Urban gardens bring wildlife to the man made world. Gardens introduce nature to the city. Boston landscape design has often used non-native species and lovely plants from other lands. Looking at a natural Boston landscape it becomes clear that local species are abundant, beautiful and easily grown. There is a movement a foot to promote native species over other plants. Invasive species are taking over many habitats and soon Walden Pond could be home to many species that Thoreau would never have laid eyes on. Aggressive non-natives, such as Giant Cow Parsnip, not only take over habitat, but also present health hazards to animals and humans with their toxicity. Non-native plants often start out as garden ornamentals before they jump the wall and get established in the wild. Even many non-invasive non-native plants are stress on habitat, requiring more water or richer soil then the habitat naturally provides. That is why across the country a growing number of groups are promoting the use of native plants to fill a garden, or landscape a yard.
New England has many attractive native species of trees, flowers and shrubs that can please any gardener. Taking the time to research and plan a garden with plants compatible to the area offers many rewards. Native plants offer a major payback in that they need less care. A little love is all that is needed for these plants. They are part of the natural eco-system. Animals, insects and other plants often interact with each other for food or shelter and reproductive requirements. An aggressive non-native plant can upset the balance stressing a habitat or species. So what are some of the plants that a New England garden or yard could well support?
There are numerous trees that give New England its famously vibrant falls. The Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) is a beautiful tree that grows to be about 60 to 75 feet tall. It has large foliage that turn brilliant shades in the fall. It attracts birds and offers plenty of shade. These maples are popular for making furniture and are also the source of Maple syrup. These maples like moist bottom land and hillsides with trees. The Silver Maple is also a native tree. It can reach between 75 to 100 feet tall. Its foliage has a silver patina underneath. It is a fast growing tree with a somewhat less pleasing shape then the Sugar Maple. Other native species include White Ash, Grey Birch, Sweet Gum, Red Pine, White Oak, Scarlet Oak and Bur Oak to name just a few.
Flowering plants are plentiful. Miterwort, Twin Berry, mountain laurel, cardinal flower, and sundial lupine are all lovely components to the garden. Scarlet Bee Balm is related to mint and creates beautiful red flowers. The flowers are very attractive to humming birds and invite these delightful creatures into the garden.
Pages and pages could be written about the varieties of flowers, trees and shrubs available for a North Eastern garden. This sampling is not even the tip of the iceberg. Adventure into the literature and see the large array of native plants that could be used in a New England Garden.
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