Getting Started with Native Plants in Your Home Landscape
You don't have to be an expert to start incorporating
beautiful native plants into your yard! And you'll love how easy they
are to grow.
What is a native plant?
A native plant is a plant
that has grown wild in a particular area for thousands of years, over
which time it has co-evolved with the animals, insects, and other plants
also native in the area. The most common definition of a native plant
is one that existed in North America prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Why are natives important?
- Natives are particularly well-adapted to the climate, soil, moisture level, etc. in an area. So, once they are established, they do not require additional irrigation, fertilization, or pest controls. They are ideal low-maintenance plants.
- Native plants provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for birds,
butterflies, and other important wildlife.
Getting started
- Find out which species are native in your area. Consult a list,
or take a hike in natural areas near your house (bring an identification
manual).
- Look at the area around your house: observe sun and shade, soil
types, and moisture levels. Research the plants that will do well
in these conditions.
Keeping the above in mind, pick plant varieties that you like, or according to the species of wildlife you want to attract.
- Make sure that at least some of the plants you choose are straight
species, and not cultivars, of a plant *. The genetic diversity of
straight species reduces risk and maximizes the plant’s adaptability.
- Plant a multi-layered garden with trees, shrubs, grasses, and herbaceous
plants (preferably with different bloom seasons); this will be most
conducive to wildlife.
- Take care of your new plantings until established. Ensure consistent
moisture, keep invasive plants out of the area, and protect plants
from deer and rabbits.
Resources
www.wildflower.org: An excellent database of native wildflowers
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/invasivetutorial/List.htm: Fact sheets
and identification guides for all invasive plants in PA
www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/pdf/AAHPA-Plantlists.pdf: Plants w/ High
Wildlife Value
Get a free copy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s excellent,
full-color publication entitled “Native Plants for Wildlife Conservation
and Landscaping” by sending an email request to mary_cordovilla@fws.gov.
* Look at the two-word Latin name of the plant. If it is followed by a word in single quotations, the plant is a cultivar. If not, it’s the straight species. For example, Helenium autumnale is the straight species, Helenium autumnale ‘Mardi Gras’ is a cultivar of that species.