Make your thumb a little greener with native plants

August 02, 2012

Are hot St. Louis temperatures and sporadic, unreliable rainfall causing your garden to deplete? Maybe it’s time to rethink your plant choices. Once established in accordance with their preferred conditions, native perennial plants and bushes require very little maintenance and watering. Also, they don’t need fertilizers or pesticides, saving you time and money – a smart, economical and green decision!

With a little bit of initial effort and a solid strategic layout, drought-tolerant gardening can be a rewarding experience. Perennials should be planted in shade appropriate areas, with neighboring life mirroring those sunlight requirements. Grouping together plants of similar needs will simplify the initial required watering habits, resulting in a more successful future garden.

Aside from personal plots, native plants are a fabulous way to add a touch of green to the St. Louis community. As new businesses and commercial property continue to rise, environmental opportunities deplete. Native planting is a simple (and historical!) way to supply food and shelter to beneficial wildlife.

Below are some of our favorite drought-tolerant plants native to the St. Louis area – many of which can be found in the Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden!

• Black-Eyed Susan
• Blazing Star
• Butterfly Milkweed
• Cardinal Flower
• Little Bluestem Grass
• Missouri Primrose
• New England Aster
• Prairie Coreopsis
• Purple Poppymallow
• Rose Mallow
• Wild Bergamot
• Yellow Coneflower

Check out GrowNative.org for more plant ideas for your garden.