A Guide to Landscaping with Native Plants in the Barnegat Bay Watershed
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A Guide to Landscaping with Native Plants in the Barnegat Bay Watershed What are native plants? Why should I Native plants have evolved over thousands grow them? of years to be adapted to conditions in a To enjoy beautiful, hardy plants! particular region and to the other plants and Natives thrive in our local climate and soil and animals around them. have natural defenses to plant diseases, harmful How can I choose the insects, and other pests. To save time and money! Well-adapted to best plants for my yard? local conditions, natives require less water and Use the chart inside to guide you in selecting fertilizer than non-natives, and are less likely to the native plants best suited to the growing need pesticides. conditions in your yard. You will also want to To bring in the birds and butterflies! Natives consider plant height, flower color, bloom time, provide essential food, shelter, and nesting sites and wildlife value when making your selections. for native wildlife. To improve water quality! Native plant roots hold soil in place, increase infiltration of rainwater into the ground, and filter pollutants from our water. Since natives need less fertilizer, they help reduce the quantity of fertilizer that stormwater can carry into our waterways and the Barnegat Bay. SAMPLE DESIGNS FOR A NATIVE PLANT GARDEN Native Plant Garden for Sunny Locations 8 feet 12 feet Native Plant Garden for Shady Locations 12 feet SHRUBS & TREES PHOTO NAME HEIGHT FLOWERS LIGHT SOIL WILDLIFE NOTES Common & Scientific Bloom Time & Color Moisture & Type American Holly MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT evergreen; pyramid shape; 15’ - 40’ Ilex opaca small, white C L red berries in Oct. Arrowwood MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – blue-black berries in Sept.; 5’- 10’ Viburnum dentatum flat white clusters L S O red fall foliage Beach Plum MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT edible purplish-black fruit in 4’ - 15’ Prunus maritima white clusters L S Aug.; good for jelly; tolerates salt Buttonbush MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – ball-shaped clusters of fragrant 6’ - 10’ Cephalanthus occidentalis creamy white C L S O flowers; tolerates wet areas Eastern Red Cedar MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT evergreen; blue fruit loved by 25’ - 50’ Juniperus virginiana green or yellow C L S birds; drought-tolerant Eastern Redbud MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT one of the earliest bloomers; 20’ - 35’ Cercis canadensis magenta L S drought-resistant Highbush Blueberry MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – blueberries July- Aug.; red fall 4’ - 10’ Vaccinium corymbosum white- pinkish L S O color; add organic matter to soil Inkberry Holly MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT evergreen; black berries in Sept. 4’ - 10’ Ilex glabra small, greenish- white C L S O on female plants Mountain Laurel MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – evergreen; nice addition to 8’-12’ Kalmia latifolia white to pink C L S O woodland garden Ninebark MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – domed flower clusters; 4’ - 8’ Physocarpus opulifolius white to pink C L likes sandy soil waxy bluish-white berries in Northern Bayberry MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – 2’ - 8’ Sept.; plants will sucker and form Morella pensylvanica small, yellow-green C L S colonies Red Chokeberry MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – red fruit in Sept. persists through 6’ - 10’ Photinia pyrifolia clusters of white C L S winter; great red fall color Red Twig Dogwood MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – bright red stems for winter 8’ - 12’ Cornus sericea white L interest River Birch MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – attractive exfoliating bark; 40’ - 60’ Betula nigra brown C L can grow on flood-prone land Shadbush or MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – one of the earliest bloomers; Serviceberry 35’ - 50’ red to purple fruit in July Amelanchier canadensis small, white C L S Sweet Pepperbush MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – brown seed heads Sept.-Feb.; 5’ - 8’ Clethra alnifolia white C L S deer-resistant Sweetbay Magnolia MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – fragrant flowers; tolerates 12’ - 30’ Magnolia virginiana creamy white C L S flooding and salt Sweetspire MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – 4’ - 8’ fragrant flowers; good fall color Itea virginica white C L S Winged Sumac MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT dark red fruit persists over 8’ - 15’ Rhus copallinum yellowish green C L S winter; great fall color Winterberry Holly MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – red berries Oct.-Dec. on female 4’ - 10’ Ilex verticillata small, white C L S O plants HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS PHOTO NAME HEIGHT FLOWERS LIGHT SOIL WILDLIFE NOTES Common & Scientific Bloom Time & Color Moisture & Type Bee Balm 24” - 48” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – Monarda didyma fragrant flowers and foliage pink to red L Black-Eyed Susan 12”- 36” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Rudbeckia hirta long bloom time yellow C L Blazing Star 12”- 36” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Liatris spicata drought-tolerant purple spikes C L S Butterfly Weed 12”- 36” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT favorite food of Monarch Asclepias tuberosa orange L S butterflies; attractive seedpods Cardinal Flower 24”- 48” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – intense red color attracts Lobelia cardinalis red C L hummingbirds Columbine 6”- 36” unique, showy two-toned MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Aquilegia canadensis flowers; good in woodland red to yellow L gardens; spreads by seed Common Boneset 36”- 60” flat top flower clusters attract MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – Eupatorium perfoliatum butterflies; popular herb; good white C L S for wet site False Sunflower 36”- 60” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT attractive daisy-like flower with Heliopsis helianthoides yellow L S a long bloom time Foamflower 12”- 24” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT interesting foliage; great choice Tiarella cordifolia spikes of white L for a shade garden Foxglove Beardtongue 24”- 60” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Penstemon digitalis tolerates poor drainage white to pink C L S Great Blue Lobelia 12”- 36” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – interesting, long-blooming blue Lobelia siphilitica blue spike C L S flowers Joe-Pye Weed 12”- 96” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – large plant that needs space; Eupatoriadelphus fistulosum pink-purple C L tolerates wet areas Mistflower 12”- 42” flat clusters of fuzzy flowers are MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – Conoclinium coelestinum an excellent nectar source; can blue to violet C L spread quickly New England Aster 18”- 72” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Symphyotrichum pinch to keep plant compact novae-angliae blue to violet L Pink Tickseed 18”- 24” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT deer-resistant; can spread Coreopsis rosea pink L S quickly Purple Coneflower 24”- 36” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT popular herb; goldfinches love Echinacea purpurea purple-pink C L S its seeds Rosemallow 36” - 72” large two-toned flowers; can MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – Hibiscus moscheutos tolerate fresh or brackish tidal cream and pink C L marsh Seaside Goldenrod 12”-72” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Solidago sempervirens thrives in coastal areas; yellow L S tolerates salt, sand, and drought Sneezeweed 18”- 60” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT interesting flower; can tolerate Helenium autumnale yellow C L S wet areas HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS PHOTO NAME HEIGHT FLOWERS LIGHT SOIL WILDLIFE NOTES Common & Scientific Bloom Time & Color Moisture & Type Swamp Milkweed 36”- 60” attracts butterflies (especially MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – Asclepias incarnata Monarchs); can tolerate wet pink C L areas, unlike butterfly weed White Turtlehead 18”-36” flower looks like turtle’s head; MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – Chelone glabra will spread; good in a shade white C L S garden Wild Bergamot 18”- 60” MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Monarda fistulosa fragrant flowers and foliage; pink to purple C L can spread GRASSES PHOTO NAME HEIGHT FLOWERS LIGHT SOIL WILDLIFE NOTES Common & Scientific Bloom Time & Color Moisture & Type American Beachgrass 1’ - 3.5’ MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT can grow in sand; spreads Ammophila breviligulata L S rapidly by rhizomes Coastal Panicgrass 4’ - 6’ MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT blue-green leaves; tolerates salt Panicum amarum L S and sandy soil Little Bluestem 2’ - 4’ MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT exceptional drought tolerance; Schizachyrium scoparium green to reddish tan very ornamental; turns bronze- L S orange after frost Prairie Cordgrass 4’ - 6’ MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – can get quite tall; good for Spartina pectinata shore areas; tolerates fresh and L brackish tidal flooding Saltmeadow 1’ - 3’ MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – can spread rapidly; tolerates Cordgrass wet areas Spartina patens C L S Switchgrass 3’ - 6’ MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT – – bunch grass with great fall Panicum virgatum green to brown to rose C L S color; tolerates wet areas KEY LIGHT.............................................................................................................................................................................. WILDLIFE Butterflies Shade = less than 3 hours of direct sunlight a day, or filtered sunlight Hummingbirds Partial shade = approximately 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day Songbirds Full sun = at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day Beneficial Insects SOIL CONDITIONS – Moisture ...................................................................................................................................