this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2023
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No Lawns

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Why native plants? (nativegardendesigns.wildones.org)
submitted 2 years ago by greatwhitebuffalo41 to c/nolawns
 

Here's another link to Wild Ones explaining why to choose native plants over non natives.

What natives do you have growing?

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[–] The_Terrible_Humbaba 9 points 2 years ago (3 children)

A while ago I was trying to look up what plants were native to my area; I tried searching several different ways, even in my own language, but somehow every result ended up being about the USA or a specific state in the USA. Eventually I found one, but it took a while.

So if you're reading this, and you're a botanist (or just someone who knows a lot about plants), and not an American, I'd encourage you to maybe create some kind of site that lets the people in your area know which plants there are native. It could be extremely useful for someone one day!

[–] mercurly 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Does your area have an ag extension office? Or a master gardener program? They should be good resources!

[–] The_Terrible_Humbaba 3 points 2 years ago

I actually have no idea, but I'll look into it! Thank you!

[–] greatwhitebuffalo41 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah, in our sources I've been trying to add stuff for other countries but it's a lot harder when you don't live there. I'm not sure what to search, what organizations might exist, or even what places have demand for it.

[–] The_Terrible_Humbaba 5 points 2 years ago

Oh, if you want to add it, the one I found for Portugal was this one.

It's apparently developed by the Portuguese botanical society as a volunteer project, and it seems great! I can even pinpoint an area on a map, and it will order all the plants by how likely they are to be found near there. It will also tag some plants saying if they are "nearly threatened", "vulnerable", or "in danger".

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

This. I'd love to plant native species, but I have no idea what they are. Whenever I look, I can't find any useful links.

[–] mercurly 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Just got my hands on a swamp milkweed this week. Very excited to see what ends up on it next year.

Also bee balm, phlox, western sunflowers, a variety of coneflowers, eastern Prickly pear, and an ostrich fern all hidden in my tiny backyard.

[–] greatwhitebuffalo41 2 points 2 years ago

Ohhh can't wait to see pics!

[–] Thebazilly@pathfinder.social 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm replacing my whole backyard with drought tolerant native plants. It's a work in progress and a constant battle against the weeds at the moment because it's about 5,000 square feet of area.

So far I have echinacea, mock orange, golden currant, several species of penstemon (cut-leaf, grandiflora, Rocky Mountain), a juniper tree, yarrow, sagebrush, chokecherries, showy milkweed, orange globemallow, and elderberries.

The milkweed is probably my favorite right now while things are growing in. I swear it is bigger every time I look at it.

[–] greatwhitebuffalo41 2 points 2 years ago

If you feel like it, I'm sure the community would love to see pics! I know I would.

[–] MxRemy@lemmy.one 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

A bunch, but I think my current favorite might be Agastache foeniculum

[–] greatwhitebuffalo41 4 points 2 years ago

I don't even know that I have a favorite haha. I just like pretty colors

[–] dumples@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

Prairie Blazing star is my favorite. They are so fluffy when not flowering and then a majestic when they are. I think I'm going to get more of them this fall

[–] dominoko@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

Going to try to compile a master list. I know I am forgetting some. I am only including things I planted and not natives that volunteer themselves.

Grasses

Elymus canadensis - Nodding Wild Rye

Elymus virginicus - Virginia Wild Rye

Bouteloua curtipendula - Side-oats Grama

Chasmanthium latifolium - River Oats

Panicum (Dichanthelium) clandestinum - Deer-tongue Grass

Wildflowers

Arisaema triphyllum -Jack in the Pulpit

Hydrophyllum virginianum - Virginia Waterleaf

Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower

Podophyllum peltatum - May Apple

Erythronium albidum - White Trout Lily

Heliopsis helianthoides - Ox Eye Sunflower

Asarum canadense - Wild Ginger

Rudbeckia triloba - Brown-eyed Susan

Geranium maculatum - Wild Geranium

Liatris spicata - Dense Blazingstar

Trillium grandiflorum - White Trillium

Asclepias syriaca - Common Milkweed

Monarda fistulosa - Wild Bergamot

Bidens aristosa - Tickseed Sunflower

Packera aurea - Golden Ragwort

Vernonia altissima - Tall Ironweed

Thalictrum dasycarpum - Purple Meadow Rue

Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Red Columbine

Solidago caesia - Blue Stemmed Goldenrod

Verbena hastata - Blue Vervain

Asclepias incarnata - Swamp Milkweed

Eupatorium maculatum - Spotted Joe Pye

Campanula americana - American Bellflower

Penstemon digitalis - Foxglove Beardtongue

Polygonatum biflorum canaliculatum - Smooth Solomon's Seal

Lobelia siphilitica - Great Lobelia

Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop

Aster divaricatus - White Wood Aster

Aster novae-angliae - New England Aster

Aster cordifolius - Symphyotrichum cordifolius - Heart Leaved Aster

Mentensia virginica - Virginia Bluebells

Trees/Shrubs

Asimina triloba - Pawpaw

Hypericum prolificum - Shrubby St Johns Wort

Amelanchier laevis - Allegheny Serviceberry

Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry Viburnum

Lindera benzoin - Spicebush

Sambucus racemosa - Red Elderberry

Sambucus nigra - Black Elderberry

Euonymus atropurpureus - Eastern Wahoo

Rosa palustris - Swamp Rose

Cornus sericea - Red Osier Dogwood

Platanus occidentalis - American Sycamore

Quercus rubra - Red Oak

Acer rubrum - Red Maple

Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush