description Greene Prairie Overview
Greene Prairie is a restored tallgrass prairie located within the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin. The site was meticulously restored by botanist Henry Greene, who began planting the area with local seeds in the 1940s alongside other conservationists. It represents one of the earliest and most ecologically diverse attempts to reconstruct a native tallgrass prairie ecosystem on degraded agricultural land. Today, the area serves as an important research site for ecologists and a habitat for native prairie flora and fauna.
help Greene Prairie FAQ
Where is Greene Prairie within the UW Madison Arboretum?
Greene Prairie is a roughly 47-acre restoration in the Arboretum's Grady Tract in Madison, Wisconsin. It lies along the southern boundary of that tract and is named for botanist Henry Greene. [UW Arboretum](https://arboretum.wisc.edu/news/arboretum-news/research-update-monitoring-the-vegetation-of-greene-prairie/)
Who restored Greene Prairie and when did the work begin?
Henry Greene began the restoration in 1942 and continued planting through the early 1960s. UW Arboretum sources credit him with planting more than 130 species from locally collected seed. [UW Arboretum](https://arboretum.wisc.edu/news/arboretum-news/research-update-monitoring-the-vegetation-of-greene-prairie/)
Is Greene Prairie a tallgrass prairie or a shortgrass prairie?
Although some catalog descriptions call it tallgrass prairie, UW Arboretum sources describe Greene Prairie as a restored short-stature or short-grass prairie. Its 47 acres contain plants selected for different soil and moisture conditions. [UW Arboretum](https://arboretum.wisc.edu/news/arboretum-news/research-update-monitoring-the-vegetation-of-greene-prairie/)
What conservation problems does Greene Prairie face today?
Stormwater has encouraged reed canary grass in part of the southwest corner, while shrubs and young trees have spread in the drier northeast section. Ongoing restoration therefore involves controlling invasive plants and woody growth across the 47-acre site. [UW Arboretum](https://arboretum.wisc.edu/news/arboretum-news/research-update-monitoring-the-vegetation-of-greene-prairie/)
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