Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
3
County
Cook
Location And Access
Paintbrush Prairie is one of five Nature Preserves in south Cook County collectively known as the Indian Boundary Prairies. Other sites included in the Indian Boundary Prairies include Gensburg-Markham Prairie Nature Preserve, Sundrop Prairie Nature Preserve, Markham Prairie East Nature Preserve, and Dropseed Prairie Nature Preserve, all of which are dedicated sites representative of the Chicago Lake Plain Section of the Northeastern Morainal Natural Division of Illinois. The site is located on Frontage Road between 155th and 157th Streets in Markham and is open to the public.
Description
The soils of Paintbrush Prairie Nature Preserve were formed in the Chicago Lake Plain, during the last stages of Wisconsinan glaciation. A mosaic of natural communities are found within the site including mesic prairie, wet-mesic prairie, wet prairie, sedge meadow, and old field. The highest quality portion of the preserve is the mesic black soil prairie characterized by eared false foxglove, low calamint, Kalm’s brome, common valerian, and slender false foxglove. Big blue stem, Indian grass, and prairie dropseed are distributed throughout the mesic prairie. The forbs are showy, diverse, and abundant with characteristic mesic prairie species such as shooting star, hoary puccoon, prairie phlox, rattlesnake master, compass plant, and prairie dock. More than 200 native plant species have been documented at Paintbrush Prairie, including federally-threatened and state-endangered species.
Ownership
The Nature Conservancy
Dedicated
March 1999
Size
87 Acres
Topographic Quad
Harvey
For Further Information
Visit The Nature Conservancy Website or Contact the INPC
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686