Purchase a Root Specimen or Root Banner

Purchase a Root Specimen

Science museums, nature centers and other educational venues often want to teach about the underground life of the prairie. TPC Plant Materials Program Manager Laura Walter grows and preserves prairie root specimens in the "root pot" facility on the UNI campus. It takes at least three years plus materials, equipment and labor to produce a good quality root. Even with all of this attention, only a portion of the starting plants will turn into beautiful preserved specimens. 

Please connect with laura.walter@uni.edu if you are interested in purchasing a root specimen. 

Order a Root Banner

Select root specimen are groomed and photographed to create life-size root banners. These are a wonderful tool for on-the-go or outdoor educational activities. The current banner available displays big bluestem and leadplant roots on a 14 foot by 32 inch vinyl medium. There are metal grommets in each corner for hanging. Root banners can be ordered online through the store linked below.

For all international orders, please contact mallory.sage@uni.edu, additional shipping fees will apply to cover custom duties and taxes.

The Prairie Roots Project is entirely self-supporting, meaning that we need to cover all costs for staff time, equipment, materials, shipping and handling. Therefore, we charge $2,200 per root specimen plus $50 shipping, and $200 per banner (shipping included).