Follow the Example of Nature

The First Step in Planting Design

“It is interesting to contemplate a tangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds...” - Charles Darwin

Woods in early spring - a perfect place to learn from Nature.

Learning from nature is the first step in planting design.

Sometimes, when we leave nature to her own devices, we can see how plant colonization and succession works. This is evident in open lots where blackberries and thistles pop up on their own or a rural roadside where native asters and Black-eyed Susans form a gorgeous display. In these cases, the spontaneous plant community shows us how Nature cleverly arranges plants to their best advantage. We can learn so much from this. As Doug Tallamy says in his seminal book, Bringing Nature Home, “These are the places where diversity hangs on — where native plants live and serve as food for insects that evolved specifically to feed on them.”

Black-eyed Susan and purple asters - they live side by side quite beautifully.

Another example is where red cedars and black locust trees may appear in an open field offering habitat for wildlife and shade for other saplings. We can add similar or same species to this native planting to aid the development of a natural ecosystem. This is the minimum intervention, ecological approach. Of course, if there is a denuded steep slope that is prone to erosion, you may want to speed up the process by planting suitable native plants that are known for their erosion control abilities such as Gro-Low fragrant sumac. Or look for native grasses like Little Bluestem with deep roots that hold soil well.

‘Standing Ovation’ Little Bluestem grass and Black eyed Susans - what a lovely native pair! Little Bluestem's root system is deep and fibrous, possibly five feet deep. These extensive roots help native grasses withstand periods of drought.

Follow the Example of Nature asks that you see and appreciate the native plant partnerships in your area. And try to recreate it in some manner. Some plantspeople make this the overarching goal in planting design—plant native plants only—while at the other end of the spectrum, some gardeners prefer a manicured garden of exotic species that requires consistent horticultural intervention. My personal preference is for somewhere in-between. I believe planting design can help maintain native ecosystems and we should do this whenever and wherever possible. Native plants that feed our birds and insects, and are best suited for the habitat, are preferred over others. And planting straight native species rather than their cultivars also helps our pollinators. But I can’t help but pop in non-natives for their beauty...

Is this heresy? To some it is. But I can’t help myself.

‘Brunette’ Snakeroot (Actaea racemosa ‘Brunette’), native to the East Coast of the US, and native Ostrich fern are a good combo for part shade. I threw in a few red wax begonias for color.

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