Gardening experts agree – the most important part about creating a successful garden is planting the right plant in the right place. However, this can be much easier said than done. Choosing the “right plants” requires a bit of forethought and research – answering a series of questions to narrow down a large list of possible plants to a much smaller, more manageable list. While this process can be labor intensive upfront, in the long-run taking the time to do so can save a lot of time and money by increasing the odds that the plants you select will work in the space you are planting. The Native Plant Selection Funnel below illustrates the types of questions to consider. Additional information on each topic is available by clicking on the links below the graphic.
Prioritize Keystone Species When Possible
Once you have gone through the native plant selection funnel, you will have a list of plants that are appropriate for your project. If you have several plants that could serve the same purpose in your garden, priority should be given to keystone species plants – the wildlife supporting superstars of the native plant world. Keystone species plants support a large number of different species, compared to other native plants which, while still beneficial, are hosts to a more limited number of species. For example – both oak trees and tulip poplar trees are native to the mid-Atlantic region. However, oak trees have been shown to support 557 different caterpillar species while tulip poplars support only 21. A list of keystone species in the Anne Arundel County, MD region can be found here: Ecoregion 8 Keystone Species.
