Native plants provide many benefits for people and wildlife, while contributing greatly to healthy soil and water. Native plants have adapted to the climate and soils of our mid western region for optimal durability and offer the most sustainable habitat for birds, insects and wildlife. A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.

 

Native plants require less fertilizer and fewer pesticides.

Vast amounts of fertilizers are applied to lawns and non native gardens. Excess phosphorus and nitrogen (the main components of fertilizers) run off into lakes and rivers causing excess algae growth. This depletes oxygen in our waters, harms aquatic life and interferes with recreational uses. The over use of a limited number of non-native plants in gardens has produced a homogenized landscape susceptible to pests and diseases, requiring the increased use of pesticides. Nationally, over 70 million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns and gardens each year. Pesticides can also contaminate rivers and lakes. Native landscapes provide habitats for wildlife and encourage the presence of native insects and microorganisms. These native organisms benefit plants by keeping them healthy without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Native plants have a symbiotic relationship with the environment.

 

Native plants help with water conservation.

The non native gardens and lawns require significant amounts of water to thrive. The deep root systems of many native mid western plants increase the soil’s capacity to store water. Native plants can significantly reduce water runoff and loss of top soil to erosion.

 

Native plants help keep the air cleaner.

One gas-powered lawnmower emits 11 times the air pollution of a new car. Excessive carbon from the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming. Natural landscapes do not require mowing or very much maintenance at all.

 

Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife, support pollinators and promote biodiversity and stewardship of nature.

In the U.S. there are approximately 20 million acres of lawn , covering more land than any single crop. There are very few benefits to native wildlife from a manicured lawn. Likewise, gardens that mostly feature non native species of plants are often of little benefit to wildlife. Native plants attract a variety of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife by providing diverse habitats and food sources. Natural landscaping is an opportunity to reestablish diverse native plants, thereby inviting the birds and butterflies back to your yard.

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Native perennials we frequently carry:

(Call for current availability)

Agastache scrophulariaefolia 'Purple Giant Hyssop'

Andropogon gerardii 'Big Blue Stem'

Aquilegia canadensis 'Canada Columbine'

Aralia racemosa 'American Spiknard'

Arisaema triphylum 'Jack in the Pulpit'

Asarum canadensis 'Wild Ginger'

Asclepias incarnata 'Marsh Milkweed'

Asclepias speciosa 'Showy Milkweed'

Asclepias tuberosa 'Butterfly Weed'

Asclepias verticillata 'Whorled Milkweed'

Aster laevis 'Smooth Aster'

Baptista Australis 'Blue Wild Indigo'

Blephilia curtipendula 'Side Oats Grama'

Caltha palustris 'Marsh Marigold'

Ceanothus americanus 'New Jersey Tea'

Carex muskingumenensis 'Palm Sedge'

Carex pensylvanica 'Pennsylvania Sedge'

Chasmanthilum latifolia 'Northern Sea Oats'

Chelone glabra 'White Turtlehead'

Dalea villosa 'Silky Prairie Clover'

Dodecatheon meadia 'Shooting Star'

Echinacea pallida 'Pale Purple Coneflower'

Eryngium yuccifolium 'Rattlesnake Master'

Eupatorium maculatum 'Joe Pye Weed'

Eurybia macrophylla 'Big Leaf Aster'

Geranium triflorum 'Wild Geranium'

Geum triflorum 'Prarie Smoke'

Heleopsis healianthoides 'False Sunflower'

Hepatica acutiloba 'Sharp Leafed Hepatica'

Lobelia cardinalis 'Cardinal Flower'

Lobelia syphilitica 'Blue Cardinal Flower'

Mertensia virginica 'Virginia Bluebells'

Monarda fistulosa 'Wild Bergamot'

Monarda punctuata 'Spotted Bee Balm'

Oenothera macrocarpa 'Missouri Evening Primrose'

Opuntia humifera 'Eastern Prickly Pear'

Parthenium integrifolium 'Wild Quinine'

Penstamon digitalis 'Foxglove Beardtongue'

Physostegia averginiana 'Obediant Plant'

Podophyllum petalatum 'May Apple'

Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum 'Great Solomon's Seal'

Ratibida pinnata 'Grey Head Coneflower'

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Black Eyed Susan'

Schizachyrium scoparium 'Little Blue Stem'

Sedum ternatum 'Wild stonecrop'

Scherinchium angustifolium 'blue eye grass'

Silene regia 'royal catchfly'

Sorghastrum nutans 'indian grass'

Spartina pectinate 'prarie cord grass'

Sporobolus heterolepsis 'Prairie Dropseed'

Trillium grandiflorum 'White Trillium'

Veronica fasciculata 'Smooth Ironweed'

Veronicastrum virginicum 'Culver's Root'

Waldsteinia fragariodies 'Barren Strawberry'

Zizia aurea 'Golden Alexander'

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