Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains is a region adjacent to Lake Michigan in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, characterized by predominantly flat to rolling glacial plains, a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate, and land use mostly devoted to cropland for dairy operations.
Zone
Prairie
Common Name
Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains
CEC Level III Code
8.2.1
CEC Level II Code
8.2 Central USA Plains
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains, CEC 8.2.1 |
| Geographic Range | This region lies adjacent to Lake Michigan in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains ecoregion has a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate with warm summers and severe winters, a mean annual temperature of approximately 7°C to 10°C, a frost-free period ranging from 150 to 190 days, and a mean annual precipitation of 813 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain is predominantly flat to rolling glacial plains with features like till plains, lacustrine clay plains, pitted outwash plains, drumlins, and moraines, with elevations generally ranging from 200 to 300 masl. |
| Vegetation Cover | The region supports a vegetation mosaic that transitions between hardwood forests, oak savannas, and tall-grass prairies, featuring red and white oak, beech, sugar maple, and little/big bluestem. |
| Wildlife Habitat | Wildlife in the Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains includes white-tailed deer, red fox, coyote, raccoon, various squirrels, wild turkey, Canada goose, sandhill crane, and fish such as perch, northern pike, and brook trout. |
Eco snapshot
The region supports a vegetation mosaic that transitions between hardwood forests, oak savannas, and tall-grass prairies, featuring red and white oak, beech, sugar maple, and little/big bluestem.
Wildlife in the Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains includes white-tailed deer, red fox, coyote, raccoon, various squirrels, wild turkey, Canada goose, sandhill crane, and fish such as perch, northern pike, and brook trout.
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 and pollen; safe places to emerge | Leave stems/leaves until spring is truly underway; add early-blooming native flowers; avoid “cleanup everything” yard habits |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting sites starting up | Plant spring bloomers; keep some bare, well-drained soil; provide shallow water with landing stones |
| Summer | Reliable nectar during heat; diverse flowers; low pesticide exposure | Add mid-summer natives; water new plantings; avoid pesticides and “weed-and-feed” products |
| Late summer / fall | High-energy nectar for migration and winter prep | Plant late bloomers; let some seedheads stand; reduce mowing in flowering areas |
| Winter | Shelter for overwintering insects and next year’s habitat | Leave stems, leaf litter, and brush piles in a corner; plan next season’s bloom gaps and add one more native species |
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers that help pollinators as they emerge and begin nesting
Mid-season flowers that keep nectar/pollen steady through the busiest months
Late-season asters/goldenrods and other fall flowers that fuel migration and winter preparation
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.
