Questions

The following questions and answers should give you all the reasons why you should garden with native plants.

• What is a native plant?
  • Any plant indigenous to a place (continent, country, state, region)
  • Some species are native to one region of Kansas but not to other regions of Kansas (e.g. Broadleaf milkweed - Asclepias latifolia). This species is found in the drier western part of the state - in the short grass prairie, but not in the eastern part of the state.
  • Some species are native to the North America, but not to Kansas (e.g. osage orange - Maclura pomifera). It is native to Texas but has been planted throughout Kansas. It is now growing all over the state.
  • Some species are native to another continent but not North America (e.g oxeye daisy - Leucanthemum vulgare). It is native to Europe. These are known as alien specis that have naturalized - they are not native. They were imported accidentally or were grown in gardens. Where conditions were favorable, they spread to the wild.
• Why have some native wildflowers become so rare?
  • Because of fire suppression, trees have invaded the prairie. Prairie wildflowers cannot survive in the shade of trees.
  • Developments have replaced the native prairie with fescue lawns and other exotic species.
  • Agriculture has eliminated native vegetation to grow crops.
  • Livestock has greatly reduced many species from intensively grazed pastures.
  • Indescriminate use of herbicides have eliminated many populations of wildflowers.
  • Exotic invasive species have replaced the natives wildflowers.
• Why should I landscape using native plants?
  • They are well suited to local environmental conditions.
  • They are interesting, unusual, and attractive.
  • They provide food and shelter for beneficial wildlife.
  • They don’t need pesticides or fertilizer to succeed.
  • They don’t need watering once established.
  • They save money because they cost less to maintain.
  • They save time because they take less care.
  • They are not invasive like some alien plants.
  • They can improve the soil with their deep roots.
  • They improve water quality by filtering the water and preventing runoff.
  • They improve air quality because they reduce the need to mow.
  • Some act as a carbon sink to help curb global warming.
  • Many have cultural uses such as food, medicine, dye, or fiber.
  • By using them in our gardens we can educate people about their significance.
  • Their natural populations have declined.
• Are natives difficult to grow?
  • Most native species are very hardy. They have to be hardy to have survived in this area for thousands of years. As long as their moisture and sun requirements are satisfied, they will thrive.
  • Each plant has specific site requirements. Some like it dry. Some like it wet. Some like full sun. Some like shade. For example Swamp Milkweed needs wet soil and full sun. It won't survive in dry soil. It also won't survive in heavy shade.
  • They only really need water, when first being established.
  • Native plants do not need fertilizers, pesticides, or excess watering.
  • Some exotic invasive species will still need to be controlled, but maintenance time is greatly reduced when landscaping with natives.
  • If growing them from seeds, most have to go through a process known as stratification. This is the process that seeds go through in the winter. The freezing and thawing breaks the dormancy of the seeds and they will germinate. Therefore you cant just plant the seeds in the spring and expect them to germinate. Fall is the best time to plant wildflower seeds, so that they germinate in the spring. Other seeds need scarification. This is the process of scratching the seed coat to break the dormancy. To get detailed information on these topics see the books page.
• Why get plants and seeds from me?
  • My plants are all "local eco-type" plants. This means the plants are native to this local region. Compared to plants from Minnesota which would be a different eco-type and not as adapted to our local conditions. All my plants were propagated from plants found growing in native habitats around Topeka, Kansas. That being Shawnee, Waubaunsee, Jackson, Jefferson, Douglas, Osage, and Pottawatomie counties of Kansas.
  • Most native plants are not available at nurseries. If they are supplied, they won't be local natives. Nursery plants are generally "cultivars". This means they have been bred for specific characteristics - basically they are a domesticated form of the wild plant.
• Why not just get my own plants from the wild?
  • Most wont survive transplanting because of their deep roots.
  • It is difficult to find many species in the wild.
  • By digging plants from the wild, you are destroying their environment and populations.
  • It's often illegal to collect plants from public lands.
• Where can i get more information?
  • Plants National Database A collection of all US plants.
  • Kansas Wildflower and Grasses A nice collection of pictures of native flowers of Kansas.
  • Natural Kansas Contains information on natural areas of Kansas.
  • Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center The premiere clearing house of information on wildflowers of the US is found here.
  • Wild Ones This organization promotes the use of native plants in our landscapes.
  • National Wildlife Federation - Backyard Wildlife Habitat This site explains how to attract wildlife to your backyard.
  • Grassland Heritage Foundation This organization educates the public about prairies in Kansas.
  • Kansas Native Plant Society Learn more about Kansas Native Plants.