We hear a lot these days about the benefits of using “natives” in our gardens. But what exactly does this mean and why should we bother?

Why Go Native?

  First, a little background. Native plants are those species that existed in our area before human activities dominated the natural landscape. These natives have had to compete with later-introduced imports (what some may call invaders) brought to the area to suit people’s cultural, aesthetic and environmental needs.

  The new arrivals in themselves are not the problem. But some of these non-native plant species escaped from gardens or were introduced intentionally into natural areas. Unfortunately, these exotic, invasive plants (think kudzu or knotweed) can take over, out-competing native plants. As the native species dwindle, animals and insects dependent upon them for food and shelter are also threatened.

  Gardening with native plants offers benefits to both the environment and your wallet. The native plants tend to be easy to grow, have relatively few pest and disease problems, and generally require little extra watering and fertilizing. This means your gardening dollars go further when you spend them on plants that are more likely to thrive. You’ll also spend less time coddling your garden plants and more time enjoying their beauty. Definitely a gardening win-win.
 

Crow’s Nest Demonstration

  At the Crow’s Nest Preserve (along French Creek, Warwick Township in Chester County) Natural Lands Trust has established a native garden around the historic barn that serves as the preserve’s center. The barnyard garden is low-maintenance with slightly-raised beds around the perimeter of the barnyard, interrupted by seating areas.

  The design concept was to make the garden beds look like abandoned watering troughs that have filled in with wildflowers. The intent of the garden is to demonstrate the horticultural use of native perennials, attract wildlife to the visitor center, and give visitors a sample of what kinds of plants they might see as they explore the rest of the 600-acre preserve.

  Most of the plant beds are in full sun, yet the thriving plants rarely need watering since many of them are native to sunny meadows. Many of the plants are not cut back at the end of the summer season, as their dried stalks and seed heads provide visual interest in the fall and winter months, and often attract birds and other animals that feed on the seeds. Now that’s low maintenance!

  In addition to plants mentioned in the “Fall Color” sidebar, two notable favorites from Crow’s Nest are:

  •Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a bushy deer-resistant perennial prized for its bright orange flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

  •Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa), a deer-resistant plant that attracts birds, bees and butterflies. The plant’s leaves have a minty smell and the flowers are edible.

  To learn more about Crow’s Nest Preserve, visit the preserve’s web page at NatLands.org/preserves. Or better yet, visit in person to see the gardens and explore on your own. The preserve is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

How To Do It Yourself

  When planning your native plant garden, keep in mind some design basics. Using plants with varying textures and shapes is more appealing to the eye. In terms of color, while creating a garden of similar-hued blooms can be striking, it’s also attractive to contrast colors. When choosing varieties, rather than planting just one or two of each species, try massing groups of plants for more impact. And planting odd numbers creates the most naturalistic appearance.

  Plan for function, too. A pathway of stepping stones through the garden will allow for better access to plants and will prevent soil compaction that can impact root growth. And, of course, remember practical considerations such as sun and soil conditions.

  If you’re starting a new garden, sketch the view of its area (or trace over a photograph of it) from the perspective from which you’ll be enjoying it. Photocopy this drawing and on the copies, add your vision overtop the existing conditions.

  Don’t be afraid to experiment in your design. Gardening is more of an art than a science, and plants can always be moved to another location if you aren’t satisfied with the initial results.

  You don’t have to start from scratch to enjoy the benefits of native plants. Try incorporating a few clumps of eye-catching cone flower (Echinacea) in a cutting garden, or add minty-scented beebalm (Monarda) to an herb garden. A serviceberry shrub (Amelanchier canadensis) or a winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) will provide hours of bird watching when planted so you can see it from a window.

  Another option is to replace a section of lawn turf with native grasses to cut down on mowing, watering and fertilizing. Once you start gardening with carefree natives, you won’t want to stop!

Some Sources

 As the trend toward planting with native plants grows, more nurseries are stocking native species, especially in our area. But if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for locally, mail order and internet sources are other options.

  In addition, Natural Lands Trust offers a list of popular native plants and local suppliers. You can download this resource at NatLands.org/publications or call 610-353-5587, ext 243. -CL-

  Kirsten Werner is Director of Communications at the Natural Lands Trust, the region’s largest land conservation organization, preserving open space in eastern PA and southern NJ. The Trust owns and manages over 40 nature preserves with more than 20,000 acres and holds conservation easements and other restrictions on over 18,000 acres. Learn more at NatLands.org. 

Native Plants for Fall Color

  Another benefit of native planting is the availability of a range of seasonal color. Plant a low-maintenance native garden for blazing fall color and, as a bonus, attract nature’s soundtrack of songbirds. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), a deciduous shrub with showy, fragrant spring blooms and crimson fall foliage. Content in full sun to part shade, this plant also attracts songbirds.

• Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), another deciduous shrub that develops brilliant red fruit in winter that persists until early spring. Also attracts a wide variety of songbirds. Shown on prior page during three seasons.

• Rough-leaved goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), a sun-loving plant that puts out showy yellow blooms in September. Note: hay fever isn’t caused by goldenrod (it gets blamed for the allergies caused by ragweed).

• Blazing star (Liatris spicata), another full-sun perennial whose spiky purple flowers, which appear in August or September, attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

• Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), a small, non-spreading, clump-forming grass with blue-green leaves that turn reddish orange in the fall. Fluffy silver seed heads are ornamental through winter.

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), a tall shrub or small tree bearing clusters of fragrant white flowers in April that give rise to flavorful, purple-black, berrylike fruits relished by both songbirds and people. This lovely tree has colorful fall foliage in a blend of orange, gold, red and green.

• Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum), a sunny perennial with round heads of vanilla-scented, rosy pink flowers in late summer. Butterflies flock to the flowers. Whorled leaves scale tall sturdy stems making the plant attractive in the landscape even when it’s not blooming.