The name’s Dock, Prairie Dock. It’s a tall drink of water in the plant world, standing up to 10 feet when it’s feeling bold.
Its leaves? Big, rough, and spade-shaped—like a card player holding all the aces. They hunker down at the base, while smooth stalks shoot skyward, flaunting vibrant sunflower-like yellow blooms from midsummer to fall.
The flowers? A beacon for bees, butterflies, and birds.
The seeds? A feast for finches.
This plant doesn’t just survive—it thrives in full sun and moist to dry soils, with a deep taproot that laughs in the face of drought. It’s a native of the Midwest, tough as nails but elegant enough to steal the scene in prairies or garden borders. And here’s a twist: back in the day, prairie kids chewed its resin like gum—turpentine-flavored gum, no less. A plant with grit and history.
Conditions: Full sun; moist to dry soils
Size: 3’-10’ tall; 1’-3’ spread
Zone: 4 - 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds; seeds feed birds
Photos: Frank Mayfield