Plants that occur naturally in a particular region require little maintenance but can still reward the gardener with beauty and diversity. Remember to pluck any spent flower tips from your native plants to prevent them from going to seed and keep your garden blooming. Some of Gilmer's suggestions for gardens in warmer climates include the following: - The Carmel Creeper (Ceanothus 'Carmel Creeper') is native to California but can also be found in Oregon and Washington. Be sure to locate this plant where it has full sun and good drainage (figure A).
- The Variegated Yucca (Yucca recurvifolia 'Banana Split') can be found throughout the South and has bright-green striped leaves. The Yuccasella moth pollinates the Yucca plant and neither plant nor moth can reproduce without the other (figure B).
- The Prairie Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is native to the midwestern United States and produces bright pink daisy flowers. This flower is an important source of nectar and attracts bees and butterflies. The Echinacea root is widely valued for its medicinal properties (figure C).
- The Moonbeam Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam') is native to the Southwest and drought resistant. It will grow to almost 3' in height and produces bright-yellow flowers (figure D).
Expert tip (Frank McDonough, horticulturist): Many plants require interaction with wildlife to complete their lifecycle. For example, berry plants need their berries eaten by birds to help break down the seed coat -- and the bird waste helps fertilize the plant.
RESOURCES :
Perfect Plants for Every Place: Choosing the Best Plants for Your Garden
ISBN: 0754800709
Author: Susan Berry
Order this title from Amazon.com.
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