Polk County Wisconsin Land & Water Resources: Exotic Species

Native Plant Lists for Polk County

More and more people are discovering the satisfaction in beauty and the benefits to the environment of landscaping their homes, schools, businesses and places of worship with native plants. Native plants are increasingly used for gardening and restoring and reclaiming native plant communities. They provide; natural beauty, cost-effective landscaping alternatives, environmental services and habitat for wildlife.

Why Landscape with Native Plants

Native plant are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. Native plantings work well for many landscaping and wildlife habitat plantings, because once established, they seldom need watering, mulching, protection from frost or continuous mowing. Native plants provide nectar, pollen and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, birds and other animals.

In contrast, many common horticultural plants do not produce nectar and often require insect pest control to survive. Many native grasses and wildflowers protect soil with their deep and spreading root systems, helping to prevent erosion. Areas with diverse perennial native plantings have less water runoff than ground covers composed of one non-native species such as bluegrass or purple crown vetch. In developed areas, one way to help water infiltrate into the ground rather than runoff into storm sewers is to create depressions filled with native plants called rain gardens.

Native plant communities are vital components of ecosystems. In order to be healthy and sustainable, an ecosystem needs to be filled with a wide array of plants and animals indigenous to the area. In addition to providing food and shelter to birds and animals, a healthy ecosystem provides many services to society. For instance, a healthy forest ecosystem can prevent soil erosion, reduce flooding, detoxity chemicals in air and water, improve the local climate and store carbon that would otherwise contribute to global climate change. Also, the genetic material in wild plants and animals may have great potential value in medicine and industry.

Native Plant Lists for Polk County

Wet Meadow
Moist to Wet Soils, Full Sun 8 Hours

Pine or Oak Forest
Dry, Acid, Sandy Soils, Less Than 4 Hours Sun

Maple Forest
Medium Sandy to Silt Loam Soils, Less Than 4 Hours Sun

Moist Woodland Edge, Medium
Loamy to Wet Soils, Partial Shade, 4-8 Hours

Woodland Edge
Sandy to Medium Soils, Partial Shade, 4-8 Hours

Prairie/Upland Meadow
Dry to Medium Soils, Full Sun 8 Hours

Basic Instructions for Restoration and Native Landscaping Projects

It takes time for native plants to get established. It's important to know from the onset that it may take a few years for native plants to look attractive. Prairie plants need a few years to establish strong roots. Trees and shrubs need time to get established and mature before they will flower and bear fruits. In time, plants will spread and propagate, creating patterns that work well in each space.

Gain an understanding of the native plant communities in your area. Those plant communities occur there because they are adapted to the specific climate, landscape and soil conditions. By visiting existing natural areas in your community, you can see for yourself what the native vegetation is like.

Understand local government regulations affecting the use and ongoing management of natural landscaping. Regulations may affect the location of natural landscaping on the site and the types of plants used.

Get to know your site. Many factors determine what kinds of site preparation will be needed and which species should be used, such as: existing plants (be sure you are not removing desirable native plants already adapted to a site); sun exposure; soil type (sandy, clay, loam, consult your county soil atlas); and draining and moisture levels.

Look at neighboring natural vegetation. Plan your native planting to harmonize with adjacent areas as much as possible.

Consider your budget. The cost of using native plants for landscaping is often lower than the cost of using non-native plants when factored over a period of time. A native planting is a long-term investment; it can be built in phases. It is important to plan according to how much money and time you have now and in the future.

Create a wish list of species for your site. Visit natural areas to learn how local native species grow in a plant community setting, and consult planting and identification guides. Diverse plantings that resemble the native plant community in your area are likely to have the most success and confer the most benefits.

Shop for native plant materials. Look for sources selling seeds and plants produced from seeds of local origin.

Prepare and plant the site. Make sure you have the proper equipment, the site is relatively weed free, and there are no noxious weeks or problem areas. Seek competent advice before planting natives.

Manage your site. "Low maintenance" does not mean "no maintenance." The first few growing seasons especially require maintenance. Plan for weed control and protection from wildlife as small seedlings are often eaten.

References For More Learning

	A Garden of Wildflowers: 101 Native Species and How to Grow Them. 1986. H. W. art. Garden Way Publishing: ISBN 0882664050
	Gardening with Native Wildflowers. 1991. S. Jones Jr. and L. Foote. Timber Press. ISBN 0881921750
	Gardeing with Prairie Plants. 2001. Sally Wasowsi. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0816630879
	Growing Woodland Plants. 1972. C. Birdseye and E. Birdseye. Dover Press. ISBN 0486206610
	Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines for Urban and Rural America. 1988. Gary L. Hightshoe. Van Nostrand Reinhold. ISBN 0422232748
	Natural Landscaping: Designing with Native Plant Communities. 2002. John Diekelmann, M.S.L.A. and Robert Schuster, M.A. McGraw - Hill Book Company. ISBN 007016813-X
	Plant Species Composition of Wisconsin Prairies: An Aid to Selecting Species for Plantings and Restorations. 1995. R. A. Henderson. Technical Bulletin No 188, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707
	The Prairie Garden: 70 Native Plants you can Grow in Town or Country. 1980. J. Smith. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299083047
	Rain Gardens, A How-to Manual for Homeowners. 2003. University of Wisconsin Extension, Cooperative Extension Publications, 877-947-7827 for a hard copy. Available on the web at: http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/raingarden/rgmanual.pdf
	Taylor's Guide to Natural Gardening. 1993. R. Holmes editor. Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0394507299
	Wildflower Gardening: Step by Step to Growing Success. 1991. Y. Rees. Crowood Press Ltd. ISBN 185223524

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