By Maria MacRae
July 1, 2009
Don’t TouchNever dig plants from the wild. Our native plants are under increasing pressure and many populations are disappearing and now at risk: eastern prairie fringed orchid [Platanthera leucophaea], American ginseng [Panax quinquefolius] and golden paintbrush [Castilleja levisecta], for instance, are all endangered. They may also be protected under provincial, territorial or federal law. If you want to plant native species, find a local supplier who knows what works in your area and can provide information and advice. Contact your local horticultural society or master gardeners’ group. Start your research at Gardening for Wildlife, which features a list of suppliers and a searchable native plant encyclopedia. -MM |
If you also picture native plants as messy weeds, open your mind — many are actually beautiful wildflowers. The graceful, curving yellow petals of trout lily, vibrant blooms of shooting star or cheery little flowers of spring beauty are just a few lovely examples.
Gardening with native plants does not mean turning your property into a wilderness. It certainly helps wildlife if you can leave a portion of your yard natural, but a garden that incorporates native plants can also be a boon to animals.
You can create a wildflower meadow if you wish, but native plants can also be part of a more formal garden. The style is up to you — make your garden all native species or mingle homegrown favourites with non-native plants. Native plant gardening doesn’t have to mean giving up old favourites.
Because native species plants evolved here, they are adapted to our climate and require less babying. They can survive swings from bitter winters to hot summers, and they do well in our soils and with existing precipitation levels.
Shady CharactersIt’s a common complaint among gardeners — too much shade limits them to hostas and impatiens in those areas. Not so. Many native plants, especially our beautiful woodland spring wildflowers such as trilliums, bloodroot [Sanguinaria canadensis] or hepatica, thrive in the shade. Before you plant, though, it’s important to understand the difference between shade from buildings and from trees. Many of our woodland wildflowers grow in the shade of deciduous trees, taking advantage of the sunshine they receive in the spring before the trees leaf out. By emerging early in the year and growing quickly, they get the energy they need to produce flowers and reproduce. -MM |
Even with all that going for them, though, native plants aren’t invincible. You still need to put sun-lovers in the sun and moisture-lovers near water, and all of them in their preferred soil. And at the start, even these tough customers may need coddling. A nursery-raised plant, for instance, will need some time to adjust. Although a particular species might be drought-tolerant, it still needs to become established before it can make it on its own.
Native plants also provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Canada’s animals and plants evolved together, making native plants far superior at meeting the needs of wildlife. As they were bred for showiness, along the way some cultivated plants lost all or part of their ability to produce the pollen, seeds and fruit that native species provide in abundance.
While their worthiness should win them a place in your garden, their beauty will earn your admiration. Whatever your garden conditions, there is a native plant that, if chosen correctly, will thrive in that environment, adding colour and diversity to your landscape.
Maria MacRae was manager of CWF’s backyard habitat programs.
Problem SolversFor almost any garden condition, there are native plants that will thrive. Rather than spending a lot of money to irrigate dry areas or drain damp corners, search out native plants that like those spots just the way they are. Native species can also add beauty to a shady area and provide colour when other plants fade away. Damp Soil Dry Soil Shade Fall Colour -MM |
Favourites from Our Gardens· Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia in eastern Canada, Tiarella trifoliate in the West): a great groundcover for partial shade; with clouds of white blossoms in spring and beautifully shaped leaves · Bluet (Houstonia caerula in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia): long-blooming little plant with great clumps of cheerful white or blue flowers; look for longleaf bluet (Houstonia longifolia) in the Prairie provinces · Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora): woodland spring bloomer with drooping flowers in a swirl of yellow; found in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec · Maidenhair fern (Adiantum spp.): a fern with fronds that fan out in a circular pattern, giving it an interesting shape; found in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and on the island of Newfoundland · Bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsi): beautiful blue flowers, likes moist areas; found in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, but there are gentian species in almost every part of Canada · Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum): unexceptional flowers but interesting seed heads from which it takes its name; found in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and B.C. east to Ontario · Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium spp.): found across Canada, this compact plant with lovely blue flowers is a member of the iris family. When not in flower, it appears to be a small clump of grass, so be sure not to weed it out by mistake. -MM |
