Native Plants

<< PREV

Image 1 of 2

NEXT >>

Certain varieties of Echinacea are considered Native Plants.

The Trend for Native Plants is Growing

More and more people are discovering the satisfaction, beauty and benefits to the environment of using native plants in their home and business landscapes.

Native plants are plants that evolved naturally in North America. More specifically, native plants have adapted to a particular area and are accustomed to local soils, moisture and weather conditions. Seeds collected from plants grown in our region are more likely to survive our Michigan winters and unpredictable summers than plants grown from seeds collected in the Southeast.

To help take part of the guess work out of selecting native plants that can work for our area, we will be carrying American Beauties Native Plants this year. American Beauties was launched in spring 2006 in the Northeastern U.S and has since expanded to the upper Midwest. Through a partnership American Beauties has with the National Wildlife Federation, a percentage of sales is donated to the NWF to help fund their home habitat and outreach programs.

Why choose Native Plants:
-They attract birds and butterflies.
-They provide food and shelter to many bird and butterfly species.
-Once established, they require less care. (However watering is essential the first season and perhaps afterwards to get plants off to a healthy start and to expand roots.)
-Tend to do well with less fertilizing.
-Can often work in tough growing areas where cultivated flowers and plants haven't.

For a complete list of the Native Plants we'll have this spring, visit our Web site at www.wenkegreenhouses.com.

Other interesting Web sites on Native Plants include:

American Beauties at www.abnativeplants.com
Wildflower Association of Michigan at www.wildflowersmich.org
Michigan Botanical Club at www.michbotclub.org