Plant Recommendations for Gardeners from Manitoba’s Native Plant Growers
By Linda Dietrick, Master Gardener
When I contacted our local native plant and seed suppliers for the preceding article, I asked each of them which plants they would especially recommend that people add to their gardens. I received some great suggestions that are worth sharing with readers.
To begin with, Marika Olynyk, curator of the Living Prairie Museum in Winnipeg, reminded me that what you plant depends on your site conditions, garden goals, and experience. As a rule of thumb, though, she and other naturalists recommend plants whose flowers and foliage benefit wildlife throughout the season.
Examples:
Prairie crocus (Pulsatilla nuttalliana), which blooms in early spring
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) for midsummer blooms
Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) and goldenrods (Solidago spp.) for late bloom
Photo: Linda Dietrick – New England aster
Ash Burkowski of Northern Wildscapes told me that among their savvy customers, the most popular plants are:
Three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum)
Blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Personally, Ash is especially fond of three other, less well-known plants, each for their growing habits and aesthetic characteristics:
Plains prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha)
Assiniboine sedge (Carex assiniboinensis)
Sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii)
Aimee McDonald of Prairie Flora sent her top recommendations along with some compelling reasons to plant them:
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Because it blooms in fall, it’s an important nectar source when other plants are finished blooming. “Plant it and be amazed at all the pollinators that come to visit!”
Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum). This is a species that in the wild is more vulnerable or of higher concern for conservation. Aside from it being a magnificent tall accent in the garden, non-spreading and easy to grow, we can increase its numbers by planting more. Aimee urges you to ask your local native plant nursery to suggest other plants like this.
Photo: Linda Dietrick – Culver’s root
Plant something different than what your neighbour has. It’s all about conservation of floral and faunal diversity, so “plant a variety of plants to help support as many species as possible.”
From Prairie Originals, Kelly Leask sent these three recommendations for gardens:
Stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum), a relatively fast, easy-to-grow plant, is one of the best for supporting the widest diversity of pollinators. Though reasonably long-lived, it also has seeds that are easy to harvest and grow. “Cheery, large clusters of yellow flowers are followed by fluffy seed heads in fall, and the stems and empty seed heads add winter interest and habitat for wildlife.”
Giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is another easy-to-grow perennial; it can bloom the first year from seed. Attracting many pollinators, it blooms for a long period in the summer. Later, “goldfinches flock to eat the seeds and, if left standing, the plants can provide food to overwintering birds.”
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is both an important food source for monarch caterpillars and well-behaved in the garden. Beautiful, fragrant flowers provide nectar for pollinators, and hollow stems shelter overwintering insects. “This plant is an important teacher that helps to make the connection between planting native plants and improving habitat in order to contribute to conservation of wildlife, including the endangered monarch butterfly.”
For several interesting reasons, Laura Reeves of Prairie Shore Botanicals encourages gardeners to plant four other native plants:
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta). “They have amazing ‘platform’ flowers that attract a wide diversity of insect life – butterflies, moths, spiders, ambush bugs, ‘stick’ caterpillars, flies, beetles etc. By nature, platformflowers make all these insects easy to see and watch.”
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). “Who wouldn’t want a grass that smells of peaches when it flowers? The thin-leaved bunches are beautiful any time, but especially when they turn a golden yellow in the fall. It’s important to plant a mix of forbs and grasses because the larvae of many pollinator insects feed on native grasses.”
Scarlet paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) “because it’ll take your breath away.”
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). “Not just a magnet for pollinators, it’s an incredible medicinal with the same properties as oregano. I use it the same [way] – to flavour tomato sauces, soups, herb breads, salad dressings, etc.”
Photo: Linda DIetrick – Prairie dropseed
Photo: Linda Dietrick – Wild-bergamot with fritillary butterfly
Finally, John Skinner of Skinner Native Seeds found it really hard to choose, so he sent a list, adding, “I’d better stop there!”
Spiny ironweed (Xanthisma spinulosum)
Gray goldenrod(Solidago nemoralis)
Missouri or low goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis)
Meadow blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis)
Slender beardtongue (Penstemon gracilis)
Cutleaf anemone (Anemone multifida)
Photo: Linda Dietrick – Meadow blazing star
If you think you’d like to add some of these plants to your garden, see the article “Sources for Manitoba plants and seeds” for information on all the Manitoba-based native plant suppliers mentioned here.