Deciding what plants to use is obviously a really important part of gardening and landscaping. Putting the right plant in the right place takes some planning, but it is bound to be worth it for so many reasons in the long run. There are many things to consider before adding a plant to your landscape, or allowing an existing plant to grow. Before delving into these lists of plants to encourage and eliminate, you should assess your site. 

Plant Considerations

When selecting plants for conservation gardening, there are a few conisderations that you wouldn't have to think of if you were not considering your impact on the earth around you. When selecting plants for a garden with conservation in mind, consider:

• Perennial or Annual. Perennial plants come back every year, and annual plants need to be replanted from seed every year. To confuse the issue, there are also biannual plants (two year life cycle) and short lived perennial.

• Cold Hardiness. Traverse City is in USDA plant Zone 5b, so you'll to select plants that are cold hardy in this zone. Cold hardiness is determined only by the coldest winter temperatures, so this zone designation doesn't affect what annual plants we can grow in the summer.

• Water Needs & Tollerance. Some plants are adapted to a range of hydrological conditions; others plants are adapted to wetland areas and like steady moisture. While all plants need some water, some like well drained soil that dries out between rains or watering. 

• Sunlight needs & tollerance. After you assess your site for light, you can select different plants for different levels of light and shade in your garden. Similar to water, different types of plants desire different levels of light throughout the day. Note that light to shade conditions can vary in only a few feet, especially when a garden is affected by the shade of a building. Take light recommendations for plants seriously; while a plant may survive in less than ideal light condtions for a time, it will not thrive in the long term.

• Plant Origin & Habit. When gardening for conservation, you absolutely do not want to intentionally plant invasive species. It's most beneficial to local habitat if you plant species that are native to the region. Some native plants are widely adaptable to a range of conditions on terms of water, soil, and light; others are very particular, harder to grow, and thus likely more rare. You may wish to select some easier to grow, widely adapted native plants, along with some more particular species that would be a good fit for your site. When determining whether or not a plant is invasive, it is best to utilize a local resource. Just because a plant is invasive somewhere else in the United States, doesn't mean it is invasive here.

The Worst

Local experts at the Nortwest Michigan Invasive Species Network have conveniently identified a list of ornamental invasives to avoid in the area. Sadly, this list may include species you you may already have in your landscape. Not only is it important not to plant these species, it is also best to remove these plants if you already have them. I myself have inhertied some beautiful invasive species including Orange Day Lilies and Yellow Flag Iris. While you may not see these plants spreading uncontrollably in your garden, invasive species are sneaky pests and may travel by seeds you don't see. When gardening for conservation, it is best to trust local invasive species professionals in their recommendations. Since learning more about the ornamental species displacing native species in our local landscape, I've started ruthelessly removing invasive ornamentals from my landscape.

The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network has identified a number of local plant nurseries that have committed not to sell the high priority invasive plants and early detection species in a program called Go Beyond Beauty.

The Best

When gardening for conservation, the best plants to grow are those native to our region. These will be the best adapted, and most beneficial to local wildlife. There are many resources for finding native plants suitable for growing in our region. A great place to start is yet another resource from Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network. They have a great list of recommended native plants for landscaping in this area 

The Rest

Many garden plants are neither invasive, or native. Many "cottage garden" flower favorites (like Cosmos, Hollyhocks, Snapdragons, Calendula, Nasturtium, and Zinnia) are not native to this region, but are loved by pollinators and not discouraged by local conservation experts. Same goes for many common garden herbs and vegetables.

How many plants

You don't need to plant every native plant possible to have a conservation garden! Plants, and especially locally adapted native plants, are an investment. There are no rules for how many or how much variety you need to implement in your landscape. Instead of trying to plant every kind of native grass that could grow in your garden, pick one or two that call to you and seem suited to your conditions. It's much easier to learn what they look like when you don't have as much variety, and it does look more "managed" to have the same plant in a repeating pattern. 

While there is an up front investment, many native plants can be propegated either by dividing or by seed. This is a great way to add herbacious volume to your landscape over time.