Native Plants - Shipped
Native Plants of North America for the Garden
A Guide to Selecting and Growing Native Species
Introduction
Native plants are species that have evolved naturally in a particular region, adapting to its climate, soil, and wildlife. In North America, native plants are an essential part of local ecosystems, providing food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Incorporating native plants into your garden enhances its beauty while supporting biodiversity and sustainability.
Benefits of Growing Native Plants
· Low Maintenance: Native plants are adapted to local conditions, requiring less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than non-native species.
· Wildlife Support: They offer food and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.
· Disease Resistance: Native plants are generally more resilient to local pests and diseases.
· Environmental Impact: Using native plants helps conserve water, prevent soil erosion, and maintain natural habitats.
Popular North American Native Plants for the Garden
Below are some widely appreciated native plants suitable for various types of gardens across North America. Consider your region’s climate and soil when making selections.
Wildflowers
· Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Bright yellow flowers with dark centers, thriving in sunny spots and tolerant of poor soils.
· Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Attractive purple blooms loved by pollinators; drought-tolerant and easy to grow.
· Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa): Orange flowers that attract butterflies, especially monarchs.
· Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis): Spikes of blue flowers in spring; great for sandy and well-drained soils.
Grasses
· Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): Upright, blue-green foliage turning reddish in fall; excellent for ornamental borders.
· Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): Tall, airy grass providing structure and movement in the garden.
Shrubs
· Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): White spring flowers, edible berries, and vibrant fall foliage.
· Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea): Distinctive red stems in winter, with white flowers and berries in summer.
· American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): Clusters of bright purple berries in fall.
· Winterberry (Ilex verticillata): Deciduous holly producing brilliant red berries in fall and winter, attracting birds and adding color to the winter landscape.
Trees
· Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Early spring pink flowers; small, ornamental tree suited for most gardens.
· Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum): Known for its fall color and syrup; suitable for larger gardens.
· Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum): Deciduous conifer that thrives in wet soils.
Tips for Planting and Caring for Native Plants
1. Choose species suited to your local climate, soil, and sunlight conditions.
2. Group plants according to their water and light needs for easier maintenance.
3. Minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
4. Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
5. Leave seed heads in winter to provide food for birds and interest in the landscape.
Conclusion
Integrating North American native plants into your garden creates a beautiful, sustainable landscape that supports local wildlife and requires less maintenance. With careful selection and planning, you can enjoy a garden that reflects the natural heritage of the region while making a positive environmental impact.
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Keepsake Mountain Laurel - Shipped
Keepsake Mountain Laurel is a compact evergreen shrub that forms a dense mound of glossy, deep rich green foliage that emerges bronze. Showy clust...
View full detailsElf Mountain Laurel - Shipped
Elf Mountain Laurel is a dwarf evergreen shrub that forms a dense mound of glossy green foliage and has almost full-sized flowers despite its petit...
View full detailsNorthland Blueberry - Shipped
Northland Blueberry is a compact native deciduous shrub that has a strong production of sweet-tart deep blue berries that ripen in mid season. Its...
View full detailsChandler Blueberry - Shipped
Chandler Blueberry is a compact fruit producing deciduous shrub with an upright habit and extra large blueberries that are firm and sweet in mid to...
View full detailsBluecrop Highbush Blueberry - Shipped
Bluecrop Highbush Blueberry is an upright spreading deciduous shrub with heavy production of plum, firm, sweet-tangy blueberries that ripen mid-sea...
View full detailsMajor Wheeler Coral Honeysuckle - Shipped
Major Wheeler Coral Honeysuckle is a contained long-season twinning semi-evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and heavy blooms. The stems emerge...
View full detailsNorthern Bayberry - Shipped
Northern Bayberry is a dense-branching native semi-evergreen shrub with a rounded habit. The narrow glossy grey-green foliage is aromatic when cru...
View full detailsMassachusetts Bearberry - Shipped
Massachusetts Bearberry is a beautiful, prostrate native evergreen shrub that forms a dense mat of small lustrous rich green foliage that may bronz...
View full detailsLegend of the Small® Fothergilla - Shipped
Legend of the Small Fothergilla is a dwarf deciduous shrub with profuse blooms and brilliant fall display. The leathery blue green foliage turn var...
View full detailsWhite Catawba Rhododendron - Shipped
White Catawba Rhododendron is a rounded evergreen shrub with tidy dark green foliage. Large clusters light pink buds open to soft white flowers wi...
View full detailsBlue Shag White Pine - Shipped
Blue Shag White Pine is a truly dwarf native conifer tree with a mounding habit and blue-green needles that are soft tot the touch. Grows best in ...
View full detailsProud Berry® Coralberry - Shipped
Proud Berry Coralberry is a compact native deciduous shrub with a suckering habit and rounded green foliage that turns burgundy in fall. Clusters ...
View full detailsRaspberry Glow Mountain Laurel - Shipped
Raspberry Glow Mountain Laurel is a compact evergreen shrub that forms a dense mound of glossy, lightly waved green foliage. Showy clusters of ras...
View full detailsCarol Mountain Laurel - Shipped
Carol Mountain Laurel is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a dense mounded habit and slightly twisting, glossy dark green foliage. Showy cluste...
View full detailsPussy Willow - Shipped
Pussy Willow is a large multi-stemmed native deciduous shrub with a rounded spreading habit. The finely toothed leaves are lanceolate to elliptic,...
View full detailsSwamp Rose - Shipped
Swamp Rose is a hardy native deciduous shrub with a spreading habit that often forms thickets. Its bright green leaves are pinnately compound with ...
View full detailsLemony Lace® Elderberry - Shipped
Lemony Lace Elderberry is a compact, freely-branching native deciduous shrub with an irregular mounded habit and attractive edible berries. The f...
View full detailsJersey Highbush Blueberry - Shipped
Jersey Highbush Blueberry is a vigorous upright deciduous shrub with high production of very sweet powdery light blue blueberries that ripen late....
View full detailsFirst Editions® Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac - Shipped
Tiger Eyes Staghorn Sumac is ta dwarf open-spreading deciduous shrub and is noted for its brown hairs on young branches. Large golden pinnate foli...
View full detailsChionoides Rhododendron - Shipped
Chionoides Rhododendron is a compact evergreen shrub with tidy dark green foliage. Large clusters of lightly fragrant white flowers with yellow bl...
View full detailsGrey Owl Juniper - Shipped
Grey Owl Juniper is a slow-growing dwarf coniferous shrub with a broad wide-spreading habit. The silver-grey aromatic foliage is scale-like female...
View full detailsShamrock Inkberry Holly - Shipped
Shamrock Inkberry Holly is a compact native evergreen shrub with a rounded habit and lightly toothed bright green leaves. A female holly that if p...
View full detailsFirst Editions® Jetstream Oakleaf Hydrangea - Shipped
Jetstream Hydrangea is a dense deciduous shrub with large oak-like leaves that turns a stunning orange-red in fall and has tawny-brown exfoliating ...
View full detailsFothergilla - Shipped
Fothergilla is a slow-growing compact deciduous shrub with an upright mounding habit. The thick blue-green to green foliage turn showy shades of ye...
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