Native vs. Non Native Why Choose Natives? RESOURCES Prohibited Plants List www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/agr/farm-products/plants/ Native plants are species that are indigenous to the Selecting Natives Will: massachusetts-prohibited--list.html island. Having grown and evolved here for thousands Nantucket Invasive Plants List (Wetland Regulations) • Save Water­—Native plants are adapted to the local of years, native plants are well-adapted to living in nantucket-ma.gov/documentcenter/view/1008 climate and site conditions. Nantucket’s coastal habitats and have formed Native Plant Nurseries in MA/New England complex and interdependent relationships with the • Save Time—Less maintenance is required with native grownativemass.org/resources/nurseries island’s wildlife. Some native plants are aggressive plants once established. Coastal Zone Landscaping growers, such as grape and scrub oak, but they are key • Reduce Pesticide Use—Native plants have developed https://www.mass.gov/service-details/stormsmart- dominant plants in local ecosystems. their own defenses against many pests and diseases. coasts-coastal-landscaping-in-massachusetts Non-native plants are those that have been introduced Integrated Landscaping • Enhance Wildlife Habitat—Provide shelter and high www.upne.com/1611682786.html to an area by humans, either intentionally or acciden- quality food for native wildlife. tally. Over time, these plants can expand their range http://www.plantnative.org/books_gb.htm without human interference. They are also called exotic, • Protect Nantucket’s Distinctive Landscape and Go Botany alien, or non-indigenous plants. Fragile Ecosystem. (Plant I.D. and Range Info) gobotany.newenglandwild.org Nantucket Invasive Plant Species Committee (IPSC) Invasive Plants Tips for Using Native Plants The Invasive Plant Species Committee is a standing committee of the NBI focused on evaluating, managing and educating the public about Nantucket’s Invasive species are non native species that grow aggres- invasive plant species • Use this guide to familiarize yourself with plants that sively, reproducing rapidly to crowd out other plants, may be suitable for your yard­—you may already have Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative (NBI) and are difficult to remove once established. These traits some great native species to work with. Assess your site NBI seeks to conserve the native biodiversity of Nantucket make them troublesome garden weeds; as they expand through collaborative research, monitoring, and education. and consider your goals for the landscape. into natural areas, they can also threaten native plant NBI is a collaborative effort of the following organizations: LANDSCAPING communities and reduce wildlife habitat quality. • Check with local nurseries to find out which natives Linda Loring Nature Foundation NATIVE PLANTS they have in stock, and what they recommend Maria Mitchell Association with based on your needs. Or, ask your landscape Massachusetts Audubon Society on The Nantucket Landscape designer to incorporate natives. Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Nantucket • Replace invasives with natives when it’s time Species Program Nantucket Conservation Foundation Nantucket’s glacial landscape consists of moraines with for garden improvements. Dispose of removed scattered boulders in the northern part of the island, and material appropriately. Nantucket Islands Land Bank Nantucket Land Council sandy, flat, well-drained outwash plains along the south • Source plants grown from island or Nantucket Memorial Airport shore. Bogs, marshes, pocket wetlands and larger coastal northeastern stock—to maintain local genetic ponds provide variation. The climate and growing variation and have best results in our climate. Science Department of the Nantucket High School conditions are similar to those found on Cape Cod, The Trustees of Reservations Martha’s Vineyard, and Long Island. • Collect local seed and grow your own, or Town of Nantucket Natural Resources Department salvage plants from construction sites (with The whole island is low-lying, with a maximum elevation Tuckernuck Land Trust permission of landowner). of 111ft., and is subjected to strong winds and salt spray, UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station particularly during the stormy winter months. The climate • Ideas: Plant edible or wildlife habitat hedges, U.S. Fish & Wildflife Service is moderated by the island’s location offshore, about pollinator gardens, rain gardens to capture 27 miles south of Cape Cod. Winters tend to be milder than runoff, and wildflower/native grass meadows. on the mainland, while summers are cooler with frequent fog. The USDA hardiness zone is 7b, more similar to the Pamphlet created and printed by Mid Atlantic coastal states than to the rest of New England. *E­—Please use caution when consuming plants on the landscape. Ensure the ID of the plant and Nantucket is home to globally rare sandplain grassland and what parts of the plant are edible to humans. coastal heathland plant communities characterized by low Just because a particular plant is edible, that doesn’t mean that every part of it growing grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Small areas of should be eaten. mixed deciduous forest, pitch pine and scrub oak barrens, beaches, dunes, marshes, and coastal plain ponds round www. nantucketbiodiversity.org out the island’s diversity.

SHRUBS & VINES Light Water Best Uses FLOWERING PERENNIALS CONTINUED Light Water Best Uses

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME F P S D M W D E H P W COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME F P S D M W B D N H W

Azalea, Swamp Rhododendron viscosum • • • • • • Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum • • • • • • Bayberry Morella caroliniensis • • • • • • • • Boneset, Hyssop-Leaved Eupatorium hyssopifolium • • • • • • • • Beach Plum Prunus maritima • • • • • • Everlasting, Pearly Anaphalis margaritacea • • • • • • • Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi • • • • • • • Geranium, Cranesbill Geranium maculatum • • • • • • Blueberry, Highbush Vaccinum corymbosum • • • • • • • Goat’s Rue Tephrosia virginiana • • • • • • • • Blueberry, Lowbush Vaccinium angustifolium • • • • • • • • Goldenrod, Grass-Leaved Euthamia graminifolia • • • • • • • • Bower, Virgin's Clematis virginiana • • • • • Goldenrod, Seaside Solidago sempervirens • • • • • • Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis • • • • Goldenrod, Sweet Solidago odora • • • • • • • • • Chokeberry, Black Aronia melanocarpa • • • • • Indigo, Yellow Wild Baptisia tinctoria • • • • • • • • Creeper, Virginia Parthenocissus quinquefolia • • • • • • • Iris, Blue Flag Iris versicolor, I. prismatica • • • • • • • Elderberry, Black Sambucus nigra • • • • Joe-pye Weed, Coastal Eutrochium dubium • • • • • • Grape, Fox Vitis labrusca • • • • • • • Lily, Turk’s Cap Lilium superbum • • • • • • Groundsel Baccharis halimifolia • • • • • • • Lily, Wood Lilium philadelphicum • • • • • • Hazelnut, American Corylus americana • • • • • • Mallow, Swamp Rose Hibiscus moscheutos • • • • • • Hazelnut, Beaked Corylus cornuta • • • • • • • Milkweed, Common Asclepias syriaca • • • • • • Heather, Golden False ericoides • • • Milkweed, Orange Asclepias tuberosa • • • • • • • Holly, American Ilex opaca • • • • • Milkweed, Purple Swamp Asclepias incarnata • • • • • • • Holly, Winterberry Ilex verticillata • • • • • • • Mint, Clustered Mountain Pycnanthemum muticum • • • • • • • • Huckleberry, Black Gaylussacia baccata • • • • • • • Primrose, Evening Oenothera biennis • • • • • • • Huckleberry, Blue Dangle Gaylussacia frondosa • • • • • • Rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium • • • • • • • Inkberry Ilex glabra • • • • • • Sunflower, Woodland Helianthus divaricatus • • • • • • • Laurel, Sheep Kalmia angustifolia • • • • • Loosestrife, Yellow Lysimachia quadrifolia • • • • • • • Marsh-elder, Maritime Iva frutescens • • • • • • Oak, Dwarf Chinquapin Quercus prinoides • • • • • Oak, Scrub Quercus ilicifolia • • • • • GRASSES, SEDGES & RUSHES Light Water Best Uses Pepperbush, Sweet Clethra alnifolia • • • • • • • Rose, Carolina Rosa carolina • • • • • COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME F P S D M W D H L N W Rose, Virginia Rosa virginiana • • • • Beach Grass, American Ammophila breviligulata • • • • • Shadbush, Downy Amelanchier arborea • • • • • Bentgrass, Autumn Agrostis perennans • • • • • • • • Shadbush, Eastern Amelanchier canadensis • • • • • Bentgrass, Rough Agrostis scabra • • • • • • • • Sumac, Smooth Rhus glabra • • • • • • Bentgrass, Winter Agrostis hyemalis • • • • • • • Sumac, Winged Rhus copallinum • • • • • • • Bluestem, Big Andropogon gerardii • • • • • • Sweetfern Comptonia peregrina • • • • • • Bluestem, Bushy Andropogon glomeratus • • • • • • • Viburnum, Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum • • • • • Bluestem, Little Schizachyrium scoparium • • • • • • • • • Willow, Pussy Salix discolor • • • • • Cordgrass, Prairie Spartina pectinata • • • • • • • • Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens • • • • • • • Cordgrass, Saltmeadow Spartina patens • • • • Cordgrass, Smooth Spartina alterniflora • • • • TREES Light Water Best Uses Grass, Poverty-oats Danthonia spicata • • • • • • • • • Hairgrass, Wavy Deschampsia flexuosa • • • • • • • • • COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME F P S D M W D E H S W Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans • • • • • Lovegrass, Purple Eragrostis spectabilis • • • • • • • • Cedar, Red Juniperus virginiana • • • • • • • Rush, Soft Juncus effusus • • • • • Cherry, Black Prunus serotina • • • • • • Sedge, Pennsylvania Carex pensylvanica • • • • • • • • Elm, American (cultivar) Ulmus americana cultivar • • • • • • Switchgrass Panicum virgatum • • • • • • Hickory, Mockernut Carya tomentosa • • • • • • • Wildrye, Common Elymus virginicus • • • • Maple, Red Acer rubrum • • • • • • • Oak, White Quercus alba • • • • • Oak, Black Quercus velutina • • • • • • • FERNS Light Water Best Uses Pine, Pitch • • • • • • • Sassafras Sassafras albidum • • • • • • • COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME F P S D M W D H L N W Tupelo (Black Gum) Nyssa sylvatica • • • • • • Fern, Cinnamon Osmundastrum cinnamomeum • • • • • • • • • Fern, Marsh Thelypteris palustris • • • • • • • • FLOWERING PERENNIALS Light Water Best Uses Fern, Massachusetts Parathelypteris simulata • • • • • • Fern, New York Parathelypteris noveboracensis • • • • • • • • COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME F P S D M W B D N H W Fern, Royal Osmunda regalis • • • • • • • • Aster, Bushy Symphyotrichum dumosum • • • • • • • • SITE CONDITION CODES Aster, Sickle-leaved Golden Pityopsis falcata • • • • • • Sun Exposure Soil Moisture Best Use Codes H=Habitat/Restoration P=Privacy Hedge/Screening Aster, Heath Symphyotrichum ericoides • • • • • • • F=Full Sun D=Dry B=Bee/Butterfly Garden L=Lawns/Groundcover S=Shade Tree Aster, Stiff Ionactis linariifolia • • • • • • • P=Partial Sun M=Moderate D=Deer Resistant N=Naturalizing/Wildflower W=Wind/Salt spray Tolerant Aster, Toothed White-Top Sericocarpus asteroides • • • • • • • S=Shade W=Wet *E=Edible Value Meadow