Why Natives?
Grow Native Plants and Make a Difference!
Checkout our Blog on Pollinator Gardens, Growing for Life! https://www.detroitabloom.com/pollinator-gardens
We’re very excited to share our love for native plants that support declining populations of insects and other forms of wildlife. Our plant stock includes some annuals but mostly perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees. We start many plants from seeds we have saved or purchased from sustainable seed sources. We also propagate from division and cuttings. We purchase plugs from Wild Type Nursery, located in Mason, Michigan, and from Walters Gardens, located in West Michigan.
What We Grow
What determines whether a plant is native is a controversial subject we have followed for years. After much research and contemplation, we’ve decided to grow mainly plants that have evolved in Michigan and neighboring states. We still grow and plant our other favorites, including some not specifically native to this hemisphere, whether naturalized or introduced. Many non-native plants also provide food and shelter for local pollinators. All you have to do is observe the pollinator activity to see which plants are most sought after during the season.
Before our focus on cut flower farming, we grew mostly vegetables for a good six years. During that time, we always looked for interesting native plants to place in clusters among our vegetable crops for their beauty and to attract pollinators. Before long, we noticed an increase in the numbers and different kinds of pollinators, and our crops seemed to become increasingly healthier. Then we began to make insectary plantings (groupings of plants that attract pollinators and provide habitat) to attract a wider variety of beneficial insects that eventually played a big role in controlling the unwanted insects. In short, we fell in LOVE with native plants!
What is an Insectary?
An insectary plant is a plant that attracts, feeds, and shelters insects. Yes, you want plants that attract many insects! Of course, the number one type of insect you desire is the beneficial insects. Beneficials will pollinate your garden, and they will often eat undesirable insects and pests, such as aphids. A wide variety of insects make for a healthy and sustainable garden! The plant pictured on the right is a Cup Plant, Silphium perfoliatum, which is a great native for drawing many insects. Lady Bugs are known to overwinter in their base, as are brown aphids. In the spring, those aphids produce food for the ladybugs. The cupped leaves hold rainwater for insects and birds to drink.
Great Black and Golden Digger Wasps
Did you know that most Wasps are beneficial insects? For instance, this native Great Black Wasp & Golden Digger Wasps are solitary nesters who are nonaggressive. Only the female can sting and will only do so if her nest is disturbed. Solitary Wasps are good pollinators and help to control pests such as grasshoppers and katydids. They do so through a parasitizing sting to their prey. The female Great Black then lays her eggs in the prey’s stomach. When the eggs hatch, they devour the prey., a great example of nature and the circle of life at work.
Rain Gardens
We had to check out one of the local Rain Gardens, planted with our natives by WSU and Americorps!
Have you read about Rain Gardens and wondered if you should have one on your property? Let’s dive into overall considerations.
When Rain Gardens are placed correctly, they direct the rain runoff from roofs, gutters and other hard surfaces to strategically placed plantings, where the water is absorbed and filtered through the soil. This keeps pollution out of the storm drains and also keeps the warm summer rain from heating up our waterways. The rain garden also provides plants that support pollination and other wildlife such as caterpillars and birds. It is a win win situation!
Some tips for making a rain garden.
· Rain gardens assist with water infiltration and should not be located where there is consistent pooling or standing water. Rather, observe your property and what happens during heavy rain. Where can you collect the most rainwater. Look to driveways and downspouts.
· Your rain garden location should be as level as possible. You want to avoid having the rainwater spill out of the rain garden area. Create your rain garden area with a small lip around the edge.
· Rain gardens should be dug 4-8’ deep. The depth depends on soil consistency. Too much clay or sandy soil will take extra effort to make the site permeable to rain water. The goal is to have the rainwater absorbed within 24 hours.
· Native and non-native plants can be planted. Avoid plants that become invasive. There are many native plants that do well in wet conditions and some that will grow happily in periods of standing water. You will need to observe and research the various plants. Swamp Milkweed and Lobelias do very well in wet or standing water situations. Liatris scariosa, Eastern Blazing Star will do well in short-term standing water situations only and should be planted around the perimeter of the raingarden.
· Hop on over to our Native Plant Store and dig into our detailed plant descriptions. We update this information annually to include our experience growing native in different conditions. Come to visit DA and explore our Native Plant gardens to see first hand how they grow.
Native Plant FAQs
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That is a good question! Start by studying the planting area. Watch the space to determine how many hours of sunlight it gets. What do you know about the soil, has anything been grown there before? How did it do? Make a list of what your garden needs or desires might be. Start looking and studying our Native Plant Store.
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Yes of course it is. This is not particular to natives. Almost any plant can be spread too much in the right conditions! Gardening can be an experiment to find what works well!
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Natives are easy to grow! There are many natives that are adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Many natives have tap roots which allow the plant to access deep moisture during periods of drought. Once your native plants are established, they will take care of themselves. No need to fertilize!
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Yes, there are! Hop on over to our Native Plant Store! There is a printable PDF with a list of plants that do well in wet conditions.
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Nursery stock is usually grown in Florida or California and trucked in. Native plants which originated in our region emerge when the spring weather comes to our colder region. In addition, the plants we obtain from Wild Type nursery are all started from seed, which takes time and can’t be rushed..
Plant in Drifts!
Spiderwort is tolerant of dry to wet, part sun to sun and various soil conditions.
The native bumblebees really go after the nectar when it is available early in the day. Bumblebees are considered “generalists”, in that they feed from many different plants. They also practice something called floral constancy or floral fidelity. On a foraging trip, they look for a single plant species to nectar from. Otherwise, they expend more energy in foraging. If you can, always plant more than one.
https://www.detroitabloom.com/native-plant-store/p/tradescantia-ohiensis
Tradescantia ohiensis, Spiderwort
Silphium perfolatum, Cup Plant
You can see why this plant is our favorite!
Cup Plant was one of the first natives we planted 14 years ago! This is a true wildlife plant. Attracts bees and butterflies galore. The large leaves clasp the square sturdy stem to form a cup that holds rainwater! When the seeds form, you are bound to attract Goldfinches. A brown aphid overwinters with the plant, but never fear they come at the same time as ladybugs emerge! The plant’s foliage is so sturdy, we have never seen the aphids damage our plants.
https://www.detroitabloom.com/native-plant-store/p/cup-plant
Liatris aspera, Northern Blazing Star, at our Headquarters/Hoophouse, Newport St.
Monarchs love Liatris!
End of the summer show! Just in time for Monarchs to bulk up on nectar before the migration. Liatris attracts many native bees and butterflies. If you happen across a stand of Liatris look closely you are likely to see the tiny Skipper Butterflies. Check out the photos in our webstore, link below.
https://www.detroitabloom.com/native-plant-store/p/liatris-northern-blazing-star-4-pot
Hummingbird Moth meets Milkweed!
One early morning, I saw monarch caterpillars on a stand of Common Milkweed, as I went to observe, I was treated to this Hummingbird Moth. Their are a few different species of Hummingbird Moths. Unlike other moths, they nectar during the day. It is always a treat to see them!
A species of Hummingbird Moth nectaring on Asclepias syriaca, Common Milkweed.