Your choice of plants for your garden will also be impacted by your personal aesthetic preferences/goals and the physical constraints of the planting site. The following are a few questions to help you think through some of these additional selection factors to further narrow down your list:
- How much space do I have? Remember to think ahead – that small shrub you purchase today can end up being a tall, sprawling bush in a few years.
- How tall do the plants get? Many native plants can grow to impressive heights.
- Do I want a clumper or a spreader? Some plants stay put, growing incrementally in small tidy clumps while others appear to be trying to conquer the world. Clumping plants are a good choice for borders, small gardens and other areas where a tidy appearance is desired, while spreading plants are great at filling in larger spaces.
- How aggressively do I want the plants to spread? Even among the spreader category, there are variations in how aggressively the plants will spread. In general it is best to plant non-aggressive spreaders with other non-aggressive spreaders and aggressive spreaders with other aggressive spreaders. If you are working with a smaller confined area, non-aggressive spreaders are usually the better choice. On the other hand, if you have a large space – like a meadow – to fill – aggressive spreaders will colonize the area more quickly. Aggression, also referred to as “sociability”, is not often included in plant descriptions so ascertaining this quality will likely require additional research or talking with other gardeners. Prairie Up offers an online class which provides an in depth discussion of plant sociability.
- When do the plants bloom? In general, it is desirable to choose plants that bloom at different times to create ongoing visual interest and wildlife support in your garden.
- What color blooms do I want? A mix of different colors in each seasonal bloom period also enhances visual interest.
NOTE: Avoid selecting cultivars with bloom colors or shapes that are different from the straight species. Native plants have co-evolved with pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds who rely on visual cues such as flower color and shape to determine their food sources. Studies have shown that altering the flower color results in decreased visitation by pollinators, reducing the plants’ beneficial impact for wildlife.
- Does the plant offer other desired visual interests like variegate leaves or fall color? Fall foliage and variations in leaf shape, color, and patterns provide additional interest, are are particularly important in shade gardens.
Many of these traits can be screened for using the Alliance for the Chesapeake Plant Finder.