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For information on State Natural Areas, contact:
State Natural Areas Program

Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program Oliver Prairie (No. 58)

Oliver Prairie

Photo by Joshua Mayer


Overview

Location

Green County.

Description

Description

Oliver Prairie is an undisturbed, remnant dry prairie located on a west- and north-facing hillside on thin soil over Galena dolomite (limestone). This fact accounts for the prairie escaping conversion to agricultural land. Although very small, the prairie contains more than 70 prairie species including pasqueflower, shooting-star, rattlesnake-master, coreopsis, wood betony, pale-spike lobelia, bird's-foot violet, asters, and goldenrods. Common prairie grasses are big and little blue-stems, Indian grass, and side-oats grama. Birds include the common dry prairie species, western meadowlark and grasshopper sparrow. Oliver Prairie is owned by the University of Wisconsin and was designated a State Natural Area in 1967.

Access

Driving directions

Please contact the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum at (608)263-7344 for access permission

Ownership

Oliver Prairie is owned by:

  • UW Board of Regents
Last revised: Friday, February 24, 2023