NATIVE PLANTS
Independence Park Demonstration garden.
Introducing native plants to your landscape can be both fun and rewarding. Although natives can be less "showy" than their overseas cousins they often have a subtle beauty that blends well into any surroundings. They tend to grow better, need less care, and although they feed the native insects (including caterpillars that turn into butterflies) they also feed and house native birds throughout their life cycles.
Native plants don't always have the word "native" on the tag so you may need to do some research before you shop but they shouldn't be hard to find.
There are also plenty of Native Plant Societies that provide shopping lists, suggestions, and other helpful tips as well as like-minded members to chat and consult with. We include here, the short list of some of our native favorites here and more comprehensive native plants info in the NATIVE Plant Resources below.
If you want to observe for yourself how natives can fit into the landscape visit both Freedom Park or Independence Demonstration Gardens, the word "native" is printed in bold on the tags under the plants.
Natives With Winter Interest - Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers.pdfNative Plants for All Seasons - Mecklen... Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers.pdfNative Plants for All Seasons Freedom Demonstration Gardens Debbie Blystone
KTG Hummingbirds.pdfTough Plants for Tough Times - Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers.pdfMary Stauble
Spring Woodland Gift - Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers.pdfNative Plants With Spring Interest - Me... Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers.pdfNative Plants with Spring Interest, Demonstration Gardens
Debbie Blystone
summer_natives_demo_blystone_0611 (1).pdfNative Plants with Summer Interest, Demonstration Gardens
Debbie Blystone
KTG Right Plant Right Place_070123.pdfNative Plants
Right Plant, Right Place
Master Gardener Volunteer GROW GUIDE
Native Plants with Fall Interest,
Demonstration Gardens
Debbie Blystone
Native Plants - Ameliorating The Impact Of Habitat Fragmentation And Loss
Margaret Genkins
Invasive Plant List- DO NOT Plant for Mecklenburg County, courtesy of Mecklenburg County Environmental Leadership Team pdf
NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES
Going Native Urban Landscaping with Native Plants NCSU Extension Service
Native Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines NCSU Extension Service
Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Your Garden UNC Botanical Gardens
Native Wildflowers, Ferns, Grasses, and Sedges for Your Garden UNC Botanical Gardens
National Native Plant Information Network(NPIN) University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Native Plants for NC Native Plant Information Network
Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants NCSU Extension Service
Going Native UNC Botanical Gardens