It’s All In the Chemistry

How Your Native Plant Garden Blossoms

By Calyssa Orellana

Picture the luscious magenta blooms of mountain’s pride (Penstemon newberryi) sprinkled throughout Yosemite National Park or the vibrant dark-pink and orange coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) possibly growing against the sidewalk in your neighborhood. What allows native plants to thrive in their drastically unique regions? The answers lie in their remarkable adaptations, insect interactions, soil pH, soil moisture, and water needs.

Native Plants in their Element

Native plants are instrumental to the foundation and facilitation of life on earth, from supporting our global ecosystems to providing nutritious food for millions of families across the world. Native plants make it look easy while performing the most vital tasks; such as producing oxygen, storing carbon through photosynthesis, and playing major roles in water cycling.

Insects and birds flourish when native plants thrive, in turn supporting industries such as medicine, crop production, food supply and energy production (Oldfield, 2019). Their ability to produce and absorb vital molecules like carbon dioxide and sugars supports human life and our planet’s well-being.

Above all, native plants support food webs and healthy food webs create healthy ecosystems for wildlife and people.

Insects and Native Plants: Nature’s Best of Friends

Consider native milkweeds (Asclepias) – the monarch butterfly’s partner in evolution. This group of perennials includes several species that find themselves at home in the great plains, wetlands, woodlands, and prairies of the U.S., having adapted to strikingly different environments over time. Its partnership with the monarch butterfly and other beneficial insects is one of the milkweed’s defining characteristics as milkweed cannot flourish without pollination conducted by insects and birds, and in turn, they cannot thrive without the milkweed’s resources (Holdrege, 2013). Beneficial insects are insects that provide crucial support to plants through pollinating or consuming unwanted pests. Beneficial insects such as the eye-catching red milkweed beetle have co-evolved with native plant species and now harnesses a unique relationship with the common milkweed (Holdrege, 2013).

How Do Insects Co-Evolve with Plants?

Native plants have co-evolved with insects over thousands of years to support each other’s needs. For example, if you have ever ripped a milkweed leaf, you may have noticed a white liquid seep out. This liquid contains toxic compounds including cardiac glycosides to prevent insects from munching on the milkweed’s leaves, yet the red milkweed beetle and monarch caterpillars depend on milkweeds as a food source. These insects have evolved to consume cardiac glycosides without feeling its harmful toxicity: their bodies incorporate the toxin so that other animals are unable to consume them. In exchange for a tasty meal, protection and shelter, the red milkweed beetle will pollinate the milkweed (University of Illinois Extension, 2021). Insects such as the red milkweed beetle are tightly dependent on native plants.

Understanding Your Soil

Digging into soil characteristics, one of its key attributes – soil pH – describes the amount of hydrogen in the soil. It indicates that soil is alkaline with less hydrogen present or acidic with more hydrogen present. The range is from 0-14 where 7 is considered neutral and 0-6 is considered acidic, while 8-14 is considered alkaline. The pH of the soil impacts the availability of elements such as nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium by making the elements more or less soluble and thus, controlling its dispersal into the soil (Neina, 2019). For instance, rhododendrons and azaleas have evolved to thrive in acidic soil conditions because they require iron, which is only soluble in soil that has a fairly low pH (Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory, 2021).

Soil pH varies from backyard to backyard. Native plant species of your region are well equipped to prosper in the pH of your region. Apart from nutrient availability, soil pH impacts the soil’s own chemical and physical composition and qualities, which in turn can influence plant growth (Neina, 2019). Choosing native plants is your best bet for success in your regional soils because of how native plants have evolved to succeed in your soil’s pH.

How Much H₂O Is In Your Soil?

Soil moisture is another influencer of plants as it directly regulates nutrient availability and transportation, along with plant growth. Soil with a lot of coarse sand or gravel cannot hold much moisture for long, and so plants growing on these soils have evolved to be drought-tolerant, or have found ways to access moisture via deep taproots. In contrast, other soils are dense, with a high clay content, which retains moisture very effectively. Plants growing on these soils thrive in wet, even waterlogged conditions. Your soil may be loose and quite sandy, or compact and clay-like or even a mixture, but they can all support specific native plant life – you just need to find the right plant for the right spot.

Plant species are able to leverage soils’ varying degrees of water retention, physical structures, and nutrient density to best support their development (Prairie Nursery). If you are not sure what kind of soil type you have, perhaps take a look outside to feel the texture of your soil, observe how quickly water drains when it’s damp or explore one of many at home soil tests such as the ribbon test or jar test. As a general rule of thumb, native plants of your region are always the best equipped to handle the landscape conditions because they have undergone millions of years of evolution that has changed their physical characteristics, so that they can grow in the specific soil moisture of your landscape. 

Click to View Native Plants Suitable for Shady Wet Clay Soil

• Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)
  • USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
  • CAN: NB , NL , NS , PE
• Cardinal Flower  (Lobelia cardinalis)
  • USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY, LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WI , WV
  • CAN: MB , NB , ON , QC , SK
• Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
  • USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
  • CAN: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE

Helpful Tips

• Cardinal flowers grow best when they are spaced 8-12 inches apart and if you would like to divide a mature plant, it is recommended to separate them in the fall or spring and quickly replant and water it.

In coastal landscapes, thin soils with limited organic matter, moisture, and nutrients are common. Plants native to coastal areas are adapted to these conditions and can play important roles in  controlling erosion and supporting biodiversity (University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2016). In mountain regions, the combination of high altitude, intense sunlight, wind and rocky soil can mean plants have evolved to be very drought-tolerant.

Click to View Native Plants Suitable for Dry Poor, Rocky Soil

• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
  • USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY
  • CAN: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NT , ON , QC , SK
• Roundleaf Serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea)
  • USA: CT , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
  • CAN: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
• Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
  • USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
  • CAN: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
• Grand Collomia (Collomia grandiflora)
  • USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
  • CAN: BC
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
  • USA: AR , CT , DE , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , TN , UT , VA , VT , WI , WV
  • CAN: ON

Helpful Tips

• Kinnikinnick can be most effectively propagated from seeds, stem cuttings, or soft wood cuttings and to facilitate plant growth, clear the directly surrounding area of weeds. 
• Creeping phlox is a great native plant option if you are looking for native plant that is tolerant of deer, drought, and erosion. It is low growing and ideal for xeriscape gardens.
• When planting seedlings of wild bergamot, it is recommended to place them one-half to two feet apart and once matured wild bergamot can be divided every two to three years in March to enhance their health, however this is not required. Wild bergamot can spread rapidly. Place it in a spot that you want to fill quickly. It may seed in other places in the garden.

Like Water? Thank Plants.

Water is the backbone of life on earth. Plants absorb water through their roots to then use it to transport nutrients and cool their leaves via evaporation (Lambers, 2019). Thanks to their vast root systems they are able to decrease pollution in our aquatic ecosystems, lessen runoff, and reduce erosion (Massachusetts DCR Office of Watershed Management).

Every plant has different water needs based on their structure, size, and ecological surroundings. If planted in the right place, native plants can require significantly less maintenance once they have settled in because of their biological adaptations (Massachusetts DCR Office of Watershed Management).

Native plants can require significantly less maintenance once settled in.

For instance, desert plants have adapted to the scarcity of water in their environment by becoming dormant during dry spells or by developing a deep root system that allows them to access groundwater (Lambers, 2019). Similarly, some deciduous tree species in tropical dry forests purposefully lose their leaves during dry seasons to conserve water by avoiding transpiration (Lambers, 2019).

Click to View Native Plants Suitable for Sunny, Dry Sandy Soil

• Prairie Acacia (Acaciella angustissima)
  • USA: AR , AZ , FL , KS , LA , MO , NM , OK, TX
• Lindheimer’s Milkvetch (Astragalus lindheimeri)
  • USA: OK , TX
• Scarlet Globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)
  • USA: AZ , CO , IA , ID , KS , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WY
  • CAN: SK
• Fourpoint Evening-primrose (Fourpoint Evening-primrose)
  • USA: AR , IA , IL , KS , LA , MI , MN , MO , ND , NE , NM , OK , SC , SD , TX , WI
• Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
  • USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL, IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND, NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
  • CAN: AB , MB , NT , SK

Helpful Tips

• To plant seeds of prairie acacia, it is best practice to plant them ¼ to ½ inch deep during the early spring or fall and before planting, ensure the gardening location is free of weeds.
• Direct seeding works best for scarlet globemallows in the fall and they should be planted about ⅛ inch deep.
• When first establishing sunflowers, spread the seeds proportionately on the top of the soil and rake them in. Afterward, water the seedlings regularly until they have root systems, then they will be equipped to rely on natural rainfall.

Meadows are another type of habitat, brimming with stunning plant species and buzzing with lively wildlife. Meadows composed of native plant species are able to withstand extreme environmental conditions such as heavy rainfall, periods of drought and extreme heat, and cold due to their intricate network of deep roots that hold and absorb water (Sturm, 2020). Through efficient water absorption, native plant meadows can reduce runoff and filter pollutants.

Click to View Native Plants Suitable for Part-Sun Moderate Soils

• American Bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum)
  • USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , VA , WI , WV
  • CAN: NB
• Heart-leaved Meadow Parsnip (Zizia aptera)
  • USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI, MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NJ , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , UT , VA , WA , WI , WV , WY
  • CAN: AB , MB , SK
• Short’s Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii)
  • USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MN , MS , NC , OH , PA , TN , VA , WI , WV
  • CAN: ON
• Fire Pink (Silene virginica)
  • USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC, NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , VA , WI , WV
  • CAN: ON
• Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)
  • USA: AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , OH , OK, PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV

Helpful Tips

• The American bellflower is a wonderful choice if you would like to have bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds pay a visit to your garden. Also, if you are interested in a native plant species that will reseed itself, look no further!
• The heart-leaved meadow parsnip benefits the most when its seeds are germinated in cool soil.
• Fire pink enjoys reseeding itself, so it is a great native plant to grow if you are looking to create a meadow or woodland. It can also be propagated through divisions of a mature plant, seeds or cuttings.

The Wonders of Chemistry In Your Native Garden

Just like many animals, different plant species need different things. Putting a sun-loving plant in the shade will cause it to do poorly – it may not flower, or may become excessively tall as it struggles to get enough light. Similarly, a wetland plant needs to have its “feet” wet, otherwise it may not survive. Happy, thriving plants native to your area will in turn do a much better job of supporting wildlife while allowing you to relish in daily pollinators enjoying a sweet snack or a new bird finding a home in your garden.

Find out what plants are native to your region and examine your gardening area for its unique characteristics. Perhaps you notice a shady area with limited access to rainwater beneath a tree in your backyard- a perfect place to plant a shade tolerant native plant that requires little water. You can look at this as a sort of match-making exercise – wet spots need wet-loving plants, dry sunny spots will only support drought-tolerant sun-loving plants. The wrong plant in the wrong place is likely to result in disappointment for you, and wildlife.

Maybe you have a damp spot by your downpipe that receives moderate sunlight- consider planting a wetland native plant that could help soak up excess water. These are ways native plants can conform to your locality and what features are naturally occurring, so rather than change your environment to suit the needs of non-native plants, allow native plants to fit into your home’s local environment.

The invisible and visible chemistry of your native garden is an astonishing collection of chemical reactions that supports native plant life from the moment a seed is germinated to when your vibrant native plant begins to proudly bloom. By gardening with native plants, you save time and energy, eliminating countless hours of continuous maintenance while also enriching the well-being of your ecological community.