Try These Native Plants to Solve Those Thorny Problems

Some plants are useful. But they can also do more harm than good. Here are some native alternatives.

If you think you’re seeing the same garden plants again and again, you’re not wrong.

There’s a good reason for this: it makes sense for the landscaping business. These plants are proven performers, they solve problems, and they are easy to grow. When you check all these boxes, there’s little reason to expand your plant palette.

But most of the plants the trade uses aren’t native. While they might please us, they don’t do as much as they could for nature. Worse than that, some of the plants are considered invasive; they could take over your garden and, if they escape, do serious damage to our forests and our lakes. That’s bad for all of us.
So here is a list of native plants that can solve many of the problems these traditional plants solve.

I want to cover the ground

About 80% of the cottages I visit have Periwinkle growing somewhere. I’m not surprised – it does the job of covering the ground and has pretty purple flowers. But it’s a real thug (not its fault, it’s just growing where it has no competitors.)

How about choosing Canada Violet (Viola canadensis) instead? It has large attractive leaves and pretty white flowers with purple streaks. It will spread but won’t go crazy.

If your soil is acidic, perhaps because of nearby conifers, consider Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Its leaves look a little like Periwinkle. Indeed, I’ve confused it more than once.

For shaded areas, look to the Sedges (Carex species). There are loads of different types with different textures, and over time the plants knit together to create a tapestry.

I want a screen or a foundation plant

Instead of the Spirea varieties, many of which come from Asia instead of the Highlands, try Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), which supports dozens of pollinators and has flowers in spring. Or give Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) with its red berries and colourful fall foliage. For very shaded areas, look into Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). As a bonus, deer hate it. Or to provide a screen, Grey Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) does a great job and flowers in early summer.

I have a large, sunny area, but the deer eat everything!

I hear you! This is the problem I face at Lucas House in Haliburton. Try a layer of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), which rewards with bronze foliage and shining seeds in fall. If you’ve got plenty of space, Narrowleaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) will fill it, with lots of white flowers come summer. I also find deer don’t touch Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea). Some flowering plants such as Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) are generally left alone, although hungry deer might eat the flowers.

I want to fill an area with colour

This is why Daylilies are so popular. They’ll easily grow and people love their orange flowers. But they’re aggressive.

Instead, consider Wild Bergamot again for its purple flowers and ability to spread. Or if you’ve got a wetter area that needs filling, Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) would make a great choice.

I have shade, and all I can grow are Hostas

Hostas fill this niche, but deer love them. Plus, to my eye, there’s something tropical about them that makes them look out of place.

Consider Sedges for texture and groundcover, or Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) which also covers the ground and has big, wide leaves. Then think of all the early-flowering plants, such as Early Meadowrue (Thalictrum dioicum) or some ferns, such as the dramatic Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) or the elegant Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis).