简介

Our native flora, particularly the prairie herbaceous plant community, is an underutilized resource for landscape horticulture. Prairie management and restoration, for maintenance of bio-diversity and natural areas, has been studied for decades. Research is needed to allow more "mainstream" use of native prairie species, both as traditional horticultural subjects or in diverse, low-input, stable plant communities. Current research focuses on: 1)establishment methods, 2)assessment of genetic diversity within and between populations, and 3)identification and development of superior horticultural types within native species.