Grow Native
Grow Native! is a program of the Missouri Department of  Conservation that exists to increase biodiversity through the use of native plants in all landscapes. Grow Native! works to increase demand for native plants through marketing, education and networking and to support private businesses supplying native plants, seed and related services, such as design, installation and maintenance.
Check out the test planting at Crawford Electric headquarters.
Click on the numbered areas or the plant names below to learn more about each native plant.
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1 - Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
2 - Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
3 - Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
4 - Ox-eye False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
5 - Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
6 - Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
7 - Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
8 - Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
9 - New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
10 - Grey Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
11 - Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
12 - Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana)
Click here for a printable guide of the Crawford Electric planting.
Native planting at Crawford Electric
On May 20, 2004, a group of energetic volunteers planted almost 2,500 wildflower plugs to begin a native landscaping demonstration plot on the grounds of Crawford Electric Cooperative.
Low-growing forbs (wildflowers) and grasses are ideal species for a power line right of way, helping to reduce hazards and maintenance costs and providing long-term operational benefits to the cooperative. That's why Crawford Electric is interested in promoting this type of habitat enhancement.
The planting was a joint effort of the cooperative and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Planting volunteers also included representatives of the Cuba Hills Garden Club.
The plants were grown by FFA students statewide as part of the Grow Native program, which is a joint effort of the state's conservation and agriculture departments. Grow Native works to increase demand for native plants through marketing, education and networking.
"Our integrated vegetation management approach to right-of-way work is a perfect fit with the Grow Native program," said Joe Ritchie, Crawford's right-of-way superintendent. Integrated vegetation management (IVM) involves mechanical clearing (mowing and trimming), stump treatment and follow-up with selective herbicides.
IVM in a utility right of way creates habitat ideally suited for Missouri wildflowers and native grasses. The herbicides that selectively remove encroaching woody tree species create what's called an early successional stage of growth. This is the stage of habitat created naturally by fire. Low-growing forbs and grasses flourish in this type of habitat.
"I'm excited to have Grow Native be a part of Crawford's right-of-way program," said Judy Allmon, executive director of the Grow Native program. "We hope this pilot project will serve as a model for how electric utilities can handle their rights of way."
The Conservation Department agrees.
"Power line rights of way are one of the few examples of non-forested open lands where native plants can have the opportunity to flourish," said Scot Mikols, an MDC private lands conservationist. The regular cycle of maintenance in the utility right of way is beneficial to the native species, he said.
"The maintenance to keep the right of way free of trees simulates natural disturbances and helps ensure diversity of habitat," Mikols said.
The demonstration plot planted at Crawford Electric will showcase the following native species: lanceleaf coreopsis, grey-headed coneflower, pale purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, prairie blazing star, bee balm, cardinal flower, New England aster, oxeye false sunflower, sideoats grama, little bluestem and prairie dropseed.
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