Native plants

Submitted by zstansberries t3_10k7q9b in rva

So I'm gearing up for year 2 if my garden and trying to actually plan it out this year. I'd love to include some, if not all, native to VA pollinator plants if I can. Has anyone else had experiences with this that could recommend and specific varieties?

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ImmobilizedbyCheese t1_j5ouq4f wrote

https://www.facebook.com/moultonhotnatives and Sneeds has a whole native section right up front

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Utretch t1_j5p2cpi wrote

Can't recommend MoultonHotNatives enough, the prices are good and the seeds are all sourced locally and responsibly. There's also Reedy Creek Environmental, Bill operates similarly.

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rvamillenial t1_j5rdjas wrote

Wild Plant Bill w/ Reedy Creek has been awesome with helping us repopulate our woods with native plants after dealing with all the English Ivy.

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Ms-Pamplemousse t1_j5oyk8h wrote

https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/yjdl5m/local_nursery_recs_for_plants_not_children/

Most of the nurseries, even Sneed's, will sell cultivars as natives. This can, but won't always be, harmful to local ecotypes of our native plants because they can sometimes crossbreed. Just keep that in mind when shopping for natives anywhere. People who know what they're doing will indicate this on their inventory or be able to speak to it.

Also the natives that will be best for you will be dependent upon the conditions in the spot you'd like to plant. The local native growers can be super helpful, but you should get familiar with the moisture and light conditions in your yard. If it's your first year in this spot, note that the sun angle and quantity will change with the summer sun and foliage.

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Utretch t1_j5p4017 wrote

It depends on what the environment of your yard is like. If it's full sun and on the drier side Butterflyweed, Bluestem Grass, Rubeckias, Spotted Beebalm, Turtlehead, Evening Primrose, Toadflax, Splitbeard Bluestem, Goldenrod, Purple Lovegrass.

If it's on the shadier side Mayapples, Green Dragon, Trilliums, Columbines, Bloodroot, Wood Aster, Wood Sedge, Heucheras, Yucca, Wild Ginger, Heartleafs.

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Ms-Pamplemousse t1_j5p5dsz wrote

I thought turtlehead was at least tolerant of shade/moisture, but I actually thought it preferred shade/moisture. I know some plants can tolerate a wide range though.

Great list💚

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Utretch t1_j5p6i51 wrote

I did a double check, it does like a lot of sun but you're right that it prefers moist soil!

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CyrustheGreyt t1_j5qblkc wrote

Just fyi, evening primrose thrives on neglect, do not recommend for a small garden plot. Ask me how I know.

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fusion260 t1_j5qluwv wrote

Why don't you just tell us in advance how you know?

How do you know?

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CyrustheGreyt t1_j5qtlvt wrote

Because my anxiety prevents me from believing I have worthwhile information to share :)

Two years ago I planted one 4in pot and watered it a handful of times before midsummer. By the end of the season it was a nice 3ft shrub with yellow flowers. I left it alone and the next year there were hundreds (thousands?) of little green shoots all over my yard. The previous year I had put down cardboard and mulch to kill the grass so there wasn't much else there. I eventually gave up fighting because I'm a lazy gardener and many of those shoots became 6ft tall plants with yellow flowers. My irises didn't bloom because they blocked out the sun. Lesson learned.

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brads-1 t1_j5ournq wrote

Talk to your county extension agent. They can point you in the right direction, it's what they do.....

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Better-Limit-4036 t1_j5rrbwa wrote

A lot of cool native grasses and late flowering plants like asters, too, don’t forget! I like how late boneset (Eupatorium serotinum) is covered with freaky insects in early fall when other flowers are gone

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idkarchist t1_j5sfwrs wrote

Moulton Hot Natives are good people with a nice collection of seeds and homegrown natives for sale in the spring I believe

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ILikeYourHotdog t1_j5oynnk wrote

Hellebore, passionflower, black-eyed Susan, hydrangea. But if you have deer, they will mow down your hydrangea. The rest are pretty deer-resistant.

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Ms-Pamplemousse t1_j5p0fvx wrote

Hellebores and the most common variety of hydrangea are not native. Wild hydrangea is, and Alumroot is a good substitute for hellebore.

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TooMuchSpro t1_j5ru3wt wrote

I highly recommend checking out Moulton Hot Natives on instagram. Theyre a fantastic info source and nursery for beneficial native plants!

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