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Garden-worthy Native Perennials
by Nancy Beaubaire
I was first smitten by native plants in the early seventies in California. I came to these plants not as a gardener, although I was one, but to satisfy an irrepressible urge to learn about how the indigenous people of the West used the plants around them. I devoured every book I could on the subject, committing to memory the visual characteristics of each plant so I would recognize it in the flesh. I hiked along the beach and through redwood forests, wended my way through chaparral and scrambled up mountains, always on the lookout for native plants. Sometimes I hiked alone, other times with the California Native Plant Society, but always accompanied by my faithful (and weighty) local guidebooks.
Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) was one of my first discoveries. Stumbling upon a carpet of its heart-shaped leaves nestled in the shade of a giant redwood tree was a transcendental moment for me. Here was a plant whose aromatic root yielded a ginger flavor, and whose handsome dark green leaves rivaled any patch of periwinkle.
Similar experiences followed with other native perennials. Penstemon, cardinal flower, yarrow and Douglas iris all captured my heart. I'd like to say that from those moments on, I began incorporating native perennials into my own gardens and those I designed for others. But I didn't.
Despite my deep appreciation of natives, it took a while for me to realize that it was okay to bring them across the line from nature into the garden. The boundary seemed very real, and at that time native plants had few press agents. (An exception and an inspiration to me was landscape designer and teacher David Bigham, who helped demystify the nitty gritty of growing native plants in a cultivated garden.) More importantly, native perennials were scarcely available commercially. When I finally decided to take the plunge, I trekked 200 miles to get a decent selection, to Yerba Buena Nursery, in Woodside, California, where owner Gerda Isenberg pioneered the propagation of California native plants.
My clients didn't further the cause, either. Nearly all of them were California transplants who brought with them an unwavering desire to surround themselves with the plants they grew up with, many of these water hogs that were ill suited to our rainfall cycle. A long dry spell finally convinced my clients to take a second look at the native perennials that have adapted over thousands of years to the vagaries of the California climate; their good garden qualities won them a permanent home.
Which brings me to the focus of this handbook—garden-worthy native perennials. You may not come to native perennials because of an abiding interest in indigenous people's use of plants. Or because of a drought. Or because of any deep-seated ecological views. But if you're interested in trying some exceptional garden perennials, get out your trowel. Native perennials offer a wealth of flower color, from the sizzling to the subdued, as well as interesting foliage textures and colors. Some even make superb cut bouquets. Some natives form mounds, others creep along the ground and still others soar skyward. You don't need a wild garden to grow native perennials. Like non-natives, they can play a variety of roles in your garden—as specimens, in perennial borders or mixed with shrubs or annuals. Planted in the right site, and given proper (and, often, minimal) care, they prosper and bring years of pleasure.
There's more. Growing perennials native to your area can help to repair the fabric of local plant and animal life that has been tattered by decades of intensive development. And in cultivated settings, native perennials begin to create a regional imprint. Your garden will say something about the character of the place where you live, rather than shout "Anywhere, U.S.A."
But no matter why you decide to try native perennials, you can use this handbook as a guide. Check the "Encyclopedia of Native Perennials" for recommended native plants for your region. You might be surprised to find that some of the perennials you already grow, such as columbines, asters, black-eyed Susans, salvias and sunflowers, are in fact native to your floristic province. In the entry for each native perennial, look under the headings "Native Habitat" and "How to Grow" for information on the plant's needs. Each plant entry also includes cultivars and related species, which may have special qualities that better suit your needs than the main entry.
If you have an urge to stretch the limits (and it seems most gardeners do), read about the plants recommended for other regions. You might find some that will thrive in your area. Many native perennials have a wide range of adaptability, and may do well in garden conditions that differ from those of their natural habitats.
The chapters "Choosing Native Perennials for Your Garden" and "Designing Your Garden with Native Perennials" will help you explore the options for incorporating native perennials in your garden. Whatever approach you take, let nature inspire you, experiment and have fun.
Nancy Beaubaire, guest editor of Native Perennials, is the former editor of Country Living Gardener magazine and was a founding editor of Fine Gardening magazine. She has contributed to several Taylor's gardening guides. She is a former owner of a landscape-design and -maintenance business in California, where she specialized in native and environmentally sound gardens.