What Are Examples of Integrating Native Plants in Landscape Design Projects?

What Are Examples of Integrating Native Plants in Landscape Design Projects?

We reached out to CEOs and Landscape Designers to share their experiences with incorporating native flora into their projects. From the delicate balance of caring for native plants to reinforcing ecological and cultural connections, discover the invaluable insights from four seasoned professionals on the successful integration of native plants in landscape design.

• Overcare Harms Native Plants
• Native Plants Support Urban Pollinators
• Therapeutic Native Plants in Healing Gardens
• Native Plants Enhance Ecological and Cultural Ties

Overcare Harms Native Plants

We offer over 345 varieties of native plants, and I guarantee that with my 34 years of experience and a degree in horticulture, one may think there's not a major takeaway, but there absolutely is! Often, we take our native plants to various places like restoration projects, complex and apartment infrastructures, upscale clubs, and some homeowners with elite properties. We provide a one-year guarantee on all our plants, but we rarely have to replace anything we sell, except for those who are unfamiliar with how to 'not' care for native plants so much. The takeaway is customers tend to 'overcare' for the plants. The most important thing for anyone who is not familiar with native plants is that they require very little maintenance, care, irrigation, or fertilizer. Homeowners and business owners may unknowingly harm low-maintenance plants by over-irrigating, over-fertilizing, or over-caring for them.

Native Plants Support Urban Pollinators

Our landscape design project centered around creating a pollinator-friendly pathway in an urban area by integrating native plants. We strategically selected a variety of nectar-rich flowering plants, including milkweed for monarch butterflies and bee balm for bees. We incorporated features like bee hotels and butterfly feeding stations to provide additional resources. Our key takeaway from this experience was the vital role native plants play in supporting pollinators and ensuring food security. This project demonstrated the importance of creating urban habitats that foster biodiversity and support ecological balance.

Therapeutic Native Plants in Healing Gardens

In a landscape design project, I created 'The Healing Garden' by successfully integrating native plants known for their therapeutic properties. This project aimed to provide visitors with a calming and rejuvenating space while showcasing the benefits of native plants in holistic well-being. For instance, lavender, a native plant known for its relaxing properties, was used to create a sensory garden area. The key takeaway from this experience was realizing the potential of native plants to positively impact mental and physical health in outdoor environments.

Native Plants Enhance Ecological and Cultural Ties

At the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, I rehabilitated a historic garden, transforming it from a seasonal spectacle to a year-round wonderland. I turned to native plants, not just for their delightful beauty but for their resilience, too. By reintroducing species like the native milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), I not only revitalized the garden's ecological health but also offered a sanctuary for endangered pollinators such as monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Additionally, these native plants provided vital food sources for both humans and pollinators, emphasizing the interconnectedness of our ecosystems. By weaving in perennial plants like blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium) and American groundnut (Apios americana), I honored the deep-rooted legacy of the Wabanaki people, forging a tangible link between the land, its guardians, and its narratives. This journey illuminated the vital role of native plants in harmonizing ecological resilience with cultural depth.