Why Plant a Native Meadow?
It may be hard to imagine, but North Carolina’s Piedmont once hosted prairies full of flowing grasses and blooming wildflowers, providing nectar to hundreds of native bees, butterflies, moths and more. Much of these special places have been lost to development and residential mono-culture lawns. Fortunately, many towns, parks and people are re-establishing beautiful prairie by planting meadows, large and small. Meadows support pollinator insects, birds and other wildlife, help address climate change, conserve water, reduce pollution, and are lovely to see!
What’s planted in the NCDNCR meadow?
| Common Name | Scientific name | Bloom Month | Bloom Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blooming Perennials: | |||
Sisyrichium | April-May | light blue | |
| coreopsis lanceolata | April-May | gold |
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' | April-May | white | |
Asclepias tuberosa | May-June | orange | |
Monarda fistulosa 'Claire Grace' | June-July | pink | |
Agastache foeniculum | June-July | purple | |
Scutellaria incana | July-August | purple | |
Pycnanthemum muticum | July-Sept | white | |
Solidago shortii 'Solar Cascade' | August-Sept | yellow | |
aster oblongifolius 'Purple Dome' | October | purple |
Common Name | Scientific name | Bloom Month | Bloom Color |
|---|---|---|---|
Grasses & Sedges: | |||
Schizachyrium scoparium 'Prairie Blues' | fall | blue/rust | |
Sporobolus heterolepis | summer | green/gold | |
Carex cherokeensis | spring | green |
Provide Food and Homes for Birds and Wildlife
Native trees and plants host caterpillars and insects, berries and nuts that birds and mammals need to eat. Loss of important trees like oaks threatens wildlife habitat and thus the food chain.
Supports our Food Supply by Providing Nectar for Bees
Our human food supply depends on pollination by bees, flies, butterflies and moths. However, bee populations in particular have declined at alarming rates. We can all do our part simply by planting flowers native trees, shrubs and flowers in our gardens that provide the nectar vital to growing food crops. There are actually over 500 native bee species in North Carolina, and they depend on a wide variety of pollinator plants.
Low maintenance: Once established, native plants generally require little maintenance. Beauty: Many native plants offer beautiful showy flowers, produce abundant colorful fruits and seeds, and brilliant seasonal changes in colors from the pale, thin greens of early spring, to the vibrant yellows and reds of autumn. Help the Climate and People: Landscaping with native plants combats climate change. Converting lawn to meadows or plant beds means less mower exhaust and noise. Plus native plants, with their deep roots, store greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
Conserve Water: Because native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions, they require far less water, saving time, money, and perhaps the most valuable natural resource, water.
Many plants imported from Asia and Europe are harming local environments by taking over. While we are used to seeing plants like nandina, they are harmful to wildlife, and It’s important to not plant and to actually remove invasive plants from your garden. Be wary of what you may see at a nursery!
There are many nurseries growing native plants here in our state, so search sources on the internet. Also, ask at your local nurseries to see their selection of native plants. The more people ask for them, the more will be planted and sold.