Walking into a native plant nursery can feel a little intimidating. Everyone seems to know the Latin names, and you’re just trying to figure out if a plant will survive your heavy clay soil.
But here’s a secret: The people running local nurseries are the nicest people on earth. They love this stuff, they buy the seeds, they tend the sprouts and they want to help you succeed. You don’t need to be an expert; you just need a few questions to start the conversation.
Here’s a quick guide for a chat with your local plant grower to find the right fit for your yard.
How they operate
- Chemicals: Do you use herbicides or insecticides on your plants?
- Ethical sourcing: Where do your seeds come from?
- Recycling: Do you take back plant containers?
Planting for success
- Soil type: Does it thrive in clay, sand or loam (think ideal dirt)?
- Moisture: How damp or dry should soil be? Will it survive standing water?
- Light: How much sunlight does it need? Full sun (six hours of light), part sun (4-6 hours of light), part shade (4-6 hours of light, mostly before mid-day) or full shade (less than four hours of light).
Plant characteristics
- Spread: Does it spread by seed or rhizome (underground runners), and how quickly will it do so?
- Ecology support: Does it attract bees, butterflies or birds? Is it a host plant (meaning it needs the plant to live on and eat) for any insects? For example, Milkweed is a host plant for monarch butterflies, so make note of what butterflies you’d like to see in your yard and ask for host plants that support them.
- Size: How tall and how wide will the plant get?
These conversations are a quick, easy way to make sure you’re setting yourself (and your yard) up for success.
