Choosing Native Plants for Your Home and Garden
On March 5, Andrew Tufts of Maine Audubon visited Harpswell to share a wealth of practical planting wisdom. Speaking at a Harpswell Invasive Plant Partnership (HIPP) event at Elijah Kellogg Church, he shared bird and plant facts that all of us can appreciate as we work in our own backyards.
Bird populations have declined significantly since 1970, but we can help them recover. To thrive, birds need caterpillars in the spring and seeds in the fall. If our properties consist of at least 70% native plant biomass—including trees, shrubs, and ground-hugging natives, absent of pavement or structures—we can help fulfill nature’s needs. That means we help the birds when we plant our open land with food for the birds. Native plants do just that. They provide the nutrients our native birds need. Lawns, however, are not native and do not nourish native birds.
When shopping for plants, it’s important to look for “straight species” rather than “nativars”, which are genetically altered versions of native plants. Nurseries and big-box stores often sell nativars for their flashy flowers or purple leaves, but these changes can sometimes prevent the plants from producing the pollen and seeds insects and birds need.
For example, while the popular Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is beautiful, it is sterile. On the other hand, the native Geranium maculatum (Wild Cranesbill) provides essential food for insects, encouraging seed production which in turn feeds our birds and our soils. It’s a win-win for our garden’s beauty and nature as well.
If you have space for planting only one tree, make it an Oak. An Oak supports more insect diversity—and therefore more birds—than any other tree in the U.S.
In addition to the HIPP website, here are two fantastic resources for plant inspiration:
- https://mainenativeplants.org/ Offers curated lists for every environment, whether your yard is sunny and dry or shady and wet.
- https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mnap/features/commsheets.htm Explains how to create thriving native plant communities based on your soil and light conditions.
Ready to Buy Plants?
The HIPP website Plant Tips and Resources pages offer excellent recommendations for finding unaltered native plants. Locally, Maine Audubon, Wild Seed Project, and other sources listed on the HIPP website are expanding their native plant availability, making it easier than ever to find “straight species” close to home. The changes emerging in the nursery business are driven by the public that now understands the value of growing for the birds.