Preserving and Propagating Native Plants
Diana AlfuthHorticulture Educator, UW-Extension
Why Preserve Native Plants?
• Aesthetics
• Maintenance
• Wildlife
Why protect Native Plants?• Possible medicinal and
therapeutic, or agricultural attributes yet to be discovered especially with DNA analysis and genetic engineering now available.
• Aesthetic connection to our history
Why Protect Native Plants? • Native plants create a sense of
“place” and uniqueness • Natives are part of the ecosystem
with each one playing a role
Why Protect Native PlantsLarger areas of an ecosystem, such as a prairie, can help preserve soil, harbor soil microorganisms, plants, insects and animals, sequester carbon, and more – some benefits may not yet be known!
Characteristics of Native Plants
• Adapted to the area• Supports native wildlife• Checks and balances• Less water, fertilizer, maintenance• Aesthetics• Provides more diversity over
common “overused” landscape plants.
Native Plant Communities
PrairieWoodlandSavannahWetland
Plant communities
Groups of plants that are adapted to the same conditions, including
soilmoistureclimate
What does “native” mean?A plant common in a region prior to
European settlement.
Yet, Native Americans moved plants around long before.
What does “native” mean?It depends!
Some believe a true “native” plant must have been present within 50 miles of the site.
Others use 200 miles as a range.
Native Plants
Wisconsin has many different native ecosystems, often very close to each other.
Native PlantsWe tend to be “phytobigots”, meaning we LOVE some of our native plants, but dislike others!
Box ElderVioletsSumacPrickly ash
Native PlantsEven those natives we love, many are doing great, and are relatively plentiful, despite our human impacts.
Their habitat should be protected, preserved and maintained.
DefinitionsThe Wisconsin Natural Heritage List defines:
Endangered Species
Threatened Species
Special Concern Species
Definitions
Endangered species are threatened with extinction in an area
Smooth PhloxButterwortDotted Blazingstar
DefinitionsThreatened species are likely to become endangered.
Kitten TailsPrairie Indian PlantainDwarf Milkweed
DefinitionsSpecies of Special Concern are those not currently endangered or threatened, but have a unique or highly specific habitat requirement that needs monitoring.
Pale BeardtongueSheathed SedgeMarsh Ragwort
Wisconsin Law“No one may process or sell any wild plant that is a listed species without a valid permit.”
DNR issues “Endangered or Threatened Species ‘Scientific’ Permit or an Incidental Take Permit” under certain conditions.
Collecting from the Wild
• If a native plant is on your property, you can do what you want as long as the plant is not “listed”.
• If it’s not your property, get permission or it’s theft!
• Always collect only a small portion of what’s there
• Do what’s necessary to ensure plant survival
Where to find specifics
• Get current information on endangered, threatened and special concern species at:– www.dnr.state.wi.us/org
Native EcosystemsHow do you know what was in your neighborhood 200 years ago?
•Folklore•Maps•Diaries/stories•Government surveys
Wisconsin Land Survey
The survey of Wisconsin was conducted between 1832 and 1866 by the federal General Land Office.
http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/SurveyNotes/
Spring Lake Twsp. Pierce Co.
Spring Lake Twsp. Section 13
Native Plant Location Info
Wisconsin herbarium“The University of Wisconsin-Madison Herbarium, founded in 1849, is a museum collection of dried, labeled plants of state, national and international importance . . .”
http://www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora
Native Plants• UWSP Freckman herbarium• NRCS soil maps • Local historical associations or
libraries may have pioneer diaries or other documents
How do we help Native Plants?• Preservation of existing plants
and sites
• Incorporate native plants into our gardens and landscapes
• Re-create ecosystems where native plants can thrive.
PreservationThe goal of preservation is to maintain populations of endemic flora and fauna and to enhance their long-term viability.
Many sites can’t sustain themselves because of their limited size, invasive species, or human activity.
Role of MGVs
• Learn to identify native plants• Identify locations in your area that
contain native plants• Inventory natives, especially
“listed” species
Plant Selection
Start speaking Latin!
Use botanical names to be sure you have the right plants.
Role for MGVsBring the existence of these natives to the attention of others
Research needs of the species to better educate municipal authorities (i.e., if in a ditch, how will mowing affect the plant)
Role of MGVs• Stay aware of development
projects in your area• Look for native plants (rare ones)
in the path of development– Educate developer of existence– Organize plant “rescues” and get
any necessary permits
Role of MGVsRemove invasives to maintain sensitive sites and to reduce competition with existing natives.
Role of MGVsGo searching for rare/endangered plants in sites that, based on what you know about communities, would support them. Often these plants are small or ephemeral
Landscaping with Native PlantsAnother way to preserve native plants is to incorporate them into our landscapes.
Natives can serve the same purposes as exotics such as:
OrnamentalScreeningSeasonal interestWindbreakEtc.
Are Natives Always Better?
Yards and landscapes are not always “native” conditions.
Soil conditions/compactionHeat islandsHydrology changesOther vegetation including
exotics
Native Landscaping
Create your native landscape to be as authentic as possible, within your existing conditions.
Choose your plants based on* Design principles* Site conditions* Wildlife benefits* Overall goal
Design: Authenticity
Will you use species only?
Are varieties or cultivars acceptable to you?
Landscaping with NativesNot everyone appreciates natives! Respect differing opinions.
Consider the location when deciding which native plants are appropriate.
One person’s wildflower is another person’s weed!
Landscaping with Natives– Choose native plants to design
attractive beds the SAME way you would chose exotic ornamentals
– Use paths to access different areas and plants.
Inform NeighborsTo keep neighbors happy, • Grow lower growing prairie species• Choose plants for color and
nectar/pollen sources• Plant in groups and masses, less
randomly than in an actual prairie
Native and Natural Design
Provide plenty of variety to attract the most types of wildlife
Remnant vs. Restoration
Remnants were areas never disturbed, such as:
Railroad rights-of-wayPioneer CemetariesSteep hillsidesRocky sitesSome pastures
Restorations are man-made
Definitions• Reconstruction = reestablishment
of an ecosystem on a former site where native species have beeen mostly or wholely extirpated.
• Restoration = returning an existing site to it’s original condition. – May be as simple as removing exotic
and overbearing plants to help the site recover
Plant Community - WoodlandIt’s difficult to plant a native woodland community.
– More likely to do a restoration– Reintroduce natives to an existing
woodland– Remove invasive species, such as
buckthorn and garlic mustard which outcompete native plants
Plant Community - WoodlandsWoodlands –
– Often native plants can come back from seed bank or the few natives that have survived
– Can supplement existing plants by planting specific natives into existing plants
Woodlands
• Woodlands consist of deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, with understories of herbaceous plants
• Woodland flowers typically like less than 2 hours of sunlight/day
Plant Community - Wetlands• Usually talking about a
restoration.• ALWAYS work with DNR before
doing any kind of restoration or work with native plants in wetlands.
Plant Community - Wetlands• Many forms, including marshes, bogs,
ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, each with it’s own collection of species
• Provide habitat for LOTS of species, filter ground water, and protect major water bodies
• Wetlands previously drained for farming – can be easy to restore
• Lakes need buffer zones, including shoreland and submerged plants
Plant Communities - Wetlands• Sometimes the hydrology needs
to be restored first.• In some cases, natives will
reappear depending on how long the area was dry
• Some wetlands need removal of invasives
Savannah• Typically called “oak savannah”,
because fire would destroy other woody plants
• Savannah means 1-2 trees per acre in a prairie setting
• Savannahs provide perching and nesting sites for bids who eat insects in the prairie.
• Native savannahs are more rare than native prairies!
Plant Community - Savannah• Mostly prairie, but with the
occasional tree • Often involves removing invasive
species such as honeysuckle and other woody plants.
• Re-seeding or transplanting in prairie plants to supplement what exists.
Plant Community - Prairie
• Much of the Midwest including southwestern Wisconsin was originally some sort of prairie– Wet prairie– Wet meadow– Mesic prairie– Dry mesic prairie– Dry prairie
Less than 1% of original prairies are left – they make great farmland!
Plant Community - Prairie• Prairies are the most likely native
community to be started from scratch.
• Existing prairie remnants may need removal of invasives/weeds and woody vegetation.
• Mowing or burning can jumpstart existing natives
Plant Community - PrairiePrairie remnants can be found:
– Along railroad rights-of-way– In unused portions of old cemetaries– In large wetland areas that have dry
areas/prairies in the center and couldn’t be accessed by machinery or cattle.
– In areas too steep to plow or graze (hill or goat prairies)
– Where farmland is poor (sand plains near Mississippi)
Plant Community - Prairie
True prairies were mostly grasses with some forbs
We tend to plant “wildflower meadows”
Plant Community - Prairie• Prairie plants can rebuild soil,
along roadsides, on abandoned farms, etc.,
• Hold and improve slopes where farming has allowed topsoil to erode
• Many prairie plants thrive on low fertility soils
• Many prairie plants arelegumes that fix nitrogen
Plant Community - PrairieBecause of the complex web in a prairie, it would take hundreds of years to fully restore or create a prairie.
Plant Community - PrairieSmall prairie plantings (<10 acres) are great, and very worthwhile for establishment and reproduction of plants and some animals. Woodland edges, however, provide cover for predators of prairie birds and other species
Plant Community - Prairie• 10 acres or more are needed to
get a truly effective prairie ecosystem consisting of birds, reptiles, small mammals and insects.
• 200 acres will really get an effective a habitat
• Need 1000 acres if you want the authentic prairie, complete with bison and fire!
Plant Community - PrairieIf doing a prairie reconstruction, establishing native plants in a former farm field, check herbicide history.
Establishing a Prairie• Check soil before selecting a site. • pH is best if between 6 and 7.5 for
prairies, but many plants will tolerate as low as 3 or as high as 8. Because a prairie is long-term, adjusting pH is not realistic as pH will revert back to original levels.
Establishing a Prairie
• Best time is June, but later summer is okay
• Remove existing vegetation, especially perennials
• Work soil as needed to ensure seed/soil contact
• Don’t fertilize! That encourages weeds.
Establishing a Prairie• Species selection
– Create list of grasses, sedges and forbs for each area.
– The more species, the better.• Natural prairies often have 40-50
different species per acre• Grass to forb ratio varies. Forb seed is
more expensive, but we like the look of wildflowers. 75 to 25 is a good percent to shoot for.
Establishing a PrairieAs MGVs, work with your county’s NRCS office, Land & Water Conservation office, and local DNR, as well as local chapters of:
The Prairie EnthusiastsWild OnesOther groups
Establishing a Prairie• Plant grass and forb seed, or seed
grasses and transplant forbs in• Takes 3-4 years to establish a
prairie, during which weed control is a major issue
• Maintain established prairie by burning or mowing
• Some prairie plants have roots that go 15-18 feet deep.
• Plant randomly!
Plant Community - Prairie• Prairie fragments are not self
sustaining like the original vast and complex prairie system was. Preservation requires management.
• Prairie remnants may “degrade” because of exotic species invasion, woody vegetation infiltration, etc.
Gardening with Prairie Plants• Prairie plants make great garden
plants• Most are ornamental, some more
than others• Drought tolerant• Should not fertilize
Propagation of Native PlantsDepending on your needs and access, you can get your plants from:
Local nurseriesDNR programsCollecting and planting
your own seed or plants
Propagation• Natives are rarely propagated by
division, but it’s possible• Woodies are usually propagated by
seed, but cuttings are possible• Be sure to take cuttings from many
different plants to encourage genetic diversity in the new site
• Some natives don’t always set viable seed• Seed collecting is the most common
way to propagate native plants.
Purchasing Plants
When you acquire your plants, shop local.
Local ecotypes may be better suited to your area
Local expertscan help
Purchasing PlantsThere are many nurseries around Wisconsin that sell or specialize in native plants.
DNR has list on their website
Talk to them about their philosophy, local ecotypes, etc.
Purchasing Plants• Find out source of plants and/or
seed. • Avoid “wildflower” mixes which
often have exotics, cultivars, or inappropriate combinations.
Plant SelectionWith property owner permission,
you can collect seeds and plants from the wild.
Always leave behind more than you take.
Seed collectingNever collect without permission from landowner or a permit for public land.Never collect threatened or endangered species without a permit.
Seed CollectingNever collect more than 25% of seed of any species at a site, or 10% of annuals (annual seeds may be important food source)
Be sure the plants or seeds will survive
Seed Collecting• Environmental conditions will
determine when seed is ripe and ready to harvest.
• Some species project seeds so should harvest when fully formed; put in a container to “explode”
(prairie phlox, flowering spurge, violets and lupine)
Seed Collecting• Seeds usually turn dark and hard
when ripe.• Fruity seeds change color• Cones turn brown
Get them before they disperse or critters get them
Seed Collecting• Prairie plants may not set viable
seed if moisture, heat and sunlight are not ideal.
– Vigorously rub seeds in hands, blowing away lighter chaff; good seeds feel like grains of sand, bad seeds disintegrate
– Break a few apart and look for embryo
Seed CollectingPrevent molding of seed; don’t store in plastic bags or closed containers
– Dry by spreading on newspaper in warm dry location, indoors
– Or put in paper bags and hang in warm dry location.
– Fleshy seeds should be driedso they don’t rot
– Store at 40 degrees
Seed Collecting• Shake dry seeds vigorously in
paper bag to separate chaff from seeds
• Some seeds can be “screened” –placed on a screen and rubbed so seed falls through
Planting Seed
Dormant – Viable seed that is not ready to germinate even in proper environmental conditions.
Quiescent – Ripened seed, ready to germinate, waiting for the proper environmental conditions.
Planting SeedStratification – a period of moist, cold conditions needed before a seed will germinate.
• Provide stratification outdoors with seeds in pots protected by wire mesh or tins with lids
• Indoors in refrigerator/freezer
Seed Treatment• Scarification – The breaking of the
hard seed coat.
• Scarify with method appropriate to the seed:- Rubbing between sandpaper- Blender- Knife/file- Hammer- Boiling water
Planting SeedPure Live Seed is the percent of seeds that are viable
Check packageor source if purchasing seed
PLS = % purity x % germination 100
Planting Seed
Research conditions needed for plants you are seeding
– Germination time– Best time of year– Soil temp
Planting Seed• Plant in patches, especially
prairies• Mix smaller seeds with sawdust
for easier sowing• Can use machines (drills) or by
hand
Planting Seed• Sow about 30 live seeds per
square foot in prairies.• Keep tall grasses to not more than
30%• After spreading by hand, use
roller or cultipacker to press seeds into soil
Planting NativesCan also start seeds and transplant to site
Especially useful for restoration projects
Planting Seed• Seed starting same as any other
seeds• Sterile seed starting mix• Keep moist until germinated• Grow in appropriate light and
temperatures• Harden off
Planting SeedsResearch needs of seed you are planting.
• Some need light
• Seed depth usually 2x diameter
Planting Seed• Some prairie plants don’t
germinate their first year• Many plants don’t bloom until
their 3rd or 4th year– Trilliums take 8-12 years from seed
Role of MGVsOther ways to help preserve and protect native plants
• Join/support groups like The Prairie Enthusiasts, Wild Ones, Botanical Club of Wisconsin, and local nature groups
Role of MGVs• Do educational displays/programs
to others of the significance of remnants or rare native plants, and the need to protect them.
• Create display gardens of native plants to educate people and show the ornamental qualities
Role of MGVs
LEARN as much as you can about the perils facing native plants to best address their protection and preservation.
Role of MGVsMGVs – include native plants in
your plant sales and advocate for the preservation of our native
plants!