Northwestern Great Plains is an unglaciated, rolling plain of shale and sandstone with a dry mid-latitude steppe climate, containing shortgrass and mixedgrass prairies that are used primarily for livestock grazing.
Zone
Prairie
Common Name
Northwestern Great Plains
CEC Level III Code
9.3.3
CEC Level II Code
9.3 West-Central Semi-Arid Prairies
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Northwestern Great Plains, CEC 9.3.3 |
| Geographic Range | This region encompasses the Missouri Plateau section of the Great Plains in southeastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming, and the western portion of the Dakotas. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Northwestern Great Plains ecoregion has a dry mid-latitude steppe climate with hot summers, cold winters (mean annual temperature 5°C to 8.5°C), a frost-free period of 90 to 155 days, and mean annual precipitation of 393 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The region is characterized by an unglaciated, rolling plain of shale and sandstone, featuring occasional buttes and areas of dissected, badland terrain and river breaks. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation is characterized by a mix of shortgrass and mixedgrass prairies with species like blue grama and western wheatgrass, areas of sagebrush steppe, and scattered ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Northwestern Great Plains is home to common species such as white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, bobcat, cougar, prairie dog, jackrabbit, golden eagle, ferruginous hawk, meadowlark, sage grouse, sage thrasher, northern pintail, and prairie rattlesnake. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation is characterized by a mix of shortgrass and mixedgrass prairies with species like blue grama and western wheatgrass, areas of sagebrush steppe, and scattered ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper.
The Northwestern Great Plains is home to common species such as white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, bobcat, cougar, prairie dog, jackrabbit, golden eagle, ferruginous hawk, meadowlark, sage grouse, sage thrasher, northern pintail, and prairie rattlesnake.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter / early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe places to emerge | Leave last year’s stems/leaves a bit longer; add early-blooming natives; avoid “spring cleanup” that removes shelter too soon |
| Spring | Steady blooms; nesting sites | Plant or pot up spring-to-early-summer bloomers; keep a small patch of bare, well-drained soil for ground nesters |
| Summer | Reliable nectar during heat; water access | Prioritize drought-tolerant native flowers; add a shallow water dish with stones; keep blooms coming in clumps |
| Late summer / fall | “Last chance” fuel before winter; seed set | Plant late bloomers; let some flowers go to seed; avoid cutting everything back |
| Winter (dormant season) | Shelter; undisturbed nesting | Leave stems standing; keep leaf litter in a corner; plan next year’s bloom sequence and add missing seasons |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers that help the first emerging bees.
Summer bridge: dependable mid-season flowers that carry pollinators through heat and dry spells.
Fall finisher: late-season asters/goldenrods/sunflowers that provide crucial end-of-year fuel.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Blanketflowers (Gaillardia) are bright, long-blooming wildflowers that can bring steady color and pollinator visits to sunny gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Blazing stars (Liatris) are upright, purple-pink wildflowers that bloom in showy spikes and are well-loved by many pollinators. They’re a strong choice for sunny gardens, borders, and meadow-style plantings.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Coneflowers (Echinacea) are tough, long-blooming wildflowers that bring steady color and reliable nectar and pollen to gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Coreopsis (often called tickseed) is a cheerful, long-blooming group of wildflowers that can brighten gardens and containers while offering easy-to-find nectar and pollen for many pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Ironweeds are tall, purple-blooming wildflowers in the genus Vernonia that bring late-season color and steady nectar to pollinator gardens.
Milkweeds are tough, nectar-rich wildflowers in the genus Asclepias that can turn a garden bed, schoolyard edge, or even a sunny pot into a pollinator stop.
Mountain mints are tough, fragrant native wildflowers that bloom in summer and are famous for drawing in a busy mix of pollinators. They’re easy to grow, handle a range of garden conditions, and make a great “plant it and watch it” choice for pollinator patches.
Prairie clovers (genus Dalea) are prairie wildflowers with tidy, clover-like leaves and bottlebrush-style blooms that are popular with many pollinators. They’re a great choice for sunny, well-drained spots where you want long-lasting summer color without fussy care.
Prairie coneflowers (Ratibida) are tough, sunny wildflowers with drooping petals and a bold cone-shaped center that pollinators can easily find. They’re a great choice for low-fuss gardens, schoolyards, and naturalized patches where you want long-lasting summer color.
Native sunflowers are bright, tough wildflowers in the genus Helianthus that feed pollinators and add cheerful color from mid-season into fall.
Wild bergamot and other bee balms (the genus Monarda) are easygoing native wildflowers known for their shaggy, pom‑pom blooms that draw in lots of pollinators. They’re a great choice when you want long-lasting summer color and a plant that feels lively with buzzing visitors.
Wild indigos (genus Baptisia) are long-lived native wildflowers known for upright flower spikes, clover-like leaves, and a tough, low-fuss nature once established. They’re a strong choice for pollinator-friendly gardens where you want reliable blooms and a plant that can hold its own without constant care.
Silphium (often called rosinweed) is a group of tall, tough native wildflowers known for sunflower-like blooms and long-lasting nectar and pollen. They’re a strong choice for pollinator gardens, schoolyards, and naturalized edges where you want big plants that can handle summer heat once established.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Many brushfoots move pollen between flowers as they feed, and their caterpillars are part of healthy food webs.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden crops set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
They’re part of healthy food webs and plant communities, and their caterpillars depend on a wide range of native trees and shrubs.
Skippers visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms while they feed.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
Adult swallowtails visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
