White heath aster is also know n by such
names as farewell-to-summer or goodbyemeadow, because it is a late bloomer,
ushering in the fall season.
Black oak tress can grow in v ery sandy
soils. The inner bark, a deep yellow -orange
color, and acorns of this tree both have a
bitter taste not preferred by squirrels.
Clarence A. Rechenthin @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Common Boneset
Bur Oak
Eupatorium perfo liatum
P/F
W hite flowe rs
Quercus macro carpa
S/F
70- 80 feet ta ll
A bitter, vile-tasting tea can be made from
this plant, and was thought to be a cure for
broken bones. It does lower fever, and w as
used to combat ty phoid and yellow fev er.
Bur oaks have unusual acorns. They have a
fuzzy top that looks like shredded w heat.
The extremely thick corky bark of this tree
allow s it to surv ive prairie fires.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Canada Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis
P/F
Yel low flow ers
White Oak
Quercus a lba
S/F
80- 100 feet tall
Canada goldenrod is a v ery large showy
perennial that is w rongly accused for
causing hay fev er. P refers part shade to
full sun and regular water.
The Ohio and central M ississippi River
valley s have optimum conditions this tree.
The w hite oak is the state tree of Illinois
and has sw eeter acorns than other oaks.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Nodding Wild Onion
Allium cernu um
P/F
W hite/Pale purple fl owers
Flowering Spurge
Euphorbia co rollata
S/F
W hite flowers
Chicago was reportedly named from this
plant w hich has a mild onion fragrance.
The blooming season is usually midsummer. There is no floral scent.
This plant can tolerate dry or moist soil,
sandy or loamy soil, and will grow in open
sun or shade. Flow ers are very small. In
the sun, they cover the plant profusely .
Thomas G. Barnes @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Prairie Wild Rose
P/F
Rosa arkansana
Pink flowers
Bottlebrush Grass
S/F
Hystrix patu la
P rairie w ild rose often appears herbaceous,
but is actually a small shrub. Look for it in
prairies, sandy tame pastures, roadsides,
and at the edges of w oods.
This w oodland grass produces seedheads
that resemble the brushes used to clean
bottles. It grow s in well-drained soils and is
ideal for part-shade conditions under trees.
Dan Busemeyer, Illinois Natural History Survey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Daisy Fleabane
Erigeron strigosus
P/F
Whit e flowers
Foxtail Grass
I- NN
Setaria glau ca
F leabane grow s most anywhere and is
found in many different habitats. It is
popular w ith many flying insects and makes
a decent garden flow er.
This grass is very common along roadsides
and inv ades prairies, savannas and
w oodlands. It is a hearty grass and is v ery
resistant to many herbicides.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
P/F
Yell ow flow ers
Orchardgrass
I- NN
Dactylis g lomerata
This plant is also known as rigid goldenrod
or prairie goldenrod. Deep roots allow this
plant to w ithstand overgrazing and also
help it take hold in newly disturbed land.
O rchardgrass was planted as hay but has
escaped throughout much of America. Its
flow er spike appears as a hand w ith the
fingers together and the thumb sticking out.
Dan Busemeyer, Ill ino is Natural H istory Su rvey
W.L. Wagner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
P = Prairie
S = Sav anna
R = Riparian/Floodplain Woodland
F = Forest or Upland Woods
W = Wetland
I- NN = Inv asiv e Non-Nativ e Species I- N = Inv asiv e Nativ e Species X- NN = Non-Nativ e Weed X-N = Nativ e Weed