Why Native Plants?
The Betsy Dotson Memorial Garden showcases
native plants that grow locally. Why are native
plants important?
Host plants for pollinators. Native plants are hosts to
specific pollinators, providing the place where insects lay their
eggs, and larvae can safely eat. Pollinators and plants co-evolved
to serve each other. The flowers’ shapes, colors, scents, and
bloom time attract their specific pollinators. Even the insects’
body parts match the flower shapes where they pick up pollen
and drink nectar. Our natives evolved in a balanced ecosystem
that maintained these vital functions.
Preferable to harmful invasive plants. Plants native to
distant environments, called exotics, have no competitors from
their own native ecosystems to keep them in check. When
exotics are grown here, they may become invasive, replacing
the natives that are crucial to our insects, birds, and other
fauna. Using native plants eliminates the chance for exotics
to become invasive.
Provide food and shelter. Food and shelter provided by
native plants have been reduced by habitat destruction. Planting
natives at home and in public parks helps restore wildlife.
Reduce use of chemicals and excess water. Native
plants are adapted to our soils and so require no fertilizers or
pesticides, reducing the flow of chemicals into our waterways.
They are adapted to the normal rainfall here and may use less
water. They are easier to maintain.
Beauty. Colorful native plants may have showy flowers,
interesting fruits, seeds and bark plus attractive foliage and
fall color.
A sense of place. Native plants typify what is “at home” in
our own “ecological neighborhood” and are unique to our locale.
You might plan a home garden based on the information
provided here. Visit www.locustgrove.org for a brochure
about the Betsy Dotson Memorial Garden.
Plant Name
Soil Moisture
FERNS
Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum pedatum
Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides
Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina
Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis
New York Fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis
Wood Fern, Dryopteris marginalis
HERBACEOUS
Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense
Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis
New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Wild Bleeding Heart, Dicentra eximia
Bottle Gentian, Gentiana clausa
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Great Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica
Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica
Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia
White Turtlehead, Chelone glabra
White Snakeroot, Ageratina altissima
Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum
Wild Stonecrop, Sedum ternatum
Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium angustifolium
White Wood Aster, Eurybia divaricata
New York Ironweed, Vernonia noveboracensis
SHRUBS and TREES
Hazelnut, Corylus americana
Spicebush, Lindera benzoin
Highbush Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum
Southern Arrowwood, Viburnum dentatum
Winterberry, Ilex verticillata
Red Chokecherry, Photinia pyrifolia
Blackhaw Viburnum, Viburnum prunifolium
Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida
Fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus
American Holly, Ilex opaca
Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana
Sunlight
Height
Flower Color
Bloom Time
W = Wet
M = Moist
D = Dry
SU = Full Sun
PS = Part Shade
SH = Full Shade
M
M
W, M
W, M
W, M
M
PS
PS, SH
PS, SH
PS, SH
PS, SH
PS, SH
1-2’
1.5-2’
1-3’
1-2‘
1.5’
2-3’
M
M, D
M, D
M
M
W, M
W, M
M
M
W, M
M, D
M
M
M, D
M, D
M
PS, SH
SU, PS, SH
SU, PS
SH
SU, PS
SU, PS
SU, PS, SH
PS, SH
SU, PS, SH
PS
PS
PS, SH
PS, SH
SU, PS
SU, PS
SU
<1’
2’
to 6’
1.5’
1.5’
3’
3’
1’
1’
3‘
3.5’
2‘
<1‘
.5-1.5’
1-3‘
4-8‘
Brown
Red-Yellow
Purple
Pink, White
Blue
Red
Blue
Blue
White
White
White
Pink, Purple
Green, White
Blue
White
Purple
Apr-May
Apr-May
Sep-Oct
Apr-Sep
Aug-Sep
Jul-Sep
Aug-Oct
Mar-Apr
Apr-Jul
Aug-Oct
Jun-Aug
Apr-Jul
Apr
Apr-Jun
Jul-Aug
Aug-Oct
M,
M, D
M, D
M, D
W, M, D
M
W, M
M, D
M, D
M
W, M
PS
PS
SU, PS
SU, PS
SU, PS, SH
SU
SU, PS
PS, SH
SU, PS, SH
SU, PS
SU, PS, SH
10-15’
6.5-16’
6-12’
10’
6-12’
6-12’
26‘
35-50’
20-35’
65’
30”
White
Yellow
White, Pink
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
Mar-Apr
Mar-May
Apr-May
May-Jun
May
Apr-May
Apr-May
May-Jun
May-Jun
May-Jul