NATIVE PLANTS. Native Plants. Exotic Plants

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1 NATIVE PLANTS Handouts: MontGuide: Deer Resistant Ornamental Plants For Your Garden (MT199521AG) MontGuide: Fire Resistant Plants (MT200101AG) MontGuide: Poisonous Plants (MT199902AG) Native Plants Native plants are species that have evolved in place over geologic time or occur naturally in a specific region or area Plants native to Montana are those that were here before the Euro/American settlement Ecologically balanced with other plants, pests and predators of their native area Exotic Plants Exotic, alien or non native species are plants that have been introduced to an area by humans, either intentionally or accidentally. Pose a serious threat to biodiversity of an area Compete for resources, displace native species and contribute to soil erosion May carry exotic pests or diseases that can spread to other plants Can disrupt wildlife food availability May alter the behavior of important plant pollinators, insects and birds 1

2 Cultivars Plant species that have been selected horticulturally for specific characteristics such as flower color, size or seed production Have a different genetic composition than the original ii plant even when developed dfrom native species May not have the natural checks and balances to prevent the plant from outcompeting native plants Adaptation Native to where? United States Rocky Mountains Northern Great Plains South Central Montana Many regional differences in Montana Low plains to high altitude, rugged mountains Choose plants according to site conditions Why use Native Plants? Genetically adapted to our unique landscape Have natural partners that keep them from becoming invasive Celebrate our natural heritage Protect biodiversity and restore regional landscapes Provide food, shelter for wildlife Help conserve water and other natural resources, decreases soil erosion Low Maintenance 2

3 Uses for Native Plants Xeriscaping Water conservation Restoration Naturalization Deer resistance Fire resistance Xeriscaping Xeriscaping is the wise use of water through waterefficient landscaping. Not necessarily all rocks and cactus! Focuses on landscaping appropriately in areas with seasonal water supply shortages Xeriscaping reduces water usage, maintenance labor, and fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide costs Xeriscaping The 7 principles of Xeriscaping are: 1. Plan and design comprehensively 2. Improve soil with amendments 3. Reduce lawn areas 4. Use appropriate plants and group according to water needs 5. Irrigate efficiently 6. Use mulches 7. Maintain your landscape 3

4 Water Conservation Water conservation is the driving force behind efficient design of the native landscape Group plants according to their water needs, high, medium and low watering zones Monitor soil moisture to determine need rather than having a set watering schedule Consider directional exposures and slope when planting Restoration Native plants are scarce in many areas of the United States Native plants enhance the gene flow between native populations p previously separated by development and fragmentation Contribute to restoring the integrity of regional landscapes and perpetuating native vegetation necessary for natural ecosystem function Naturalizing Many landowners wish to reclaim disturbed areas to native grass and wildflowers; can take time 4

5 Naturalizing There are several establishment options: Seed general mixtures of grasses and wildflowers focusing on larger amount of specific species you want Seed simple mixtures and interplant with transplants to increase diversity Transplant all plants to spacing and design desired Deer Resistant If hungry enough they will eat anything Favor early vegetation stages Initial plant selection may provide the best remedy to prevent deer damage Select landscape plants that are less preferred such as barberry, paper birch, blue spruce) Fire Resistant Some native plant species are fire resistant; no plant is fire proof! Choose plants and trees with: High moisture content in the leaves Low oil or resin content Minimal litter, debris Lower overall height Open, loose branching habit Drought resistant Easy to maintain and prune 5

6 Native Fire Resistant Plants Trees: paper birch, quaking aspen, black cottonwood Shrubs: serviceberry, buffaloberry, shrubby cinquefoil Forbs: yarrow, lupine, columbine Ground Covers: sedum, wild strawberry Grasses: streambank wheatgrass, western wheatgrass Poisonous Be aware of a plant s toxicity before planting it in your landscape Foliage and other parts of some plants are known to be toxic to livestock, pets and humans Some of the more common poisonous plants are buttercup, clematis, foxglove, lupine, larkspur, goldenrod, milkweed Grasses Uses for native grasses include: ground cover, accent or specimen plants, prairie or meadow restoration Native grasses for ground cover and lawns: Western wheatgrass Streambank wheatgrass Thickspike wheatgrass Blue grama Buffalograss 6

7 Wildflowers Be wary of wildflower mixes which often contain non native species and may also include weedy species or even noxious weeds. Adapted to Montana is not the same as native to Montana Buy individual native wildflower seeds and customize your own mix Seeds Some native seeds are tricky to germinate and grow Many need cold period to germinate, others need scarification to break seed coat Purchase seed according to scientific name to ensure you are getting what you want Easy to grow from seed: blue flax, yarrow, blanket flower Collecting Seeds Seed collection is prohibited in national parks Get permission from the land owner Don t dig the entire plant unless you have the okay May be okay to dig the entire plant if being rescued from an area scheduled to be disturbed Collect only modest amounts of seed 7

8 Trees and Shrubs Prepare the site and the soil as you would for other ornamental woody plants Native plants need the same care until established Available in bareroot, container and B & B and plant as you would any other woody plant Trees and Shrubs Trees: Quaking aspen, green ash, paper birch, cottonwood, Douglas fir, limber pine Shrubs: Western sandcherry, common snowberry, staghorn sumac, Woods rose, serviceberry, chokecherry Pests Native plants, especially those in rural and suburban areas, are susceptible to damaging animals such as deer, rodents, rabbits etc. Until established some form of protection may be necessary Repellents Exclusion Culture Plant Selection Sacrificial crops Domestic animals 8

9 Questions?