5 Things Every Western Gardener Should Know Before

Planting Native Plants

Madeline MazurskiMontana Native Landscapes

Kathy Settevendemie Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery

What is a ‘native’ plant?

• A plant species that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and/or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention

• A species that evolved over time with its biotic community

• A species that has not been genetically altered

Cultivars

• A cultivar is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable characteristics that can be maintained by propagation.

• A cultivar is given a cultivar name, which consists of the scientific Latin botanical name followed by a cultivar epithet. The cultivar epithet is usually in a vernacular language. For example, the full cultivar name of the Amber Wheels Blanket Flower is Gaillardia aristata 'Amber Wheels’.

The 'Amber Wheels‘ part of the name is the cultivar epithet which, according to the Rules of the Cultivated Plant Code, is bounded by single quotation marks.

• Created by selection, hybridization or genetic engineering.

Native plant taxonomy

• Common names:– Sagebrush– Mountain Big Sage– Big sagebrush

• Scientific/botanical names: Artemisia tridentata v. vaseyana Genus– Artemisia

Species– tridentata

Variety– vaseyana

Local Provenance

• “Native plants with local provenance

(place of origin) will be genetically better

suited to your local growing conditions

than one that is indigenous to another part

of the country with very different growing

conditions.” -Wasowski

Why use native plants?

• Lower maintenance• Water conservation• Sustainability• Lower your carbon footprint• Minimize environmental effects of herbicides and

pesticides• Decline in pollinators• Preserving sense of place• Concern about invasive species• Have a role in preserving species• Part of natural ecosystems

Native Plant Gardens

Only native plants

Only exotic (alien) plants

Integrating natives with non-native species

Where are you now?

Where Does That Plant Grow and Why Does It Matter?

Where Does That Plant Grow?

Sun & ShadeMoisture & DrynessTiming of Moisture

SoilElevationAspect

ExposureSlope

Hot & Dry:Hot & Dry:ExposedExposed

Drainage Area: Moist & Drainage Area: Moist & ProtectedProtected

North-facing,North-facing,Steep & RockySteep & Rocky

High Elevation High Elevation & Moist& Moist

Mount Sentinel, Missoula MTMount Sentinel, Missoula MT

GrasslandGrassland

Woody Draw with Woody Draw with Shrubs & PinesShrubs & Pines

Sparse Douglas FirSparse Douglas Fir

Ponderosa Pine Ponderosa Pine WoodlandWoodland

Why does it matter?

We can use this same information

to create our home landscape

The Home Landscape

Sun & ShadeMoisture & DrynessTiming of Moisture

SoilElevationAspect

ExposureSlope

Sun & ShadeMoisture & DrynessTiming of Moisture

SoilElevationAspect

ExposureSlope

Map Your Microclimates:Potential Plant Communities

Moist

Dry

Shady

Compact Soil

Sunny

RESIDENCE

STORAGE

Entry

Steep Slope

Wind

Flat Open Area

Existing Ponderosa Pines

North

Identify Your Plant Communities

• Which do you have?

• Which can you re-create?

• Can you incorporate

more than one?

Design your garden!

Why Design?

Where To From Here?

Design Process

Site Assessment:Possible Plant Communities

& Other Site Factors

Needs Assessment:What You Want & Need

In Your Garden

Garden Design

Your Design with Native Communities

NorthExisting Ponderosa Pines New Ponderosa Pines to block wind

Mesic Grassland Meadow

New Back Patio

Entry Court

Dry Shade Pine Woodland Low Shrubs, Forbs, Grasses & Sedges

Dry Grassland Meadow

RESIDENCE

STORAGE

Riparian Shrubs

Douglas Fir Dry Shade ShrubsForbs & Grasses

From Dry Area

Forbs, Grasses, Sedges, Low Shrubs for Moist Shade

Example of Plant Community in Missoula area - Grassland

• Grasses: Idaho Fescue, Bluebunch Wheatgrass, Prairie Junegrass, One-spike Oatgrass…

• Wildflowers: Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Silky Lupine, Little Larkspur, Yellow Bells, Sagebrush Buttercup, Wild Bergamot, Showy Fleabane, Shaggy Fleabane, Clarkia, Blanket Flower, Twin Arnica, Goldenrod, Shooting Star, Mountain Sandwort…

Example of Plant Community in Missoula area - Grassland

Missoula area - Grassland

• Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis)

Missoula area – Grassland wildflowers

Missoula area – Grassland wildflowers

Missoula area – Grassland wildflowers

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

Work with your Site

Lewisia rediviva:Bitterroot

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

Abundance

Hints for Gardening with Native PlantsPlant Architecture

Hints for Gardening with Native PlantsCommunity Structure

Provide for Everyone

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

People too!

Seasonality

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

August

June

Sprawl & Spread

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

Regulations

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

“In situations involving parcels of land that are maintained and designated or designed as natural parks/gardens, the owners may request exemption from the Director of Public Works or designated representative. The exemption will be in the form of a Managed Natural Garden/Park Agreement. The purpose is to recognize that private owners may have managed naturalized, less water intensive gardens and lawns. It shall be the duty of such persons to maintain their property so that it shall not be considered a fire hazard, a public safety visibility hazard at street or alley intersections, a public health hazard or a public/private nuisance. Parcels of land designated or designed as natural parks/gardens may lose the designation of exempt, under this ordinance, if the property is not managed as stated in the management agreement.”

Maintenance

Hints for Gardening with Native Plants

EVERY

GARDEN

NEEDS

MAINTENANCE!

(But it can be less with native plants)