Somerford Township near Summerford in Madison County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ohio Native Plants

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 6, 2026

1. Ohio Native Plants Marker

Inscription.

Ohio Native Plants. . , , Black-Eyed Susan ,

Common Name: Black-eyed Susan , Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta , Height/Width: 10 inches to 3.25 feet / 1 to 1.5 feet , Habitats: Full sun in meadows and openings in wooded areas, on riverbanks, and in fields , Flowering Period: July through October , Bloom Color: Yellow rays with dark brown to black center , Wildlife Value: Nectar and pollen in the blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds. , History/Lore: Incredibly resilient, this plant can grow in almost any condition. Known as a pioneer plant, it is one of the first wildflowers to inhabit after a natural disturbance, such as fire. Fire is a natural part of Ohio's ecosystem, and many species benefit from fires.

, Little Bluestem ,

Common Name: Little bluestem , Botanical Name: Schizachyrium scoparium , Height/Width: 2 to 4 feet / 1.5 to 2 feet , Habitats: Full sun in dry open areas, such as rocky and sandy prairies and savannas, in fields, and along roadsides , Flowering Period: Late July through mid-September , Bloom Color: Purplish bronze , Wildlife Value: The little bluestem gives food, shelter, and nesting material to wildlife and attracts birds and pollinators. The seeds, fuzzy white at maturity, are of particular value to small birds in winter. , History/Lore: When little bluestem blanketed the prairies, Native Americans used it for insulation in moccasins. Bundles of little bluestem stalks lashed together formed switches to use in the sweat lodge.

, Dense Blazing-Star ,

Common Name: Dense blazing-star , Botanical Name: Liatris spicata , Height/Width: 2 to 4 feet/8 inches to 1.5 feet , Habitats: Full sun on moist prairies with a variety of soil types, in prairie swales, and along the edges of wet meadows , Flowering Period: July through August , Bloom Color: Red-purple , Wildlife Value: Its grasslike foliage and tall blooming spikes attract butterflies, birds, and bees. , History/Lore: Various parts of the plant can be used in potpourri and as an herbal insect repellent. Historically, the roots were used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.

Black-Eyed Susan

Common Name: Black-eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
Height/Width: 10 inches to 3.25 feet / 1 to 1.5 feet
Habitats: Full sun in meadows and openings in wooded areas, on riverbanks, and in fields
Flowering Period: July through October
Bloom Color: Yellow rays with dark brown to black center
Wildlife Value: Nectar and pollen in the blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Songbirds eat the seeds.
History/Lore: Incredibly resilient, this plant can grow in almost any condition. Known as a pioneer plant, it is one of the first wildflowers to inhabit after a natural disturbance, such as fire. Fire is a natural part of Ohio's ecosystem, and many species benefit from fires.

Little Bluestem

Common Name: Little bluestem
Botanical Name: Schizachyrium scoparium
Height/Width: 2 to 4 feet / 1.5 to 2 feet
Habitats: Full sun in dry open areas, such as rocky and sandy prairies and savannas, in fields, and along roadsides
Flowering Period: Late July through mid-September
Bloom Color: Purplish bronze
Wildlife Value: The little bluestem gives food, shelter,
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and nesting material to wildlife and attracts birds and pollinators. The seeds, fuzzy white at maturity, are of particular value to small birds in winter.
History/Lore: When little bluestem blanketed the prairies, Native Americans used it for insulation in moccasins. Bundles of little bluestem stalks lashed together formed switches to use in the sweat lodge.

Dense Blazing-Star

Common Name: Dense blazing-star
Botanical Name: Liatris spicata
Height/Width: 2 to 4 feet/8 inches to 1.5 feet
Habitats: Full sun on moist prairies with a variety of soil types, in prairie swales, and along the edges of wet meadows
Flowering Period: July through August
Bloom Color: Red-purple
Wildlife Value: Its grasslike foliage and tall blooming spikes attract butterflies, birds, and bees.
History/Lore: Various parts of the plant can be used in potpourri and as an herbal insect repellent. Historically, the roots were used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.

Erected 2026 by Ohio Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 6, 2026

2. Ohio Native Plants Marker

39° 56.384′ N, 83° 31.926′ W. Marker is near Summerford, Ohio, in Madison County. It is in Somerford Township. It is on Interstate 70 at milepost 70, on the right when traveling east. Marker is on the grounds of the South Vienna Eastbound Rest Area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: South Vienna OH 45369, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ohio World War I Red Poppy (a few steps from this marker); Ohio's Physiographic Regions (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Buckeye Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (within shouting distance of this marker); Four Chaplains Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Somerford Veterans Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); The Molly Caren Agricultural Center (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerford.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.