Garden Tips: Wildly Native / Nature's Teamwork

WILDLY NATIVE

By Lydia Zerby

Native Iowa plants are the ultimate low-maintenance choice for gardeners; they thrive with minimal care thanks to their natural hardiness developed over thousands of years. Native plants are drought- and heat-tolerant, flourish in full sun with little water and sustain on neglect, providing vibrant colors and attracting pollinators, birds and garden guests year after year. Here are some native plants to consider adding to your garden this spring.

1. Golden Alexander is an early bloomer that grows 1 to 3 feet tall. Its yellow blooms resemble a small Queen Anne’s lace.

2. Spiderwort Flowers open in the early morning and close in the afternoon to conserve moisture. Native insects and bees are attracted to and serve as pollinators.

3. Butterfly Milkweed offers vibrant orange flowers that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. It serves as a host plant for the endangered Monarch Butterfly who lay their eggs exclusively on plants in the Milkweed family.

4. Blue False Indigo is a member of the pea family and has unique flowers arranged in long spikes. It’s low maintenance, drought tolerant and deer resistant.

5. Wild Bergamot offers lavender blooms that resemble a cascade of fireworks.

6. Coneflowers offer many color options and a unique, eye-catching shape that attracts helpful insects and local birds.

7. Ironweed is a tough plant with vibrant purple flowers that pollinators love.

8. Rough Blazing Star is extremely hardy and drought tolerant. Butterflies can't resist its large purple blooms.

9. Cardinal Flower does well around downspouts or other areas that stay wet. It blooms in late summer and is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

NATURE’S TEAMWORK

While garden pests are inevitable, they can be managed with thoughtful planning — and strategic planting. Companion planting can be a first line of defense regarding chemical-free pest control. This method involves growing two different plants close together to benefit one or both. While deterring pests is often the main goal, companion planting also offers perks like attracting beneficial insects, enhancing soil fertility, promoting plant growth and reducing weeds.

Sunflowers with Cucumbers and Pole Beans

Sunflowers provide support for climbing plants and shade for crops that are susceptible to sun stress and insect damage during hot months.

Basil with Tomatoes

Basil attracts beneficial insects and bees that pollinate tomato flowers while repelling moths that lay tomato worms.

Nasturtiums with Cabbage and Broccoli

Nasturtiums help to keep hungry caterpillars away from plants like cabbage and broccoli.

Marigolds with Onions

When grown close to onions, marigolds reduce the onion maggot fly’s ability to lay eggs.

Cilantro and Potatoes

Cilantro protects potato plants against aphids, spider mites and potato beetles.

Beets with Garlic

Garlic helps improve the growth and flavor of beets. However, pole beans can stunt a beet plant’s growth.

Carrots with Rosemary and Sage

Rosemary and sage both deter the carrot fly, which lays their eggs around the developing carrots and then their larvae burrow and feed on the carrot’s roots.

“The Three Sisters”

These are corn, pole beans and squash. This combination was first developed by American Indian people centuries ago. Corn, with its sturdy stems, provides upright support for climbing beans. Pole beans fix nitrogen in the soil, providing essential nutrients for all three sisters. And the large leaves of the ground-dwelling squash shade the soil, retain moisture and block out weeds.