Growing Native Plants in the Illinois Landscape

Illinois has little resemblance to the spectacular open prairies, forests, cliffs, and rugged beaches that first greeted the first European settlers. In fact, Illinois ranks 49^th among the states in the percentage of pre-settlement vegetation remaining today. Growing native plants in the garden is an easy, cost-effective way to be a steward to the environment and has many added benefits.

Native species are low-maintenance choices for the garden. They require watering only while being established. No fertilizer, insecticide, or fungicide is needed, thus lowering cost and impact to the environment. While the cost of establishing a new naturescape may be comparable to establishing other landscaping projects, the maintenance costs are dramatically less. Native plantings take care of themselves.

Like all plants, specific conditions of sun exposure and moisture levels need to be considered when choosing plants for a specific site. The following native plants have all done fabulous in my rural Illinois garden. These plants are all easy to find at retail nurseries, garden centers, and mail-order sources.

--Blackeyed Susan - Full sun. Very easy to grow, these plants can simply be direct seeded. Hairy stems and leaves support bright yellow daisy like flowers with chocolate brown centers.

--Wild Geranium- Full to partial sun. This is a lovely mounded plant with masses of lavender flowers held above the foliage on stems, May to June. The plant stays nice all season.

--Coneflower -Full sun. Another easy to grow specimen, the coneflower comes in shades of white, cream, purple and rose. Daisy like flowers feature a prickly brown center and extended bloom time.

--False Indigo-Full sun. This gorgeous plant is of the pea family. Three to five feet tall, False Indigo features large clover like leaves and large blue flowers on erect racemes in May and June. After blooming, this plant fades nicely into the background letting others take over the show.

--Maidenhair Fern -Full to partial shade, average moisture conditions. This fern has airy fan-shaped deep green fronds and delicate black stems.

A wild landscape is soothing to the soul. Wild scenery is relaxing and has long been revered in paintings and photographs. A natural garden will draw beneficial insects, songbirds, and other creatures. Natural habitats for Illinois birds have been all but lost to agricultural and urban development. A naturescape provides a home to fascinating hummingbirds, beautiful grosbeaks and brilliant American Goldfinches to name a few. There is a joy and peace that comes from watching birds in your garden that needs protected for future generations.

If you would like to learn more about appropriate native plants for Illinois a good place to start is the University of Illinois Extension program. Information can be found at your local extension office or www.inhs.uiuc.edu. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and many internet sources such as plantnative.org are also excellent sources of information.

Sources: Personal experience

www.plantnative.org/how_benefits.htm

www.epa.gov/greenacres/nativeplants/plants.html

www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/prairienativelinks.html