What are some conditions that determine the types of native plants that grow in an area?
Answers
There are several steps to choosing native plants for your area. First, you’ll need to determine whether the plants you are considering historically grew near where you are thinking about planting them. Next, you’ll need to be sure the species of plant will thrive with the amount of sunlight and moisture at the site. Finally, you’ll need to make a decision about whether you buy native plants or seed from a source near where you’ll be planting them, known as “local genotype.” We also have resources from our research at Michigan State University that can help you select a variety of native plants that will bloom throughout the season with consideration of their ability to attract beneficial insects, including pollinators. Visit the plant facts and regional plant lists sections of this website for in-depth information on specific native plants.
Was it native to this place?
A species is generally considered native if it historically grew without human introduction in the geographic area of interest. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has information about whether a species is native to a particular state or county (http://plants.usda.gov/). Moreover, within any geographic area, a species might be native to particular habitats but not others. For example, common boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum is native throughout Michigan and while it will happily grow in a variety of wet to dry garden settings, in the wild it is typically only found in wetlands. You need to decide if a plant is appropriate to your setting based on the goals of a particular project.
Sunlight and soil conditions
All plants have a range of sunlight and soil conditions under which they will thrive, and generally a broader range that they can tolerate. Sunlight ranges from bright areas with full sun all day long, to deeply shaded areas. Soil conditions include pH, soil organic matter, nutrients, and water availability. Most native species will tolerate a range of both sunlight and soil conditions but a few are best suited to particular conditions. During the planning process it is advisable to have your soil tested and to record light availability at the site. With this information, plant suppliers will be able to guide you in selecting plants that fit the conditions of your land.
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