What! Why! How! SUCCESS/are you pleased?SUCCESS/are you pleased?

Empower youEmpower you

Preaching to the Choirdd h hAdding to the Choir

Lists from responsible groupsAudubon, Native Plant Society

3103 Imperial Valley Drive

Natives ‐ Definition – How strictNatives  Definition  How strict

Native plants‐pplants that were in thegeographic area before the arrival of Europeansarrival of Europeans. 

Natives benefit native birdsNatives benefit native birds

Feeding on Yaupon Holly

Nonnatives contain fewer insect prey whichNonnatives contain fewer insect prey, which can result in increased starvation by nestlings relying on insect prey as food. This g y g p ynotion is supported by the finding that about 120 species of insects are found feeding on purple loosestrife in Europe, whereas only 12 were found in a study in southern Illinois. In 2000 a similar study by Karen Burhardt was2000 a similar study, by Karen Burhardt,  was conducted in suburban landscapes found that landscapes dominated by Asianthat landscapes dominated by Asian ornamentals were correlated with a significant loss in breeding bird species and abundance. 

Carolina ChickadeeCarolina ChickadeeNational Academy Of Science

78 caterpillars per baby! 6 to 8 babies! 

16 to 18 days16 to 18 days

E th i tEvery three minutes

6am to 8pm6am to 8pm

about 10 000about  10,000per nestper nest

Lots of ins and outs!

2.7oz

1oz

1 4oz

2oz

1.4oz

3oz

3oz

No food = No live babies

Native oaks most productive, 557 species of caterpillarsspecies of caterpillars

Crepe Myrtles – as far as the eye can ll l l hsee ‐ caterpillars ‐ almost zilch

Bradford pears ‐ as far as the eye can ll l l hsee – caterpillars – almost zilch

Resource for landscaping using i lnative plants

Tallamy’s new book lots of info and great pictures

Natives Benefit PollinatorsNatives Benefit Pollinators

• US Fish and Wildlife Service says:US Fish and Wildlife Service says:• Animals pollinate approximately 75 percent of the crop plants grown worldwide forof the crop plants grown worldwide for food, fiber, beverages, condiments, spices, and medicines. It has been calculated that one out of every three to four mouthfuls of food we eat and beverages we drink is d li d b llidelivered to us by pollinators. 

• Economy• Plants help: Biodiversity, prevent erosion, clean waterways and so much more  

US Dept of Agriculture says it best:h ll d ’Without pollinators, we don’t eat—it’s simple as that—

and, at the moment, large numbers of pollinators are dying.  With the world’s population projected to exceed 9 billion in justWith the world s population projected to exceed 9 billion in just the next 30 years or so, that is not a good position for us to be in.

University of MinnesotaReplace lawn areas with native plants. Lawns aren't particularly effective at absorbing and retaining water especially during heavy rains This is a problemabsorbing and retaining water, especially during heavy rains. This is a problem not only because more natural precipitation runs off them, but also because 

they may require a lot of irrigation, which in turn can create even more runoff Native plants such as shrubs and wildflowers tend to develop morerunoff. Native plants, such as shrubs and wildflowers, tend to develop more extensive root systems that take in and hold water much better than lawns.

As an added bonus, they require less maintenance than a lawn does. 

1. Garbage2. Oil and greaseg3. Gasoline4. Sediment from construction sites and urban runoff5 Metal flakes from rusting vehicles and brakes5. Metal flakes from rusting vehicles and brakes6. Road salt7. Lawn pesticides8. Agricultural herbicides9. Heavy metals from roof shingles10. Pet waste11. Leaves12. Grass clippings13 Bacteria13. Bacteria14. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen15. Other chemicals16. Illicit discharges such as paints, cleaning solution products and used motor oil.

All So Important –Government invests‐private companies invest

General Mills US Government US Fish and Wildlife Us You/MeGeneral Mills  US Government

• Gov 6 million• General Mills 3 million

US Fish and Wildlife   Us You/Me

• Our backyardsGeneral Mills 3 million 

STUDY FINDS INSECTS MIGRATE EVEN MORE THAN BIRDS

Constitutes a biomass of nearly eight times thatConstitutes a biomass of nearly eight times that of traveling birdsDo not know which migrate and which do notDo not know which migrate and which do not

Do your homework about neonictinoidsDo your homework about neonictinoids

P i id h l ' il d h f bPesticides themselves aren't necessarily a death sentence for bees—and debate rages over whether, when properly applied, these chemicals can be used safely among pollinators. But exposure to them seems to open the door to other killers. For example, bees exposed to sublethal doses of neonicotinoids—the type the EU is banning and that are used routinely in the U S on wheat corn soybanning and that are used routinely in the U.S. on wheat, corn, soy, and cotton crops—become more easily infected by the gut parasite Nosema.N i ti id ti id i i th il f dNeonicotinoid pesticides can remain in the soil for years, and continue to be taken up by the plant (and the bees). EPA 2009 Ortho is phasing out Neonicotinoids by 2020!

Archived EPA Conference 2004about native plants‐over 200 research papers

• Only one area of agreement!!!y g• A landscape’s visible characteristics are the basis for public 

perception. • Dense, messy plots are not acceptable• Native landscape designers can build in “cues to care” to gain public 

acceptance.  Structures such as fences, and sidewalks, indicate that a landscape is not neglected.  Open water is perceived as desirable as long as it doesn’t look dirty or smell bad Picturesquedesirable—as long as it doesn t look dirty or smell bad.  Picturesque curves and crisp edges and lines also have high appeal. 

• Native landscapes are often designed for their environmental benefits but they must also be designed forenvironmental benefits, but they must also be designed for public perception in order to be sustainable over the long term.

• You are an ambassador‐for better or worseYou are an ambassador for better or worse

Hort Technology PP ‐ Landscape Architects’ Use of Native Plants in the Southeastern United StatesDesign…Do we need it?

Yes!Well designed and properly installedl dlandscape can:

Increase your property value by 17%!Poorly conceived and executed landscapePoorly conceived and executed landscapecan:

decrease property valuewaste time and moneypossibly present a liability risk

What do we plant?What do we plant?Six Main PrinciplesSix Main PrinciplesUnitySi li iSimplicityVarietyBalanceProportionProportionSequence

• Look for these terms:• Look for these terms:colonizesuse in naturalized settings use in open woodland gardensuse in open woodland gardensuse in wildflower gardensf l lf dfreely self‐seedstaproot/can’t move after establishedHelianthus and Solidago – give extra thought

• Rhizome = Is called creeping rootstalk, horizontal underground plant stem capable of producing the shoot and root systems of a new plant. Rhizomes are used to store starches and proteins and enable a plant to survive an annual unfavorable season underground. In addition, h difi d ll h l llthose modified stems allow the parent plant to propagate asexually.

• Stolon = Also called a runner—is a slender stem that grows horizontally along the ground, giving rise to roots and aerial (vertical) b h i li d i ll d dbranches at specialized points called nodes.

• Sucker = A part of the plant that grows from the root or lower stem to become a new plant.

• Search by Latin name of plant‐ you will y p yfind more

•• Use   .org  .edu .gov sites

Mi i B t i l G d / i ib t i l d• Missouri Botanical Garden/missouribotanicalgarden.org

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center / wildflower.org when looking has NPINhas NPIN

• Pine Ridge Gardens/pineridgegardens.com‐ download catalog

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service/plants.usda.gov

Plant in tiersPlant in tiersTreesTreesBushesBushesSmall plantsSmall plantsGround covers

Evergreen & DeciduousEvergreen & Deciduous 

Pl i d ifPlant in driftsPlant in Drifts

Remember:Plant in TiersPlant in Tiers

D id /EDeciduous/Evergreen

Butterflies love driftsButterflies love drifts

Bees love driftsBees love drifts

ColorsColorsBees ButterfliesBees• Yellow

Butterflies• White                           Yellow•

• Blue Purple                             Orange

••

• Purple • Red                                 Pink•• oblueoblue•

/Check sun/shade patterns

• 8:00   12:00   4:00

• Fall, winter, spring, summer

• Check every few yearsy y

Soil Sample: instructions uaex.edu2 cups of soil FREE!2 cups of soil       FREE!  

Every plant has a heads and tails!Every plant has a heads and tails!

There will be pluses and minuses for each plant‐some you have to really want in your yard to justify the ti d th t k t i t itime and energy they take to maintain.

Trees size fruit roots breakage D&ETrees size‐fruit‐roots‐breakage‐D&E

Oak yea! BlackgumOak‐yea! Maple‐roots?BlackgumNyssa sylvaticaYEA! all around

Plants and EnergyPlants and Energy• Tree NW of house (30 degrees North of dueTree NW of house (30 degrees North of due West) gives best shade

• Evergreen hedge to NW of house = windEvergreen hedge to NW of house   wind screen

• Short trees or shrubs on South of houseShort trees or shrubs on South of house  makes breeze go up and over which cools the roof: use deciduous trees or shrubs 

• uaex.edu use edu or org sources

Shorter trees:Shorter trees:Redbud Tree Dogwood TreeRedbud Tree Dogwood Tree

Fringe Tree Smoke Tree

Silverbell Tree

Shrubs ‐ so many, D&E, make keeping garden easier, give structure

American Holly Ilex opacaAmerican Holly Ilex opaca

NinebarkNinebark

SpireaDid you know?

Steeplebush  Arkansas Native 4X4

Hardy Hibiscus‐coccineus and laevisHardy Hibiscus coccineus and laevis

Hibiscus moscheutosHibiscus moscheutosHibiscus coccineus

Hibiscus laevis (militaris)“if you have a passion for the Caribbean or are a backyardCaribbean or are a backyard 

wildlife enthusiast, this plant iswildlife enthusiast, this plant is for you, Hardy hibiscus” 

Columbus Botanical Garden

Turk’s Cap 4X4Turk s Cap 4X4Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

ViburnumsViburnumsso many‐ so little time y

V. dentatum “Arrowwood”

“Possumhaw” V.nudumWinterthur 6X6           Brandywine 5X5

Count Pulaski 7X7Count Pulaski 7X7

Blackhaw prunifolium 12X12Blackhaw prunifolium 12X12

Beautyberry Callicarpa americanahorrible one Callicarpa bodinieri from China birds‐NO!

Shrubby St. Johnswort 4X4Hypericum prolificum‐cinnamon stick plant

Lead Plant 4X4Amorpha canescens‐really good

Seeds

Prairie Shoe String      Devil’s Shoe Lace

Fragrant Sumac 2‐6X6Rhus aromaticaLow‐Gro 2X8Low‐Gro 2X8

Hydrangea arboescens‐ smoothBeauty and the beast‐sevenbarkBeauty and the beast sevenbark

cut hard in early spring‐ native only

Hydrangea quercifolia OakleafHydrangea  quercifolia Oakleaf

Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoria

Nov 29, 1943

Wax Myrtle ‐Myrica cerifera – evergreen, great for migrating birds –suckers‐cut hard or limb up

Azaleas not evergreen fragrant?Azaleas not evergreen, fragrant?

BuckeyeBuckeye

New Jersey Teay

60% of hummers food is insectsCarbohydrates provided by flowers and feedersInsects for protein to feedInsects for protein to feed young and for energy for fast flying

Virginia SweetspireVirginia SweetspireWonderful fragrance

Suitable for pots/cultivars

Beautiful fall color

Suckers

Hearts a bursting – Euonymus americanusHearts a bursting  Euonymus americanus(Strawberry bush)

Death of Cedar Waxwings from eating Nandina berries they contain cyanideNandina berries‐ they contain cyanide.

Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and I i i l L b D fInvestigational Laboratory, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, 43 Brighton 

Road, Tifton, GA 31793, USA., , ,2009

Nandinas NOT nativeNandinas NOT nativeDwarf do not have berries

Flowers‐ Think‐ can be thugs!• Things about plants to consider:• If they spread by rhizomes be scared.• Be careful about poisonous plants.• Try to use plants that have a “clumpimg” growth habit. • Does the plant “sucker” can be untidy.• Do you have deer or rabbits?  Can use planters to elevate to 

avoid rabbits Deer?????avoid rabbits. Deer?????• New plants, water on root ball, don’t depend on oscillating 

sprinkler • Plants that like wet are usually more adaptable than plants 

that like dry.• Generally when up a foot cut to 6 inches if it does not work• Generally when up a foot cut to 6 inches‐if it does not work 

don’t do it the next year‐‐experiment

Amsonia Amsonia hubrichtiiAmsonia Amsonia hubrichtiiArkansas Bluestar

• 2’ to 4’ wispy foliage• Small blue flowers in springSmall blue flowers in spring• Beautiful fall color• Trim after bloom to keep from floppingp pp g

• Beebalm‐Monarda bradburianaBeebalm Monarda bradburiana(Bradbury) 1’ to 2’/fistulosa (Wild bergamot) 2’ to 4’ mint family=spread!bergamot) 2  to 4      mint family spread! Square stems

Black‐eyed Susan Rudbeckia P/A/BBlack eyed Susan Rudbeckia P/A/B 

Butterfly Weed Asclepias numerousBe careful runners‐ Tuberosa(orange) andBe careful runners Tuberosa(orange) and 

Incarnata (swamp) both best behaved(clumpers) swamp most sought by butterflies‐regularswamp most sought by butterflies regular 

garden

Asclepias tuberosa(Orange)/incarnataAsclepias tuberosa(Orange)/incarnata(Swamp)/purpurascens(Purple)/sullivantii(Prairie)/varigata(White)/virdis/(Green)(Prairie)/varigata(White)/virdis/(Green)

Large and small milkweed bugLarge and small milkweed bug

Large piercing, suckingFeeds on

Small eats ilk d dFeeds on

seeds, stems, leaves- leave alone

milkweed seeds, caterpillars, and chysalides-leave alone alone

• Aphids on Milkweed‐ generally OleanderAphids on Milkweed generally Oleander aphids‐not native to USA‐ generally orange

• Do not bother caterpillar• Do not bother caterpillar 

Lady BugsLady Bugs

Ladybug eggs Ladybug pupa

Ladybug eggs just hatched

Ladybug-Ladybug

larva

y ggood to eat aphids-also eat Monarcheat Monarch eggs and larva!

Monarch Butterfly eggsMonarch Butterfly eggs

Cardinal Flower/Lobelia cardinalis b diffi l i hcardinalis can be difficult, is short 

lived 

Lobelia siphilitica ‐ Blue Lobelia much easier

Coreopsis ‐ Annual/Perennialreseed ‐ lots, most are easy to pull

Crossvine ‐ pollinated by hummingbirds

Ferns‐ Clumper or Runner?Evergreen?

Christmas Fern  Evergreen Polystichum acrositichoides clumper

Hay Scented FernDennstaedtia punctiloba very invasivePolystichum acrositichoides clumper Dennstaedtia punctiloba very invasive

Wild Ginger not evergreen g ggroundcover 

Indian Pink Spigelia marilandip gdeadhead= two bloom periods 

Iris Cristata/ Iris 4 to 2’Iris Cristata/ Iris 4 to 2

Copper IrisCopper Iris

Ground cover

Trim to keep clean

Passionflower ‐ invasive!Passionflower invasive!  Spreads even if you cut off fruitp y

Pink Evening Primroseb dOenohtera speciosa, so pretty ‐ so bad!

Pink Ladies‐‐‐‐Pink Hussies!

N i i iNative Poinsettia Euphorbia cyathophora reseeds/easy to pull neat/fun plantcyathophora reseeds/easy to pull, neat/fun plant

Purple ConeflowerhiEchinacea purpurea ‐ cut and rebloom

no flopping

C ltiCultivars

Blanket flower G ill diBlanket flower‐Gaillardia

Rattlesnake MasterRattlesnake MasterEryngium yuccifolium

Solomon Seal Polygonatumcommutatum ‐ variegated/green ‐ not evergreen

easy

Columbine can be invasive‐pull h i h l f bl iwhen very young, tap root, trim shortly after blooming, 

pretty foliage if not ratty

Phlox‐ paniculata/pilosa/glaberrimaseveral good ones

Baptisia False indigo huge root system can’t move

Various Baptisias trim after bloomingVarious Baptisias trim after blooming keep from flopping

Helianthus‐ Sun Flowers  A&Pcan get huge can be cut backcan get huge, can be cut back

Jerusalem Artichoke‐edible roots

Ashy Sunflower/Mollis/dry/PAshy Sunflower/Mollis/dry/P

Swamp/Augustifolia/wet/PSwamp/Augustifolia/wet/P

Native Honeysuckle  Lonicera sempervirensonly good, manageable climbers, NO Japanese!! 

evergreen

Major Wheeler‐ red

John Clayton ‐ yellow

Solidago/GoldenrodSolidago/Goldenrod pollinator gold star

• Clumping best in normal gardenin normal garden

• Rhizomecan be a thugg

N AllNo Allergy• Insect pollinated

• Pollen is heavy and sticky

• Pollen can not become air borne

R dRagweed• Food for birds• Food for butterflies and 

hmoths• Billion grains of pollen in a 

season = allergyseason   allergy

•Wind pollinated

Asters/fall color HEAVY seeders can /be a problem 

Some Goldenrods (Solidago)Some Goldenrods (Solidago) can be thugs!

B f l f l h d bBe careful of plants that spread by rhizomes or stolons!

• Be careful of plants with huge seedBe careful of plants with huge seed production and seedlings that have strong roots at a very early age!roots at a very early age!

• River Oats‐Chasmanthium latifolium

• Be careful of plants with huge seedBe careful of plants with huge seed production and spread by rhizomes! Horrible combination!Horrible combination!

• Oenothera speciosa‐ “the pink hussies”

• Be careful of plants with huge seedBe careful of plants with huge seed production and spread by rhizomes! Horrible combination!Horrible combination!

• Common wood violet ‐ Viola sororia

• Beware of plants that get extrmenly largeBeware of plants that get extrmenly large unless you have the space, beware of plants that have to be staked!plants that have to be staked!

• Helianthus grossesrratus

• Remove a plant if it will not thriveRemove a plant if it will not thrive for you, there are others that will!

• Coreopsis laceolata• Coreopsis laceolata