Gardening With Native Plants

Native plants are those that can be traditionally found in a specifc region and have not been introduced through recent horticultural activity. Native plants have adapted to their climate and hardiness zone over thousands of years. These plants are essential to local ecosystems and, when used by homeowners, can provide a relatively care-free, easy-to-maintain, beautiful wildlife haven. We only need take a walk in a local forest in spring to be awed by the fantastic variety of perennials in flower on the forest floor.

Why Use Native Plants?

If you are a lazy gardener, appreciate wildlife, want to conserve water or just like beautiful plants, then native plant gardening is for you. There are many benefits to gardening with native plants. Native plant gardens are:

• Low maintenance - once established native plants thrive with relatively little care. In fact, over tending to them can, in some cases, lead to their demise.

• Habitat for birds and other wildlife - certain native plants can attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies to your backyard.

• Water savers - after initial installation, native plants often require very little water. This saves water, money and time.

• Biodiverse - introduced species such as broom, ivy, holly (to name a few) take over non cultivated or disturned areas and often hinder the growth of native plants thereby reducing the abundance of plant types in the affected area.

• Aesthetically pleasing - native plants such as flowering red currant, bleeding hearts, vanilla leaf, camas, sword ferns and lilies are a beautiful addition to any yard.

• Unique - native plant gardening is gaining popularity on Vancouver Island. Start the trend in your neighbourhood. Watch as neighbours stop when waking by your garden to admire your native plants. And don’t be scared to experiment - adding natives to your existing landscape can improve interest!

Tips and Hints

The Garry Oak Gardener's Handbook

Native Plant Society of British Columbia

E-Flora BC

Plants of Coastal British Columbia

How to Get Native Plants

Oud's Natural Resource Native Plant Nursery                                  Quamichan Native Plants Inc.
& Demonstration Garden (by appointment)                                      (by appointment)
2466 Roome Road, Duncan                                                            2380 Hatchery Road, Duncan
Phone: 250-748-0684                                                                     Phone:  250-732-0713
Email: r_oud@shaw.ca                                                                  Email: elliott_ken@hotmail.com