Jefferson Township near Jeffersonville in Fayette County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ohio Native Plants

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 13, 2026

1. Ohio Native Plants Marker

Inscription.

Ohio Native Plants. . , Red Osier Dogwood ,

COMMON NAME: Red osier dogwood , BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus sericea , HEIGHT/WIDTH: 6 to 9 feet / 7 to 10 feet , HABITATS: Full sun to part shade on shores and in thickets. marshes, and wet meadows , FLOWERING PERIOD: May through June , BLOOM COLOR: White , WILDLIFE VALUE: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees, wasps, moths, flies, and butterflies. Deer, beavers, and rabbits nibble on the twigs and leaves. The dense thickets also provide cover to birds and small mammals. , HISTORY/LORE: Red osier dogwood was one of several plants referred to as kinnikinnick by Native Americans for its use as a tobacco substitute. ,

Butterfly Milkweed ,

COMMON NAME: Butterfly milkweed , BOTANICAL NAME: Asclepias tuberosa , HEIGHT/WIDTH: 1 to 25 feet / 1 to 15 feet , HABITATS: Pull sun in dry, rocky open woods, glades , prairies, fields, and on roadsides , FLOWERING PERIOD: June through August , BLOOM COLOR: Yellow-orange , WILDLIFE VALUE: Butterflies are attracted to the plant , by its color and its copious production of nectar. It is a larval , food plant of the queen and monarch butterflies, as well as , the dogbane tiger moth, milkweed tussock moth, and the , unexpected cycnia. This plant also attracts hummingbirds, , bees, and other insects. , HISTORY/LORE: Native Americans and European pioneers , used the boiled roots of this plant to treat diarrhea and , respiratory illnesses. Down from the seed pod was spun and , used to make candle wicks. ,

Purple Coneflower ,

COMMON NAME: Purple coneflower , BOTANICAL NAME: Echinacea purpurea , HEIGHT/WIDTH: 2 to 5 feet / 1.5 to 2 feet , HABITATS: Full sun to part shade in prairies, barrens, and dry open woods , FLOWERING PERIOD: June through August , BLOOM COLOR: Purplish pink , WILDLIFE VALUE: The flowers attract insect and butterflies. , Many song birds, in particular Goldfinches, are fond of its seed. , HISTORY/LORE: Purple coneflower was one of the most important , medicinal plants used by Native Americans to treat a variety of , ailments. It was used at a pain reliever, anti inflammatory, , treatment for toothaches, coughs, colds, and sore throats. It was , also used as an antidote for various forms of poisonings, including , snake bite. Portions of this plant were used to dress wounds and , treat infections.

Red Osier Dogwood

COMMON NAME: Red osier dogwood
BOTANICAL NAME: Cornus sericea
HEIGHT/WIDTH: 6 to 9 feet / 7 to 10 feet
HABITATS: Full sun to part shade on shores and in thickets. marshes, and wet meadows
FLOWERING PERIOD: May through June
BLOOM COLOR: White
WILDLIFE VALUE: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees, wasps, moths, flies, and butterflies. Deer, beavers, and rabbits nibble on the twigs and leaves. The dense thickets also provide cover to birds and small mammals.
HISTORY/LORE: Red osier dogwood was one of several plants referred to as kinnikinnick by Native Americans for its use as a tobacco substitute.

Butterfly Milkweed

COMMON NAME: Butterfly milkweed
BOTANICAL NAME: Asclepias tuberosa
HEIGHT/WIDTH: 1 to 25 feet / 1 to 15 feet
HABITATS: Pull sun in dry, rocky open woods, glades
prairies, fields, and on roadsides
FLOWERING PERIOD: June through August
BLOOM COLOR: Yellow-orange
WILDLIFE VALUE: Butterflies are attracted to the plant
by its color and its copious production of nectar. It is a larval
food plant of the queen and monarch butterflies, as well as
the dogbane tiger
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moth, milkweed tussock moth, and the
unexpected cycnia. This plant also attracts hummingbirds,
bees, and other insects.
HISTORY/LORE: Native Americans and European pioneers
used the boiled roots of this plant to treat diarrhea and
respiratory illnesses. Down from the seed pod was spun and
used to make candle wicks.

Purple Coneflower

COMMON NAME: Purple coneflower
BOTANICAL NAME: Echinacea purpurea
HEIGHT/WIDTH: 2 to 5 feet / 1.5 to 2 feet
HABITATS: Full sun to part shade in prairies, barrens, and dry open woods
FLOWERING PERIOD: June through August
BLOOM COLOR: Purplish pink
WILDLIFE VALUE: The flowers attract insect and butterflies.
Many song birds, in particular Goldfinches, are fond of its seed.
HISTORY/LORE: Purple coneflower was one of the most important
medicinal plants used by Native Americans to treat a variety of
ailments. It was used at a pain reliever, anti inflammatory,
treatment for toothaches, coughs, colds, and sore throats. It was
also used as an antidote for various forms of poisonings, including
snake bite. Portions of this plant were used to dress wounds and
treat infections.

Erected 2025

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 13, 2026

2. Ohio Native Plants Marker

by Ohio Department of Transportation.

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

Location. 39° 38.208′ N, 83° 34.447′ W. Marker is near Jeffersonville, Ohio, in Fayette County. It is in Jefferson Township. It is on Interstate 71 at milepost 68, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the Fayette County (Garmhausen) Southbound Rest Area grounds. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Jeffersonville OH 43128, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ohio's Physiographic Regions

Butterfly Milkweed: An Ohio Native Plant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 13, 2026

3. Butterfly Milkweed: An Ohio Native Plant

(here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Ohio Native Plants (a few steps from this marker); Garmhausen Roadside Rest Area (a few steps from 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); Jeffersonville Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jeffersonville.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 17, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.