There are many reasons you should include native plants into your landscape plans. For one, most native plants require little maintenance because they have evolved to thrive in our local habitats and growing conditions.

That means after the first year of making sure they are well watered and have put out roots, very little watering and care is needed. Perhaps the most compelling reason is that not only do native plants look good, they also do good for wildlife.

Five Native Plants To Consider

So what native plants should you consider if you live in Massachusetts? Here are five of our spring and summer perennial favorites that will come back year after year.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Similar to its cousin, the dusty pink-flowered common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed is a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. A host plant is a specific plant that a species of caterpillar will eat.  Butterfly weed requires full sun and can grow as tall as one to two feet, with orange or yellow flowers that bloom in summer.

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Don’t let the “weed” in joe-pye weed fool you. The term in this case refers to the fact that it’s commonly found, not that it’s unwanted.  The dusty pink late-blooming flower attracts pollinators and clouds of butterflies in the late summer. The Gateway variety will grow to six or seven feet tall, where as Little Joe reaches only three to four feet.

Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Attracting small bees and butterflies, this little bottle-brush of a white flower is held above a nicely toothed leaf. There are many new varieties of foam flower that have interesting red markings on the leaves. It can spread and become a beautiful spring flowering ground cover.

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
The native columbine has an orange-red flower with a yellow center and is attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds. After blooming, the delicate blue-green foliage continues to look beautiful all summer long. And while there are many attractive species of columbines, the only one native to Massachusetts is the Aquilegia canadensis.

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum penduatum)
This native is one of the most delicate-looking ferns. Its thin black stems and bright green foliage add a light frothy texture to a shady garden.

Many local nurseries sell native plants. Before you purchase one, make sure they were cultivated from seed. We like the wild plants to stay wild!

Do you have a favorite native plant? If so, share in the comments!

Spring has sprung, which means vegetable gardening season is right around the corner. Can’t wait to get started? Instead of buying seedlings, start your plants from seed indoors. Now’s the time to dig in.

Why Start From Seed?
There are many good reasons to go the seed route, among them:

1. Variety. With seeds you have many more choices than you do from the seedling plants at most garden centers, especially when it comes to heirloom plants. The options of just basil alone will astound you from the large leaved Genovese to Purple Ruffles to the small spicy Thai basil
2. Cost. For a couple of dollars, you will have enough seeds to fill multiple gardens. Don’t need them all? Set up a seed exchange with friends and neighbors.
3. Taste. Nothing beats the flavor of home grown, sun-ripened tomatoes, from Cherokee Purple to Green Zebra to Brandywine.

How to Get Started
To grow your own seedlings, you will need a few simple things.

1. A sunny window. One that faces south or west should provide a good light source.
2. Pots with drainage holes. These don’t need to be fancy; clean yogurt cups with holes punched in the bottom will work.
3. Something to place under the pots to allow you to water the soil from the bottom up.
4. Seed starter mix. This mixture is lighter and fluffier that potting soil to make it easier for new roots to develop. You can find it at any garden center.
5. Seeds. Be sure to read the package instructions to determine how to plant the seeds, what kind of light they require, and how much water is necessary.

Within a few days, depending on the temperature, your seeds should be up and growing. Once germinated, make sure you keep the seedlings slightly moist, but not wet. Remember: Roots need water but also air.

Toughening Up
All seedlings need to be “hardened off.” Bright sunlight and cool winds can damage young tender plants. To toughen up your plants, put them outside in a shady place during the day and take them in at night. If the plants turn red or or silver they’ve gotten too much sun.

When to Plant Outside
Some plants such as peas, pansies, lettuce, and spinach can take the colder temperatures and once hardened off can be placed out in the garden while it’s still cool outside.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, and many flowers need nighttime temperatures above 55 degrees. To insure your plants will flourish, wait until it’s above 55 degrees for 5 nights in a row.

Have you started seedlings yet? Tell us what you’re growing and how it’s going in the comments!

Image courtesy of Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net