Native Plants in the Garden

Native Plants in the GardenDr. Heidi Kratsch

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Withstand regional weather extremes when properly sited and planted.

Provide habitat for native bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Helps restore the regional character of the land.

Places fewer demands on natural resources.

Prevents future invasive plant introductions.

Why native plants in urban areas?

Issues in urban landscapesAvailability? (will a nursery grow or carry

them?)Easy to produce? (propagation barriers)Life cycle – bloom in first year? (marketing)Broadly adapted? (genetically diverse)Fire safety? (combustibility)Tolerance to typical urban conditions?

Native bees and wasps

Mason bee (Osmia) on Berberis. Photo by USDA-ARS, Jack Dykinga.

Blue Orchard bee (Osmia) foraging in arrowleaf balsamroot. Photo by Matthew Shepherd, The Xerces Society.

Solitary pollen wasp (Pseudomasaris vespoides) specializes on Penstemon.

Gardening for butterfliesSource of nectar for adults…

ANDHost plants for larvae

Butterfly bush provides nectar for adults but the young (larvae) won’t eat it.

Buddleja davidii

Attracts a large number of native bees, including bumblebees.

Larval host for monarch and queen butterfly.

Good for moist well-drained garden soils.

Cultivars ‘Ice Ballet’ and ‘Soul Mate’

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Danaus plexippus

Danaus gilippus

Before design

Source: H.A. Kratsch, Water-Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West

After design

Source: H.A. Kratsch, Water Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West

Plant Adaptations to ClimateFuzzy, hairy leaves

Waxy leaves

Blue-tinted leaves

Dorr’s sage

Greenleaf manzanita

Blue fescue

More Adaptations…Curled or rolled

leavesReduced leaf size

Curl-leaf mountain mahogany

Winterfat

Rosaceae

Hybrids vs. species

Penstemon x mexicali ‘Red Rocks’

Penstemon palmeri

Include plants that bloom in different seasons

Source: H.A. Kratsch, Water Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West

Spring Late Summer

Fire safe?...no

Fire Safe?...yesNon-combustible

area (within 5 feet of home)

Lean, clean and green area (within 30 feet)

Wildland fuel reduction area (around the outer perimeter of home landscape)

Herbaceous plants contain 65% to 85% moisture by weight.

Right plant, right place

Birch love water but rarely get irrigated properly in our urban landscapes.

Cultural requirements

Look for clues in the plant’s native habitat.

Stanleya pinnata

So what’s different about natives?

Adapted to IMW climate.

Lower nutrient and water needs.

Some are slow-growing and take on interesting forms.

Many do best when neglected.

What most natives need…Well drained soilLots of sunOnly small amount of

organic matter; no fertilizer

Little to no deadheading (perennials)

Occasional rejuvenation pruning (trees & shrubs)

Avoid overwatering

Unsheared rabbitbrush

Rabbitbrush after shearing

Pruning techniquesRenewal pruning is for

plants that produce ‘canes’ directly from the roots.

Heavy shearing rejuvenates faster growing shrubs and cleans up dead vegetative perennial growth.

Renewal pruning

Heavy shearing

Plants that benefit from renewal pruning (removal of old canes):Serviceberry (Amelanchier)Wild lilac (Ceanothus)Alderleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus

montanus)Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)Littleleaf mockorange (Philadelphus

microphyllus)Mallow-leaved ninebark (Physocarpus

malvaceus)Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Golden currant (Ribes aureum)Woods rose (Rosa woodsii)Blue elderberry (Sambucus caerulea)

Shrubs that benefit from heavy shearing to rejuvenate:

OccasionalFourwing Saltbush (Atriplex

canescens)Apache plume (Fallugia

paradoxa)Utah holly (Mahonia

fremontii)Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla

fruticosa)Squaw bush (Rhus trilobata)Blue elderberry (Sambucus

caerulea)Mountain snowberry

(Symphoricarpos oreophilus)

FrequentSilver sage (Artemisia

cana)Winterfat (Ceratoides

lanata)Red-osier dogwood

(Cornus sericea)Rubber rabbitbrush

(Ericameria nauseosus)Lacy Buckwheat

(Eriogonum corymbosum)Broom snakeweed

(Gutierrezia sarothrae)Antelope bitterbrush

(Purshia tridentata)

Flowering trees and shrubsPlants that bloom on last year’s growth:

Prune after flowering is finished Examples: Amelanchier, Lonicera, Philadelphus,

Prunus, Physocarpus, Rosa

MockorangeTwinberry NinebarkServiceberry

Landscape fabric and native plantsInhibits decomposition of organic

mulches.Inhibits natural spread of native

perennials and ground covers.Best use is beneath 3 to 4 inches of

mulch in unplanted areas (ex. walkways), or….

Use in planted areas with inorganic mulch.

HydrozonesGrouping plants into

irrigation zones according to water needs.

Each zone irrigated by a separate valve.

The deeper the roots, the longer and less often to water.

It’s especially important to irrigation turfgrass separately from other plants in your landscape.

Incompatible within a hydrozone

Redosier dogwood

Palmer penstemon

MicroclimatesMontane

Greater precipitationUnderstory vs.

overstorySoils shallow, rocky

FoothillModerate precip, higher

ETSoils well-drainedRapid urbanization

DesertLow precip, high temps

and ETSoils highly variable,

from clayey to sandy, may be salty

Many microclimates also exist in the built environment.

Montane Zone

General care:• Mulch with shredded bark or wood

chips• Water every 7 to 10 days• May benefit from compost

amendment of soil• Some species tolerate partial shade

Bristlecone PineSubalpine species (but does really well in an urban

environment)Slow-growing, long-livedPrefers rocky, well-drained soilShade-intolerant

Pinus longaeva

Bigtooth mapleZone 3-6Small multistemmed

tree; can be trained to a single trunk

Tolerates alkaline soilFull sun for best fall

colorTolerates drought better

than most maples

Deciduous shrub with a tight rounded form

Bright yellow flowers all summer

Tolerates light shadeOccasional heavy

shearing will stimulate flowering.

Shrubby cinquefoil

Potentilla fruticosa

Zone 2-7

Evergreen, rounded symmetrical crown

Good for fire-resistance and erosion control.

Needs excellent drainage.

Greenleaf manzanita

Arctostaphylos patula

Zone 2-6

Broadleaved evergreen shrub with a vanilla like aroma

Flower clusters in spring to early summer

Water weeklyThin to remove older

canes (stems)Loves full sun

Snowbrush ceanothus

Ceanothus velutinus

Zone 3-6

Fruits are edible.Attracts large numbers

of native bees.Larval host for

California Hairstreak and Elf butterflies.

Also try Amelanchier utahensis.

Try cultivars ‘Regent’ (compact) and ‘Success’ (heavy fruit).

Western serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia

California hairstreak

Elf butterfly

Zone 3-6

10 to 15 feet tallFlowers in springBerries make good jam.Riparian species, so

likes extra moisture.Prune out old canes to

enhance flowering and fruiting.

Best for naturalized landscape.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Zone 2-6

3 to 6 feet tallBark orange and

peeling – very ornamental

Attracts large numbers of native bees.

Plant in part shade; or place in a northern exposure.

Mallowleaf ninebark

Physocarpus malvaceus

Zone 2-5

Attracts large numbers of native bees.

Blooms orange-scented in early morning.

Becomes rangy, leggy in shade.

Site in full sun.Also try P. lewisii

Littleleaf mockorange

Philadelphus microphilus

Zone 4-10

6 to 8 feet tallAttracts large numbers

of native bees.Good for erosion

control.Prune out deadwood in

fall in fire-prone areas.Occasional

rejuvenation pruning to reshape.

Antelope bitterbrush

Purshia tridentata

Zone 3-6

4 to 6 feet tallSpicy, fragrant flowersBerries orange, red or

black, used in pies and preserves.

Sun or part shadeWill tolerate extra

moisture.Try cultivar ‘Crandall’

Golden currant

Ribes aureum

Tufted rockmat3 to 6 inches tallMat-like, spreading6-inch long flower

clusters in May.Grows along rock faces

in canyonsExcellent ground coverInfrequent irrigation,

good drainage, do not prune.

Petrophytum caespitosum

Zone 3-7

Up to 3-1/2 inches tallNeeds full sunBlooms all summerWill tolerate extra water.

Showy daisy

Erigeron speciosus

Zone 3

Foothill Zone

General care:• Mulch with rocks, gravel or DG• Water every 2 weeks• Light compost if nutrient

deficiency suspected

4 to 5 feet tallFine-textured

evergreen leavesTiny tube-shaped pink

flowers in springRequires infrequent

irrigation; no compost

Littleleaf mountain mahogany

Cercocarpus intricatus

Zone 4-6

Fruits appear in August

Apache plume

Fallugia paradoxa

• Up to 5 feet tall• Prune to the ground every

2 years.Zone 3-10

6 to 12 feet tallBoth male and female

plants required for fruit set – fruit is edible.

Full sunTolerates extra

moisture but should be irrigated infrequently.

Best in naturalized area - thorns

Silver buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea

Zone 3-6

SquawbushRhus trilobata

3 to 4 feet tallThree-lobed leaves

with nice fall colorBerries are edible.Sun or part shadeVery drought tolerant.Good for erosion

control.Occasional shearing to

improve form. Zone 4-7

Silky phacelia4 to 20 inches tallBlooms June to

AugustTolerates some shadeGood native

substitute for Liatris sp. (gayfeather)

Very drought tolerant Prefers gravelly soils

Phacelia sericea

Hardy to zone 3

Blanketflower

Showy flowers throughout the summerInteresting round seed heads in fallDrought tolerant, adaptable flowerRe-seeds easilyDivide clumps every 2 to 3 years.

Showy flowers throughout the summerInteresting round seed heads in fallDrought tolerant, adaptable flowerRe-seeds easilyDivide clumps every 2 to 3 years.

Gaillardia sp.

Mountain beebalmMound-forming 6 to 12 inchesBlooms July to September, fragrantWater needs: lowPrune to encourage

bushy formEasy to establish

and maintainAttracts bees and

butterflies

Monardella odoratissima

Zone 3

Hardy geraniumLeaves palmate, turn

red in fallFlowers in two’s,

blooms all summer.Drought-tolerant if

placed in shadeUse compost to

improve soil.Easy to seed and

transplant

Geranium viscosissum Zone 2

Rosy pussytoes4 to 8 inches tallBlooms June to AugustSpreads from stolonsWithstands light foot

traffic – use between paving stones

Will dieback if drought-stressed but comes back with irrigation.

Antennaria microphylla

Zone 2

Pearly everlasting6 to 30 inches tallBloom June to

SeptemberLeave in the garden for

winter interestNeeds good drainage

and low nutrients.Excellent as a dried

flower

Anaphalis margaritacea

Zone 4-8

Zone 4-8

10 to 40 inches tallBlooms April to July.Red tube-shaped flowers

attract hummingbirds.Very adaptable to climatic

conditions.Must have good drainage.Do not overwater.

Firecracker penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

Zone 3

Blue flax6 to 30 inches tallCornflower blue

flowers that bloom in May to July

Prefers well drained soils

Easy from seedShort-lived but will

self sowExtremely drought-

tolerantLinum lewisii

Zone 4-9

Desert Zone

General care:• Mulch with rock, gravel or DG• Water only when needed• No compost or fertilizer• May be tolerant of salt

Desert willow

Chilopsis linearis

To 30 feet tallPrune as multi-

trunked tree formShowy catalpa-like

flowers in May-JunePrefers a sandy soil

and full sunWater every 2 to 3

weeks.Prune out old limbs.

Zone 4-9

Low and rounded shrub; 1 to 2-1/2 feet tall

Evergreen leavesTwo-toned blooms in

late springRequires fast-draining

infertile soil and full sunDo not overwater.Looks good without

pruning.

Desert sage

Salvia dorrii

Zone 3-6

4 to 24 inches tall; flowers on leafless stalks

Larval host for Lupine Blue butterfly

Morphologically variable.

Opportunities for cultivar development

Low water, no fertilizer

Sulfurflower buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum

Zone 4

Beautiful blazingstarAnnual1 to 3 feet tallBlooms June to Sept.Great cover for spent

bulbsVery drought tolerantGrows on disturubed

sites; plant in dry, gravelly soil

Mentzelia laevicaulis

Zone 4

ShadscaleTo 3 feet tallVariable forms from

strongly upright to weepingLeaves turn salmon-peach

color in fallNeeds good drainage and

low organic matterFull sunVery salt- and drought-

tolerant

Atriplex confertifolia

Zone 3-6

Up to 16 inches tallFlowers orange-scarlet,

blooms May to July.Attracts large numbers

of native bees.Diadasia diminuta

(globemallow bee) is a specialist.

Readily hybridizes with other globemallows.

Prefers rocky, well drained soil.

Scarlet globemallow

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Zone 4-7

Prickly poppy15 to 40 inches tallFlowers large and

showy (“Cowboy’s fried eggs”)

Prickly leavesBlooms June to Sept.Water sparinglyLike hot, dry sitesPollinated by native

bees and butterflies Argemone munita

Zone 4(5)-7

Evening-primrosePerennial to 1 foot tallBlooms April to JulyLarge fragrant

blossoms open in early evening

Blooms its first yearA good choice for hot, rocky

spotsTolerates clay or sand but

take care not to overwater.

Zone 4-9

Up to 6 feet tallBlooms May to August in

majestic spires – sweetly fragrant.

Its large flowers attract native bees.

Prefers dry, gravelly soils.Water only when

necessary; susceptible to root rot.

Palmer’s penstemon

Penstemon palmeri

Zone 4

Winterfat

Krascheninnikovia lanata

Up to 2-1/2 feet tallEvergreen leaves,

flowers cottonyRequires full sunLooks best with only

occasional irrigation and regular rejuvenation pruning.

Salt-tolerant

Zone 2-7

Harriman yuccaBlossom spikes to 5

feet tallEvergreen succulentBell-shaped flower

tinged with purpleSandy, well drained

soilDon’t irrigate.Don’t prune.

Yucca harrimaniae

Zone 4-8

Desert needlegrass

To 2 feet tallCool season bunch

grassCoarse-textured, low

fertility soilWill not tolerate

saturated or compacted soil

Intolerant of saltStipa speciosa Zone 4

Alkali sacaton6’ tall warm season

bunchgrassAttractive pink, lacy seed

headTolerant of salty and heavy,

wet or dry soilPrefers fine-textured,

alkaline soilWater needs: very lowVersatile, ornamental

specimen Sporobolus airoides

Zone 3

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