9 Native Plants in South Dakota

Written by Jeremiah Wright
Published: December 24, 2022
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South Dakota, or the Mount Rushmore State, is located in the north-central United States and has a temperate continental climate. It has dry winters and semi-humid summers that are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms and strong winds.

Most of the state is covered in grasses and crops. However, South Dakota is home to many other types of plants – trees, shrubs, ferns, or vines!

If you’re planning to visit South Dakota, you should check this list of plants native to the state, especially if you’re a plant enthusiast!

1. Cutleaf Daisy

cutleaf daisy

The cutleaf daisy is a perennial herb that spreads through underground rhizomes.

©iStock.com/skymoon13

Cutleaf Daisy
Scientific nameErigeron compositus
Other common namesDwarf mountain fleabane, trifid mountain fleabane
Type of plantPerennial herb
DistributionCanada, the western-central United States

The cutleaf daisy is a perennial herb that spreads through underground rhizomes. It’s a small herb, growing only up to 10 inches tall. Each cutleaf daisy stem has one flower head that bears from 20 to 60 ray florets that can be white, pink, and sometimes blue.

The cutleaf daisy is also considered an Arctic and alpine species, but it’s common throughout Canada and the western-central United States, ranging as south as New Mexico.

2. Rosinweed

Yellow Rosinweed blooming in the spring with a dark background.

The rosinweed can develop around 100 hairless or rough-haired stems.

©iStock.com/Derek Broussard

Rosinweed
Scientific nameSilphium integrifolium
Other common namesEntire-leaf rosinweed, whole-leaf rosinweed, silflower, prairie rosinweed
Type of plantPerennial herb
DistributionEastern and central North America

The rosinweed herb is common throughout eastern and central North America and is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens since it’s easy to be taken care of. The plant grows to around 6 feet tall and can develop around 100 hairless or rough-haired stems. The leaves grow directly on the stems in an opposite arrangement.

The rosinweed herb produces many yellow flowers that grow on clusters holding up to 15 flower heads, and each flower head is equipped with up to 36 ray flowers and many disc florets.

Besides serving as an ornamental plant, rosinweed is an important food source for herbivorous animals, including blister beetles and white-tailed deer

3. Nannyberry

Nannyberry

Nannyberry flowers in late spring and exhibits its creamy flowers.

©iStock.com/Art_rich

Nannyberry
Scientific nameViburnum lentago
Other common namesSheepberry, sweet viburnum
Type of plantShrub or small tree
DistributionNortheastern and midwestern United States, southern Canada

The nannyberry plant can grow either as a shrub or a small tree. Its trunk diameter is usually around 10 inches. On average, the plant grows up to 30 feet tall. A nannyberry’s reddish-brown trunk is usually short, while the branches are flexible and pendulous. When the plant is young, its twigs are pale green, darkening in time, reaching a reddish-brown color. If crushed, the twigs give off an unpleasant scent.

The nannyberry plant has oppositely arranged leaves with an oval shape and finely serrated margins. While they’re usually bright green, the leaves get a gorgeous red or orange color in autumn.

Nannyberry flowers in late spring and exhibits its creamy flowers. On the other hand, the fruits are bluish-black and have a sweet, juicy taste.

4. Eastern Red Cedar

Eastern Red Cedar

The eastern red cedar has a reddish-brown bark, while its leaves are either needle-like or scale-like.

©iStock.com/Holcy

Eastern Red Cedar
Scientific nameJuniperus virginiana
Other common namesRed juniper, red cedar, Virginian juniper
Type of plantConiferous evergreen tree
DistributionEastern North America

The eastern red cedar is a coniferous evergreen tree that usually reaches 16 – 66 feet tall. However, if it grows in poor soil, the plant may never become a tree, remaining a small bush instead.

The eastern red cedar has a reddish-brown bark, while its leaves are either needle-like or scale-like. The seed cones have a berry-like shape and a beautiful dark purplish color with blue shades. The berries play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance, as they’re a major food source for many bird species.

On the other hand, the eastern red cedar is considered invasive in some regions. Moreover, its pollen is a known allergen.

5. Eastern American Black Walnut

fall black walnut tree landscape

The eastern American black walnut is a deciduous tree growing primarily in riparian zones.

©iStock.com/jdt01fgo

Eastern American Black Walnut
Scientific nameJuglans nigra
Type of plantDeciduous tree
DistributionCentral and eastern United States

The eastern American black walnut is a deciduous tree growing primarily in riparian zones. Its trunk usually reaches heights of up to 130 feet in forests, while in open areas, the trunk is shorter, and the tree develops a broad crown. The bark is grayish-black.

The dark green leaves of the eastern American black walnut are alternately arranged, growing from the stem, and feature a hairy underside. Eastern American black walnut trees produce both male and female flowers. The latter grow in clusters of 2 to 5, while the former grow in drooping catkins. The brownish-green fruits ripen in late summer or early autumn.

6. American Pussy Willow

American pussy willow

When spring sets in, the American pussy willow unravels its silvery catkins, followed by small capsule-like fruits.

©iStock.com/Denis1978

American Pussy Willow
Scientific nameSalix discolor
Other common namesGlaucous willow
Type of plantDeciduous shrub
DistributionCanada, northern United States

While the American pussy willow isn’t widely distributed in South Dakota, it’s undoubtedly worth mentioning thanks to its unique appearance.

This willow species grows as deciduous shrubs or small trees, rarely reaching more than 20 feet tall. It has oval leaves with green upper sides and grayish-white undersides. When spring sets in, the American pussy willow unravels its silvery catkins, followed by small capsule-like fruits.

The tree is a host for numerous insect larvae. Moreover, the willow bark contains salicin, which was once used as a painkiller.

7. Virginia Creeper

cluster of virginia creeper berries

The Virginia creeper has palmately compound leaves equipped with five leaflets with toothed margins.

©Anna Gratys/Shutterstock.com

Virginia Creeper
Scientific nameParthenocissus quinquefolia
Other common namesFive-finger, five-leaved ivy, Victoria creeper
Type of plantDeciduous vine
DistributionEastern and central North America, southeastern Canada, Mexico, Guatemala

The Virginia creeper has palmately compound leaves equipped with five leaflets with toothed margins. The leaves are usually green but can turn bright red in autumn. The climber blooms in late spring and produces green flowers that grow in clusters.

In early fall, Virginia creeper unravels its fruits  – small purple-black berries. The oxalic acid in berries is highly toxic to humans, as it can cause kidney damage and sometimes even be fatal. On the other hand, birds delight in Virginia creeper berries, and some rely only on them during winter!

Although toxic, many gardeners choose the Virginia creeper for their gardens and yards due to its rapid growth and spread. However, while it may be useful in covering buildings and walls, this deciduous climber can also spread over trees and other plants, eventually killing them.

8. Needle Spikerush

needle spikerush - Eleocharis acicularis

The needle spikerush is a spike-sedge featuring grass-like stems.

©IvanaStevanoski/Shutterstock.com

Needle Spikerush
Scientific nameEleocharis acicularis
Other common namesLeast spikerush
Type of plantAnnual or perennial spikesedge
DistributionAsia, North America, South America, Australia

The needle spikerush is a spike-sedge featuring grass-like stems. It’s not a large plant, as its stems grow only up to around 6 inches. The plant is typically found in aquatic and semi-aquatic environments. If it grows in shallow water, the needle spikerush will develop tiny flowers that grow independently at the tip of each stem.

The needle spikerush is very popular among plant enthusiasts and not only! Some people add the needle spikerush to their aquariums, as it can provide fish with dense mats they need to lay their eggs. Others add it to their ponds because it can reduce algae growth and absorb mineral salts. Moreover, the needle spikerush species doesn’t require much maintenance and is generally pest- and disease-free.

9. Anise Hyssop

Anise hyssop flowers

The anise hyssop is a plant in the mint family and one of the major attractions for pollinators.

©iStock.com/BethAmber

Anise Hyssop
Scientific nameAgastache foeniculum
Other common namesLavender giant hyssop, blue giant hyssop, fragrant giant hyssop
Type of plantPerennial plant
DistributionCentral and northern North America

The anise hyssop is a plant in the mint family and one of the major attractions for pollinators. Only one anise hyssop can produce up to 90,000 flowers; imagine it!

The anise hyssop grows in a clump-like shape, reaching 4 feet tall and 1 foot wide. It flowers from June to September when it’s covered in many purple flowers that grow upward throughout the oval leaves. When the flowers bloom, they’re covered in pollinators like bees and butterflies all day long!

While the plant was once used to treat wounds, cough, and fevers, the leaves are nowadays used in tea-making and added to salads. However, even though it isn’t a common medicinal herb today, studies show that anise hyssop essential oil has antioxidant, antibacterial, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory properties. This indicates that the plant may someday be used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Lyudmila Chetvertnykh


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About the Author

I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. Asides from writing, I enjoy surfing the internet and listening to music.

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Sources
  1. https://www.gardenia.net/native-plants/south-dakota, Available here: https://www.gardenia.net/native-plants/south-dakota
  2. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, Available here: https://japsonline.com/admin/php/uploads/2843_pdf.pdf