To Go Native or Not?

​There is so much research going on right now about native plants and their use in our yards and gardens.  First of all, what is a native plant? A native plant is an indigenous land and or/aquatic species that occurs naturally in a region.  In North America, a native plant is recognized as a tree, shrub, or plant that existed before European settlement.  Believe it or not, turf grass like that found in your lawn is not native to the eastern hemisphere.  The early settlers had to bring grass seed with them.  Kentucky Blue Grass is not from Kentucky.  It is indigenous to the middle east and asia.
 
How do I feel about natives?  I am not totally conformist and stringent about using natives.  I use them if I find them attractive and useful for wildlife and pollinators. Recent studies are showing that planting any kind of flowering shrub or plant is beneficial rather than nothing at all or just a grass lawn.  A study at Great Dixter had an entomologist look at two locations in this famous English garden – a wildflower meadow and the mixed herbaceous border with flowering shrubs, roses, and many different types of perennials from all over the world.  The mixed border actually had more insect species than the wildflower meadow.

Mixed Border at Great Dixter, May 2022

We are fortunate in North America and particularly the southeast to have some really outstanding native plants that we can purchase at nurseries and garden centers.  Take one of my favorites, Baptisia.  Native to the southeast, this member of the legume family blooms in the early spring.  Even after blooming, I like the foliage and the bean like seed pods.  A cultivar known as “Carolina Moonlight” is stunning with pale yellow blossoms.  The native variety has purple flowers and is also attractive in any garden.  It is deer resistant as are most natives.  Otherwise, they never never would survive!

Baptisia "Carolina Moonlight"

​Gaillardia or Blanket Flower is a heat and drought loving native that you can see along a sandy beach.  It is named for an 18th century French magistrate and amateur botanist, Maitre Gaillard de Charentonneau.  Its common name may reflect the colors used  in Native American blankets.  Make certain that this plant does not get too much water. It really likes to be dry.  The only problem with Blanket Flowers is that they are a short lived perennial, but they can spread and produce new plants given the right conditions.

Gaillardia or Blanket Flower

​Coneflowers are among my favorites and although they are not native to the southeast, they are a native American prairie plant much beloved the world over.
You can see them from U.K. to Germany to Japan.  They do like cold in winter and mine look the best ever thanks to the December hard freeze.  They spread by seeds and if you are lucky, you will have baby coneflowers.  They bloom for a long time and now there are cultivars in many colors – the traditional pink, but also red, orange, lime green, white, and yellow.

Echinacea purpurea or Coneflower

​A southeastern native is Eryngium yuccifolia, commonly known as Rattlesnake master.  The basal leaves look a bit like yucca, but the flowers are little white spiky balls that are loved by bees and wasps and some butterflies.  It is not invasive and stays neat and tidy.  The legend is that Native Americans used its leaves to brew a tea as an antidote to a Rattlesnake bite.  I have no desire to experiment with that.

Rattlesnake master

If you can find these native, give them a try.  They will add quite a bit of variety and color to your garden.
On another note, My book is now available at Lowco Gardens in Port Royal, Bruno's Garden Center and the Greenery on Hilton Head Island.