Growing native plants for wildlife.
Jay 6a Chicago
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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Help critique front native wildlife garden plans
Comments (18)I'm not well-versed in conifers, but do have a list at work from a presentation given by our Ag. Agent "Underutilized Trees & Shrubs". If I can remember, I'll bring it home; anything suited to our area should do just as well in yours. Right off the top of my head, two deciduous woody plants with good winter interest are the river birch (betula nigra) 'Heritage' and redosier dogwood. 'Heritage' is better suited to our hot summers than white birch, and is resistant to many of the pests and diseases; as it matures, it also develops a lovely an interesting exfoliating bark. There are a few different varieties of the redosier dogwoods now, with different coloration. They thrive in full sun to part shade, but will have better winter color in full sun. Winterberry holly is deciduous, and you need both male and female plants, but will have a beautiful display of bright red berries in winter - for the birds or to cut and bring indoors (use them as supports for your forced paperwhite bulbs ... great combination). I'm glad to see you've chosen the serviceberry (shadbush, amelanchier, etc.). Check the different varieties for the characteristics you prefer - some have more vibrant fall foliage than others. The berries are very attractive to wildlife (I didn't realize chipmunks climbed trees until I saw one gathering berries in one of the serviceberries at our park). The berries are edible for humans, if you can get to them before the wildlife does! They taste a lot like blueberries. One of my favorite local nurseries is also a good resource for information, rarefindnursery.com. Even if you don't order anything from them, you will find a lot of photos and information and I've always found it to be reliable. Ah, sweetbay magnolia (magnolia virginiana) - another native, semi-evergreen, very fragrant blooms (heavy in June, intermittently thereafter), seeds are colorful and food for wildlife. The undersides of the leaves are silvery, making a nice display when they flutter in the breeze. Choose an upright or multi-branching variety, according to your needs. Like serviceberry and river birch, they do well in a moist soil. Ninebark (physocarpus) is another deciduous native, for sun or partial shade. 'Diablo' is a dark red leaved cultivar with contrasting clusters of tiny pale pink flowers. I'm sorry, I should never get started....See MoreNative plants for drought - Native Plant Event - IL
Comments (1)Hope it went well....See MoreNeed ideas for natives for wildlife
Comments (9)HEy all. I'm following the list for a certified wildlife garden, so the kind of natives I'm looking for would produce - seeds, nuts, berries and nectar. Not on the same plant of course, LOL. I have full sun in the front yard, so they should be semi-pretty for the neighbors. The back yard is mostly shaded by giant maple trees, a Plum and two Apple trees. Stuff doesn't have tobe so pretty there, mostly useful for wildlife. Keep your suggestions comimg!...See MoreNative evergreens for winter wildlife cover and human interest?
Comments (2)Believe it or not, I have had luck with growing Rhododendron maximum around here - you do have to amend the soil a little bit, though. It's not technically native to Indiana, but it is native to Kentucky and Ohio - close enough for me! Another native evergreen is Mountain laurel, which actually is native to Indiana. It is slower growing than Rhododendron, but it is more adapted to the crazy temperature swings Indiana is known for....See Moredandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago thanked dandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)Jay 6a Chicago
3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
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3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agodandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
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3 years agoMars SC Zone 8b Mars
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agodandy_line (Z3b N Cent Mn)
3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agoIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
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3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agoJay 6a Chicago
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIris S (SC, Zone 7b)
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