While we dream over the garden catalogs...
Judy Ziemba, State Chairman

While we dream over the garden catalogs that have appeared in our mailboxes, it is an exciting time to see what is new and what we might fit into our garden. As increased interest in native plants is discussed, why should we consider adding them to our plantings?

Native or indigenous plants are those which have grown and become adapted to a particular region. They are hardy in that climate, survive on natural rain and reproduce in that geographic location. They grow in plant and animal communities with similar needs, whether the community is a prairie, savanna, dense wooded area or wetland.

One big plus is that once a native plant is established, it requires no fertilizer, little herbicide and minimal supplemental water. This not only saves money but saves labor, leaving more time to enjoying colors, shapes and seasonal displays. It also enriches the community with wildlife food and shelter, especially for birds, beneficial insects and butterflies. It saves our precious water supply by eliminating runoff of pesticides and fertilizers.

Prairie restoration has been popular with people who have large expanses of lawn. Corporations and universities have been able to reduce maintenance cost with less mowing, thereby, using less fuel and reducing air pollution. Prairie plantings do not have to be in acres but can be an area where lawn is not important. You might want to buffer the view from the curb or put a decorative sign saying “Urban Prairie” if you feel some neighbors or home associations view unmowed prairie as weeds. Woodland gardens do not seem to suffer this prejudice.

In urban settings, many native plant species can be added to your landscape. Native trees include many oak species like red, white, yellow, bur, black and shingle oaks. Shagbark hickories prefer well-drained soil but Kentucky coffee trees and Ohio buckeyes prefer moister lowlands. Native shrubs might include dogwoods and serviceberries.

For early spring, add bloodroot, spring beauties, hepatica species, shooting stars, actaea, bluets, jack in the pulpits and columbines. Before the trees leaf, these plants bloom and soak up the spring sunshine. For shady sites, add maidenhair, cinnamon and lady ferns, Virginia waterleaf, phlox divicarata, black cohosh, Virginia bluebells, false solomon seal and the trilliums.

For partial shade, plant some Allium cernuum, Aster shortii, tall bellflowers, Joe Pyeweed, wild geranium, alumroot, Jacob’s ladder, golden alexander and penstemons. Sunny beds call for asters, prairie coreopsis, echinacea and radibidas (coneflowers), prairie smoke, sunflowers, spiderwort, goldenrod and compass plant. Obedient plant, ironweed, lead plant and wild quinine are also sunlovers. Clubs of prairie grasses are a possibility if they fit your plan.

Further suggestions can be seen growing at Chicago Botanical Garden, Lincoln Memorial Garden in Springfield or St. Louis Botanical Garden for the southern Illinois gardeners. Nature centers and Illinois state parks are a great source of information. If you really get excited, check out the Illinois Prairie Society or the Center for Plant Conservation and help them reintroduce species that are endangered in Illinois. Illinois has great native plants. Plant one or hundreds to beautify your area.