Where to even begin when choosing native flowers? In general, starting a garden can seem overwhelming. There’s endless information from websites, books, podcasts, youtube, and even well-meaning neighbors. Most information focuses on vegetable gardening or your traditional landscape. While all of these are certainly fine if that’s what you want, starting a native garden is a bit different. The species in your area are different than your sister who lives a few states over. While ranges overlap and expand large portions, each native species is adapted to a particular climate. A native garden in Texas is going to look completely different than a native garden in upstate New York.
How do you choose what flowers to include? The internet is full of information and it can be hard to digest it all. Whether you live in a cold climate or ridiculously hot, starting a native garden is a fantastic way to support local ecosystems and create meaningful landscapes. Choosing flowers is one of the joys of starting out! Here are a few things to help you decide what plants to include in your native garden
Research Native Flowers
Research! Research and then research some more! Research the types of native plants adapted to your area. Most states have a native plant society with information to help you determine what species are native to your area. The North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) has each state and its society listed. Understanding what species are native to your area will determine what plants will thrive in your location. Choose your favorite native flowers and make a list and then research those plants some more.
Study the light in your yard
Once you’ve listed your favorite plants, the next thing you need to do is study the light in your yard. Chances are you may have areas that receive lots of light and others that may get only several minutes a day. All plants need light but the amount of light varies from species to species. Some require several hours of direct sunlight and others do fine in the shade with little sunshine. Over the course of the week, track your light. Glance at areas you want to put a native garden and make note of the light in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Do this over several days. Once you understand the light in your yard, look at your favorite plant last to determine where they may thrive.
Examine your soil
Some native plants thrive in moist soil and others in clay. Put a species that loves moist soil in a dry area and you’re setting yourself up for failure. Research the soil preference of your favorite native flowers. Typically those that like lots of sun tend to do well in drier soils but that isn’t always the case.
Determine the height of the flowers
Certain species of native flowers can teach upwards of 7 feet whereas others are more ground loving. When determining where to plant native flowers, be sure to put tall plants in the back and avoid blocking the light of smaller flowers. If you’re planting a garden near the house, choose native flowers that won’t block windows.
Look up bloom times
Bloom times vary from species to species as well as local climate. Research when your favorite flowers bloom and try to plant flowers that have varying bloom times. Choose native flowers with different bloom times to provide pollinators with food throughout the entire season.
Know if your plants are poisonous
Lastly, research if the plants you want are poisonous!! This is especially important if you have curious pets or small children around. For example, pokeweed is native to the northeast and has interesting berries and shapes but is toxic! It could definitely be enticing for an unsuspecting pet or child to be interested in the berries. If you have small children and animals it’s best to keep these and other poisonous species away from their areas.
Like any gardening project, research is crucial. Understanding the species will help them thrive in your environment. There are so many benefits to planting native flowers. I listed a few in a blog post here. Choose native flowers that you love and research the rest from there! Of course, it’s much more complex that knowing this information but this is a great starting off point. In no time, you can create a beautiful native garden full of species you love suited for your local climate.
