Native Plants for Your Site
April 2, 2009 at 5:57 pm 2 comments
The use of native plant species is not a new thing. Many of our old standby species are well worn. The ornamental Southern Magnolia (magnolia grandiflora) has been gracing home landscapes since the early European colonists pulled it out of the woods and placed it in a more convenient location near their homes. ”Ancient” Live Oaks still line the formal entrance routes to historic plantation sites. But such monocultural plantings were not as kind to the American elm, as it was struck with Dutch elm disease and virtually eliminated as an ornamental landscape plant.
At Ecotone Land Design, Inc. we try to clarify how native plants play a pivotal part in what our cooperative extension service suggest as the “right plant – right place” design rule. Trusting someone who works at maintaining or installing a landscape to give knowledgeable plant selection advise could be risky. If you don’t have time to do your own research, consider finding advice from someone with a horticultural, arboriculture or botanical background to be on the safe side. Knowledgeable people may understand where their shortcomings are and be willing to direct you to someone who can help you with your specific need.
Just because a plant is native does not mean that there is a place for it in your landscape. Your site is likely drastically changed from its “natural” condition, so your soils and water availability need to be evaluated, even though your site was once a wetland. Understanding whether a plant species grows naturally in a “Mesic” or “xeric” environment or in sun or shade are just some of the types of considerations that could make native plants a success in your landscape.
Entry filed under: Ecological Sustainability, Native Plants. Tags: .
1.
Lanier J | April 3, 2009 at 2:59 am
How do I find out what particular plants grow naturally in my landscape? If I hired someone to design my yard, are you saying they need to come to my house, or can I just take a map of my yard to a nursery and have them tell me what to plant and where?
2.
ecotonelanddesign | April 3, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I have friends and clients who ask me questions similar to this. Usually, it is something like, “will an azalea grow in my yard?”. The answer is: “which variety or species of azalea “?; “how tall do you need a plant to grow?; “what are your soils like”?; “how much sun does your site get”?; “What activities are you doing that might impact the plant?”; “what trees are in your neighbor’s yard?” ; “how does neightboring structures affect your environment?”, etc.
Potentially, you may have an extremely informed installer, especially if they have a degee in horticulture. Of course, if the installer sees problems on the horticultural side and starts recommending different plants, then the orginal design could be compromised. If you are the “brain” behind the design, then you can work at modifying the design to your liking. But, if you purchase a design from someone, you might be throwing your design money out the window.
In short, I would suggest your designer have intimate knowledge of your site and of many potential plant selections (not just those that they can purchase on the cheap). Be wary of anyone who proclaims certain plants, etc. to be “ugly” or “beautiful”; I find such comments to often obscure many non-design issues that the “expert” wants to avoid for personal reasons.
If someone provides you a list of plants, without visiting your site, all you’ve done is pay someone to compile a list. This could be helpful in proceding to a design stage, but be clear that there is much more to know and do.
Good luck.