Prairie Dock

About Prairie Dock

Prairie Dock is a dramatic and unmistakable perennial characterized by its enormous, sandpaper-textured basal leaves that can grow up to eighteen inches long. From this impressive foliage base, slender and nearly leafless flower stalks rise to heights of three to ten feet, bearing clusters of bright yellow blossoms that wave gracefully in the prairie breeze. Like its relative the Compass Plant, Prairie Dock possesses an incredibly deep taproot that makes it one of the most drought-tolerant species in the native landscape. Native to the central United States, it is a staple of high-quality prairie remnants and provides critical nectar for late-summer pollinators. It thrives in full to partial sun and is adaptable to soils ranging from medium-wet to medium-dry. While it is slow-growing in its early years as it focuses energy on root development, a mature Prairie Dock is a permanent and majestic fixture that adds significant vertical interest and ecological value to any sunny, open site.