Native Plants
Please note this website is not an official Howard County Government website. To learn more about the programs mentioned in this website and available through the Howard County Government, please visit: https://www.cleanwaterhoward.com/
Native plants are important for stormwater management because they filter stormwater and control erosion. Plants’ roots take up water which the plants filter and release into the air through their leaves. Their roots hold soil in place so it can not be eroded. They also provide ecosystem services such as a source of food, habitat, and a pollination for native fauna. Plants can also be aesthetically pleasing and are proven to improve our mental health, all while filtering the air as well.
Things to consider:
How much space do you have? Do you have a large yard? A tiny one?
What do you use your space for? If you never use your yard, fill it with native plants. If you use some of it, plant on the parts you do not use. A yard full of turf grass may look nice, but a yard full of other plants can look nice and be great for the environment. It is unlikely that you/your kids/your pets use every inch of your yard, and every plant helps!
How much time and effort are you willing to put towards maintaining your plantings? Are you willing to maintain a more complex and/or larger planting? If yes, visit the Conservation Landscaping page for more information. Otherwise, scroll down.
Picking the Right Plant for Each Site
Identify the conditions of the site. Is it sunny? Shady? Wet? Dry? On a steep slope? On flat land?
Identify the soil type you have. Is it sandy? Silty? Clay like? See the guide at the bottom of the screen for instructions.
Find native plants that do well in the conditions you identified. Check the plant list below for ideas.
For information on native plants versus non-native plants, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Tips
Water plants the correct amount according to the species and the weather. Plants need regular watering when they are first planted. If you water them too much or too little, they could die or become diseased.
Plant them at the right time of year. This is often late spring or early fall.
Remember to get rid of invasives whenever you see them and monitor weeds.
Remember to keep the ground covered with plants or mulch to prevent weeds and erosion.
If you have space, consider a small tree. Visit the native trees tab.
Consider grasses and shrubs for lower-maintenance plant options
Native vs Invasive Plants
Native plants have adapted over hundreds or thousands of years to the area they inhabit. They interact with other plants and animals in a complex web of relationships developed from adapting together. Non-native plants were brought to an area, often by people for food, medicine, or as decorative plants. Due to this, they have not evolved along with the rest of an ecosystem's species and thus can disrupt the greater habitat over time. Some non-native plants have characteristics that allow them to spread rapidly where they are introduced. These plants are known as invasive and they outcompete native plants, decreasing biodiversity and food/habitat for native animal species. They can cause all sorts of ecological problems and should be removed whenever they pop up. Both native and invasive plants can be classified as aggressive plants, which are fast-growing plants that outcompete other species. You should be aware of and monitor all aggressive plants, native or invasive, since they could take over your yard.
Not all non-native plants are invasive, but it is better to plant native plants in your yard because they are adapted to the area, should thrive if planted in the right conditions, and provide food/habitat that animals may not get from non-native plants.
Do not plant invasive plants in your yard! Invasives can easily get out of hand and kill your plants, leaving your yard open to erosion and other problems that will negatively impact your property's stormwater management. Remove invasives whenever you identify them and have a plan to replace them with naive plants. Visit the Resource page for plant identification resources.
When managing invasive plants on your property, do your research on each plant and learn
how each plant grows/spreads
how to identify them
the best time of year to remove them
the best removal methods
what to do with the removed plant matter
how to monitor for new plants after removal
For example, when managing Japanese Knotweed on your property, you would want to know:
it spreads through seeds and rhizomes, meaning its roots spread underground and send up new plants. Any part of the plant can sprout into a new plant. It likes sites with lots of sunlight.
if washed into a waterway, Knotweed will colonize a new area downstream and bring its harmful affects with it.
it has small greenish-white flowers in late summer. In the summer, the stems are dark brown, brittle, and hollow.
to remove, carefully apply herbicide in late summer/early fall or dig it up. Make sure to remove all of the roots so it cannot grow back.
carefully dispose of it after removal. Do not compost or allow any part of the plant to stay in your yard as it may re-sprout.
Soil Type Test from the USDA
