Native Plants

Native plants of your region or area are a great idea for your garden.  There are several important reasons for this.  Natives are going to be more suited for your garden’s climate and weather.  Plants that originated in a tropical or different climate are most likely not going to thrive in Delaware.  Factors like temperatures being too low and not enough moisture in the soil will stress plants.  They will not grow to their full potential or they might even die.  A garden full of sick, stressed plants is not attractive.  Sometimes a non-native plant will like its new home much better.  This may sound good but can lead to overgrowth and possibly too many offspring crowding your growing space.  Use trees, shrubs, and flowers from your region!  These plants will take less care, grow fuller, and you will be much happier yourself. 

Common Natives for Delaware

 Vine/Groundcover

  

English Ivy- Hedera helix
Type: Vine
Sun: Partial-Full Shade
Maintenance: Low
Uses: Groundcover
Zone: 5

 Native Alternative

Virginia Heartleaf- Hexastylis virginica

Type:  Evergreen

Sun: Partial-Full Shade

Maintenance: Low

Uses: Groundcover
Zone: 6,7,8

 Deciduous Shrub

Dwarf Winged Bruning Bush- Euonymus alatus
Type: Deciduous Shrub
Sun: Full sun- Partial Shade
Maintenance: Low
Uses: Winter display, hedge, screen and shrub border
Zone: 4 to 8

Native Alternative

Winterberry- Ilex verticillata
Type: Deciduous Shrub
Sun: Full Sun- Partial Shade
Maintenance: Low
Uses: Winter display, hedge and shrub border
Zone: 3 to 4     


Flowering Shrub

Butterfly Bush- Buddleia davidii
Type: Large Shrub
Sun: Full Sun
Maintenance: High
Uses: Attracts butterflies 
Zone: 5
  

Native Alternative

Butterfly Weed- Asclepias tuberosa 

Type: Herbaceous Perennial 

Sun: Full Sun

Maintenance: Low 

Uses: Showy flowers, attracts butterflies

Zone: 3 to 9   

Decorative Shrub 

Japanese Barberry- Berberis thunbergii

Type: Deciduous Shrub
Sun: Full Sun- Partial Shade
Maintenance: Low
Uses: Borders and hedges
Zone: 4

 

 

 

       Native Alternative
Eastern Ninebark- Physocarpus opulifolius
Type: Deciduous Shrub
Sun: Full Sun- Partial Shade
Maintenance: Low

Uses: Borders and hedges

Zone: 2 to 8

       

 

 

 

The Problem(s) With Invasive Vines

   

 Plant no vine before its time. There is no good time to plant an invasive vine. Forgive our feeble attempt at humor, comedy is hard work; however disposing of an invasive vine once established is nearly impossible. Prevention is the best solution available. Clematis terniflora or Sweet Autumn Virgin Bower is one example of an invasive vine. Clematis is a deciduous, semi-evergreen, twining vine that is native to Japan. Clematis has a leathery foliage and produces a plethora of star-shaped flowers which are pretty to look at, however the fun stops there. Clematis, due to its self-seeding and fast growth is know to overtake gardens. It also has a long tap root which adds to its invasive tendency. It can reach a height of fifteen feet and has a spread of six to ten feet. Below are several images of the damage this vine can cause.

Clematis

Clematis climbing and smothering a tree.

 This vine tends to smother the ground and the plants it has attached itself to.

Clematis choking a medium sized shrub.

Keep good humor/ Use native plants

Don't display a similar sign in your yard!

 Native alternatives to Clematis

• Virginia Creeper
•  Allegheny Spurge
• Partridgeberry
•  Wintergreen
• Wild Ginger 

Helpful Links!

 

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http://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=DE

http://www.delawarenativeplants.org/

http://www.mdflora.org/

http://www.mdflora.org/