Native Plants

Native plants are species that have naturally evolved and adapted to a specific region over thousands of years. They are integral to local ecosystems, supporting native wildlife, conserving water, and maintaining soil health. Incorporating native plants into your garden or landscape offers numerous environmental, aesthetic, and practical benefits.

Benefits of Using Native Plants

1. Water Conservation
   • Native plants are well-adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, often requiring less water than non-native species. Once established, many native plants can thrive with minimal irrigation, making them ideal for sustainable landscaping.
2. Low Maintenance
   • Native plants typically require less maintenance, including fertilization, pest control, and pruning. They are more resilient to local pests and diseases and often need fewer chemical inputs.
3. Supports Local Wildlife
   • Native plants provide essential food and habitat for local wildlife, including pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds. They play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting the life cycles of native species.
4. Improved Soil Health
   • Native plants are well-suited to local soil types and conditions, helping to prevent erosion, improve soil structure, and maintain soil fertility. Their deep root systems can enhance soil aeration and water infiltration.
5. Resilience to Climate
   • Because they are adapted to the local environment, native plants are more resilient to regional climate conditions, including temperature extremes, drought, and seasonal variations.
6. Pest and Disease Resistance
   • Native plants have evolved alongside local pests and diseases, making them more resistant to these challenges without the need for chemical treatments.
7. Aesthetic Appeal
   • Native plants contribute to a landscape's natural beauty, offering a sense of place and connection to the local environment. They also provide seasonal interest with their flowers, foliage, and seed heads.

Selecting Native Plants

1. Understand Your Local Ecosystem
   • Research the native plants in your region by consulting local extension services, native plant societies, or online databases. Consider the specific ecosystem type—such as prairie, woodland, or wetland—when selecting plants.
2. Choose Plants Based on Site Conditions
   • Consider factors like sunlight, soil type, moisture levels, and wind exposure. Native plants can be selected to match the specific conditions of your site, ensuring they thrive with minimal intervention.
3. Plant Diversity
   • Incorporate a variety of native plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, and groundcovers. Diversity helps create a resilient and balanced ecosystem that supports a wide range of wildlife.
4. Consider Seasonal Interest
   • Choose native plants that offer year-round interest. For example, some plants may provide spring blooms, while others offer summer foliage, fall color, or winter berries.
5. Wildlife Habitat
   • Select plants that provide food and shelter for local wildlife. For example, milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is vital for monarch butterflies, while oak trees (Quercus spp.) support hundreds of insect species and provide food for birds.

Examples of Nebraska’s Native Plants

Native Grasses

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

• Description: A tall, dominant prairie grass often called the "King of the Prairie." It has blue-green stems that turn reddish-bronze in the fall.
• Benefits: Provides excellent cover and food for wildlife, and its deep root system helps prevent soil erosion.

2. Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
   • Description: A shorter, clumping grass with blue-green foliage that turns reddish-orange in the fall.
   • Benefits: Drought-tolerant and great for erosion control. It also supports various butterfly species.
3. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
   • Description: A tall, warm-season grass with a loose, airy seed head that turns golden in the fall.
   • Benefits: Provides excellent wildlife habitat and is highly tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions.

Wildflowers and Perennials

1. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
   • Description: A well-known prairie wildflower with large, daisy-like pink to purple flowers and a prominent central cone.
   • Benefits: Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, and the seed heads provide food for birds in the winter.
2. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
   • Description: A hardy perennial with bright yellow petals and a dark brown center, blooming from summer to early fall.
   • Benefits: Provides nectar for pollinators and is a low-maintenance plant that can thrive in poor soils.
3. Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
   • Description: A tall, clump-forming plant with dense clusters of bright yellow flowers in late summer and fall.
   • Benefits: Supports pollinators and adds late-season color to the garden.
4. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
   • Description: A fragrant perennial with lavender, pink, or white flowers that bloom in summer.
   • Benefits: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It’s also resistant to deer and drought.
5. Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
   • Description: A striking wildflower with bright orange flowers, often found in prairies and open areas.
   • Benefits: Essential for monarch butterflies, providing both nectar and a place for them to lay eggs.

Shrubs

1. American Hazelnut (Corylus americana)
   • Description: A deciduous shrub that produces edible nuts encased in leafy bracts, typically growing in thickets.
   • Benefits: Provides food and habitat for wildlife, and the nuts are edible for humans.
2. Wild Plum (Prunus americana)
   • Description: A small tree or large shrub that produces fragrant white flowers in spring followed by small, edible plums.
   • Benefits: Attracts pollinators in spring, provides food for wildlife, and can be used in jams and jellies.
3. Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
   • Description: A medium-sized shrub with bright red stems that stand out in winter. It has white flowers in spring and summer, followed by white berries.
   • Benefits: Provides year-round interest and is excellent for erosion control and supporting wildlife.

Trees

1. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
   • Description: A large, slow-growing oak tree with a wide, spreading canopy and deeply furrowed bark.
   • Benefits: Provides excellent wildlife habitat and food, particularly for birds and mammals, and is highly drought-tolerant.
2. Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
   • Description: A fast-growing tree with broad, triangular leaves and deeply furrowed bark.
   • Benefits: Native to riverbanks and wetlands, it provides shade and habitat for wildlife, especially in riparian areas.

Groundcovers

1. Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
   • Description: A low-growing plant with unique pink, feathery seed heads that resemble smoke in the breeze.
   • Benefits: Adds texture and visual interest to the landscape, and it’s drought-tolerant.
2. Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
   • Description: A low-growing groundcover with small white flowers in spring, followed by tiny, edible strawberries.
   • Benefits: Provides food for wildlife and is great for naturalizing in meadows and woodland edges.
3. Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
   • Description: A fast-growing vine with five-leaflet clusters and deep red fall color.
   • Benefits: Provides excellent cover for walls and fences, and its berries are a food source for birds.

Tips for Planting and Caring for Native Plants

1. Start Small
   • If you’re new to native plants, start by incorporating a few species into your existing garden. As you become more familiar with their growth habits and requirements, you can expand their presence in your landscape.
2. Proper Planting Techniques
   • Plant native species in the fall or early spring when conditions are cooler and moisture is more abundant. This gives them time to establish their root systems before the heat of summer.
3. Mulching
   • Use organic mulch to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect plant roots. Avoid using too much mulch, as native plants often thrive in low-nutrient conditions.
4. Watering
   • Water newly planted native species regularly until they establish. Afterward, most native plants will require minimal supplemental watering, relying on natural rainfall.
5. Pruning and Maintenance
   • Prune native plants as needed to remove dead or damaged branches and to shape them. However, many native plants require little to no pruning.
6. Avoid Chemical Treatments
   • Native plants generally do not need chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. These can harm the beneficial insects and microorganisms that native plants support.
7. Let Nature Guide You
   • Allow leaves to decompose naturally, providing nutrients to the soil and creating habitat for wildlife. Consider leaving seed heads and dead stems over winter for birds and beneficial insects.

Creating a Native Plant Landscape

1. Meadows and Prairies
   • Replace traditional lawns with native grasses and wildflowers to create a low-maintenance, water-efficient landscape that supports pollinators and wildlife.
2. Woodland Gardens
   • If your site is shaded, create a woodland garden with native understory plants like ferns, wildflowers, and shrubs that thrive in lower light conditions.
3. Rain Gardens
   • Plant a rain garden with moisture-loving native plants in areas where water naturally collects. This helps manage stormwater runoff and creates a habitat for aquatic insects and amphibians.
4. Butterfly and Pollinator Gardens
   • Design a garden specifically to attract and support butterflies, bees, and other pollinators by planting nectar-rich native flowers and host plants for caterpillars.

Using native plants in your landscape not only enhances its beauty but also supports local ecosystems, conserves water, and creates a sustainable, low-maintenance garden that thrives with minimal input. Whether you’re starting from scratch or enhancing an existing garden, native plants can play a vital role in creating a landscape that’s in harmony with nature.