Native Notes at the River Raisin -Native Plants in the Landscape– Five Reason Why

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Native Notes at the River Raisin -Native Plants in the Landscape– Five Reason Why

February 5, 2012 by naturale12

Cup Plant

: Dutchman’s breeches

: Switch Grass

Native plants are defined as those that grew naturally in our area before plants from distance places were introduced. In Michigan, native plants are plants that were here before Europeans settled in the 1700s. The five reasons I choose native plants; wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses, for my landscape are:

Native plants are adapted to the local climate, soil condition and are easier to grow and generally require less water and less effort in pest control. They help reduce mowing costs, conserve water, and protect the soil and by the reduced used of fertilizer and pesticides.
By introducing natives into my landscape I have provided a habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Local wildlife, birds and butterflies have a relationship with native plants. They rely on them for food, shelter and nesting. Because of human activities such as urban development, native habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate. Planting natives is one step in restoration of the ecosystem.
Natives rarely become invasive and we all know how invasive introduced plants can be, such as garlic mustard, Russian olive, and purple loosestrife just to name a few. These aliens crowd out our natives and reduce biodiversity. The use of natives can help reverse the trend of species loss.
Natives require very little long-term maintenance if they are properly planted and once established. Because they are adapted to a local region, they tend to resist damage from freezing, drought, and common diseases.
Native plants can be as attractive as the introduced ornamentals. The truth is that many native plants have interesting forms and foliage with a variety of textures and shades of green. The use of natives also helps preserve our cultural traditions. Historically natives have played a significant role in Native American culture. Many have been used as food, medicine, and dyes. Early settler also used natives for similar domestic purposes.

Posted in Native Plants and Gardening | 5 Comments

5 Responses

on February 5, 2012 at 12:49 pm | Reply gail keane

great reminder& good information-i would like to take this opportunity to inform everyone that the Monroe County Conservation District is a great local resource for native plants. They have just announced the dates for their annual tree & shrub sale April 15 & 16th. The deadline to order is March 26. The deadline to order native plants is April 27, pick up date TBA. Please refer to their web site for the full list of available plants and be sure to take their survey. As master gardeners they value our input. Ironically after attending their annual meeting, I picked up a list of “new” invasive plants; and just submitted it as a future article.
on February 5, 2012 at 12:52 pm | Reply gail keane

OOPS forgot to add the web site http://www.monroecd.org
on February 5, 2012 at 4:22 pm | Reply Paul Russeau

Thanks Gail. Yes, the Conservations District is a great resource. They sell Oak Opening natives and I have already sent in my order form.
on February 5, 2012 at 9:21 pm | Reply Sue Ryan

I would really like to see more education opportunities about landscaping with natives. Thanks for this article, Paul!
on February 11, 2012 at 10:43 am | Reply Jennie

Good message and photos! Cup plant is considered invasive in garden settings because it is so large and so readily reseeds. It is well adapted to our wetter soils and rain gardens, though, very attractive and interesting. It does not seem to take over in natural areas.