The Wild Ones Capital Region NY chapter wants everyone with a patch of dirt or a container garden to know how we can support our native plants and their habitat. Help us realize Dr. Doug Tallamy’s vision of a “Homegrown National Park” by getting started building your own native landscape, one plant, one bed or one backyard at a time. (Where to buy native plants.)
Why Native Plants?
- Native plants are the foundational block in the ecosystem we all depend on.
- Most native bees and pollinators require specific plants or flower shapes to survive.
- Healthy pollinator populations mean better crop yields for humans.
- Native gardens are easier to maintain than lawn, requiring less water and less mowing.
- Natives sequester carbon and clean pollutants.
Plant Selection: Getting Started
Before heading out to shop, here are a few things to think about.
Know your garden conditions: Select plants that work well for your specific conditions like sun vs. shade, soil type, and moisture levels. Keeping notes about what’s happening in your space will help you plan for future plantings.
Plan your bloom timing: Think about what season your new native plants will bloom. You’ll want a mix of plants that will flower in spring, summer and fall.
Plant in clusters: Create impactful swaths or ribbons of the same plants by placing 3-6 of the same species together to make it easier for pollinators to forage.
Don’t forget grasses: Add interesting textures and year-round interest with native grasses. They’ll also help keep other plants from flopping over.
Create winter interest: Plant shrubs and trees that produce berries and nuts to feed wildlife. Flowers and stems have an icy beauty as they pass their prime and temperatures plummet.
Build your shopping list
Naming your plants: Try to use the full scientific name, including the first (genus) and second (species) names. Common names are not as accurate and may refer to more than one plant.
Information sources: Confirm that your plant is native to New York by checking the New York Flora Atlas. Or if you want to learn about natives from a wider geography, check the Biota of North America Program.
Cultivars and nativars: Be aware that when a species is labeled with its name in “quotation marks” it’s typically NOT a true native species. Cultivars and nativars are genetically modified to develop fancy traits attractive to humans, such as color changes and double blooms. Many pollinators may be challenged to extract nectar or even recognize the plants as food sources. Wild Ones encourages you to build a landscape of food sources, not merely decorations.
Questions to Ask
Does the nursery use any biocides?
Beware that biocides poison the entire plant, making it toxic to pollinators and the entire food chain. Many pesticides and herbicides are systemic and reside in the plant or soil for weeks to years. The residues can kill pollinators and leach into your soil destroying other plants in your garden. Neonicotinoids (aka “neonics”) are particularly deadly, making the entire plant poison even if only the seeds were coated with them.
Where do they source their plants?
— Ideal: Grown from locally and ethically sourced seed. This is the best way to introduce the most biodiversity and genetic diversity.
— Good: Grown from an ethically sourced cutting. This is a great choice for slower growing plants such as shrubs. There won’t be as much biodiversity but there will be a shrub producing more berries to support birds and other winter wildlife faster than grown by seed.
— Avoid: Do not purchase plants that were dug from the wild! Some are extremely sensitive and cannot be transplanted. Even rescued plants, like those about to be bulldozed and destroyed, can present a problem because most native plants have a deep, well established root system that does not transplant well.
— Remember: Generic “Locally Grown” labels does not mean the same as “Local Ecotype” unless the nursery can confirm the origins of the seed or cutting.
Would the nursery like to offer more native plants?
Ask the nursery if they would be interested in learning more about offering native plant species. And if so, point them to Wild Ones. We would be happy to help. Just by asking, you help show the growing demand for native plants.
A few more options
Grow plants from seed: There’s no more cost-effective option than planting from seed. It is best to sow the seeds close to collection time, as many natives need specific stratification periods to germinate. Sometimes, you can hold the seed back until winter or right before the first snowfall as this will protect your seeds from hungry wildlife. Research “winter sowing” online to learn how to grow in up-cycled containers like milk jugs, offering the seeds good conditions while protecting them from critters.
Plant division: This propagation method works for many plant species, especially if you’re expanding within your own garden bed. (Research the specifics for your plant before digging.) It’s inadvisable to share plants between properties due to risks of jumping worms and other invasive species that could transfer as seeds or eggs.
Online Ordering: There are more online sources of native plants and seeds in recent years. First decide whether you are sticking to the local ecotype, New York natives or simply North American natives with similar growing conditions. The seller’s website should answer questions about their plant sources, growing process and shipping policies.
Learn more in-depth
The national headquarters of Wild Ones offers more in-depth information in position statements about native plants and the choices gardeners need to make: