Native Plants Save Water, Time, Money, and Energy

The How Do Gardener ^ | May 07, 2012 | Rick Bickling

[orsonwb]

Native plants offer many benefits over other traditional, but non-native, varieties. Among these are reduced irrigation needs, reduced pesticide use, reduced fertilizer use, resistance to pests and disease, and energy conservation...

[orsonwb]

Redoing my now dead front lawn here in Texas. Trying to use more native plants than just all St. Augustine grass.

[momtothree]

For your consideration....

[fso301]

Hmm? I wonder if my wife will buy it if I tell her I’m redesigning the landscaping to showcase native plants?

[CPOSharky]

There’s only so much you can do with mesquite and a couple varieties of cactus.

[Williams]

I’m guessing sedum works well in Texas?

[left that other site]

Florida has over 250 varieties of palm trees.

Only ONE of them is “Native”.

The real pests are the Brazilian pepper and meleluca trees. They were introduced years ago as ornamentals and have taken over!

[ngat]

But it’s so much fun throwing he football around in a yard full of cactus and mequite.

[orsonwb]

I’m not sure. Have never tried it but will look into it.

[cripplecreek]

I use a lot of natives as well. Water isn’t an issue in Michigan but invasive species are.

As the cottonwoods get old and die in my yard I’m replacing them all with maples and no I don’t pay for native plants.

[cripplecreek]

Our most visible invader is purple loosestrife. It was brought in as an ornamental and takes over the areas where the native cat tails grow.



The Eurasian Milfoil is another horror show. Last summer the DEQ wouldn't let us cut or spray it and it shut down better than 70% of the lake.



Now we have giant hogweed moving in and that's some nasty stuff with sap that can cause permanent blindness and burns that can leave scars. I don't even want to talk about the animal invaders.

[left that other site]

People are so foolish to introduce damaging wildlife to areas where they don’t have any natural predators. The Everglades is having a real problem with giant pythons, thanks to those persons who once had them as “pets” and then released them into the wild. Even the alligators aren’t safe!

[cripplecreek]

Unfortunately you’ll find that many FReepers think its funny. Just look at any thread about the Asian carp and the great lakes. They’re a potential economic disaster for the $70 billion sportfishing industry here. Like Florida, water is the key to many of these invaders.

The sea lampreys cost some $20 million per year to keep at a managable level.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2877642/posts

[MulberryDraw]

I put in a green variety of buffalo grass in our front yard (Texas panhandle region). It is taking a few years to get established and it turns brittle and brown in the winter but I don’t water much, don’t fertilize or spray for weeds and it continues to spread on its own. It is fascinating to watch it put out little runners with new seeds. Also, it doesn’t need to be mowed much.

[left that other site]

I agree.

It is NOT “un-conservative” to care about the environment. It’s just that the greenies and the EPA has used “The Environment” as an excuse to bludgeon free enterprise.

Thoughtful, sensible protection of resources was originally a Conservative Idea. The Left has corrupted it, like everything else they have touched, and have made the subject odious to many otherwise sensible FReepers. Although I understand the reaction, one would hope that we would have the discernment to see the difference and reject manipulation while being good stewards of the earth.

[Irenic]

These aren’t all *native* but they survived level 4 drought conditions (San Antonio area). I did do a tiny bit of hand watering, not much though. Wish my grass would have....

4 o’clocks- wilts but perks back up
http://www.burpee.com/flowers/four-o-clocks/
All variety of Lantana
http://www.flowersgrowing.com/lantana/
All variety of Salvia
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/sages.htm
moss rose
http://www.floridata.com/ref/p/port_gra.cfm
Vincas/Periwinkle
http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/vincaperiwinkle.htm
Zinnias
http://www.burpee.com/flowers/zinnias/
Red Yucca
http://laptopgardener.com/?p=723
Agapanthus
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/bulb/agapanthus/
Pomegranate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate
Mulberry can train to very pretty tree
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Mulberries.html
Empress Tree (omg! Does it grow fast!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa
Crape Myrtle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerstroemia
Vitex can be a shrub or train to tree—they go crazy with no care
http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2011/05/lively_vitex_adds_a_lavendar_b.ht
Purple/Texas Sage
http://phoenix.about.com/od/arizonapicturesandphotos/ig/Easy-Desert-Plants/Purple-Sage-01.htm
Bougainvillea
http://phoenix.about.com/od/arizonapicturesandphotos/ig/Easy-Desert-Plants/Bougainvillea-11.htm
Red Bird of Paradise
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/23669/
Minature roses, just dead head, hardly ever water
http://www.improve-your-garden-soil.com/how-to-care-for-miniature-roses.html
Peach, Plum, Pear, Pecan ( does need a bit of watering for good fruit)
Lady Banks rose
http://www.dannylipford.com/growing-a-lady-banks-rose/
Black Eyed Susan vine (deep purple throat)
http://msucares.com/news/print/sgnews/sg01/sg010702.html
Sweet potato vine (the purple is beautiful mixed with the Black Eyed Susan vine)
http://www.examiner.com/article/ornamental-sweet-potato-vine-the-morning-glory-s-cousin
Passion Flower/Maypops
http://www.georgiavines.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&gclid=CLaz4YCO8a8CFUHDtgodZywPYw
Dortmond Climbing rose
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/roses/dortmund.htm