Go Wild With Native Plants
Utilizing the Hubs of Life
Across Montana
Written and Photographed by Amy Grisak
"Plants do not exist to be pretty. They are hubs of life for species above and below the soil.
Even if you create a small native garden, you can truly make a difference. They are the foundation of the ecosystem,” Jen Mohler, Executive Director of Grow Wild.
Since I began gardening many decades ago, I've come to love native plants. They are the ultimate low-maintenance way to create an eye-catching landscape with the bonus of attracting birds and bees.
Years ago, I first saw how well these plants fit into home design when I visited David Schmetterling and Marilyn Marler in Missoula to see their National Wildlife Federation certified garden. Their front yard teemed with late-season flowers putting on a show, including ants streaming over the stems of the Artemisia tridenta. The backyard made me feel like I stepped out of the city and into a truly wild space. This was beyond what I expected from a native plant garden, and I immediately knew I wanted to pursue this gardening direction at home.
Beyond the beauty and ease of care, the diversity of birds in the middle of Missoula impressed me. David said when they lived in a home just a few blocks from their current location, they spotted only four or five species of birds each year. After creating this native garden, they have over 70 bird species using their space, sometimes passing through, sometimes taking up residence for the summer.
Last year, I found another lovely native plant display at Crail Ranch in Big Sky. Women were painting watercolors of the flowers as participants in the Big Sky Wildflower Festival hosted by Grow Wild, a local non-profit organization that promotes healthy natural habitats.
I met Jen Mohler, the Executive Director of Grow Wild, while I was admiring a penstemon species that she identified as Whipple's penstemon. I added it to my “must-have” list.
One of the best aspects of native plants is the lack of weeds and reducing water needs. The first spot where I chose to plant native varieties is located next to the house. For years, I struggled with whatever I planted there because of its proximity to the foundation and watering limitations. The garden plants were marginal, while the weeds went wild.
I ripped out everything except the perennial geranium. I acquired native plants from my friend, Wayne Phillips, an excellent botanist and author of multiple books on native plants in Montana and Wyoming.
When we dug starts from his native front yard garden, I thought the aster he had growing everywhere was a good option. He warned me that it was aggressive. I laugh every year when I'm thinning it back to a reasonable section of the garden, remembering his wise words, yet impressed that weeds don't stand a chance with the asters thriving. On top of that, I only water the garden when we have long stretches of drought. Additionally, you don't worry about insects with native plants. You welcome them. More insects mean more birds, and I am a big fan of watching birds in my backyard.
Our backyard, which borders a neighboring field filled with ground squirrels, cows, and badgers, and some of the native species are naturally growing into our “lawn,” which does not consist of much grass. I am delighted every time I find the scarlet globe mallow growing, and the bright yellow Mountain golden-banner (a type of pea) when they bloom in the spring.
“Plants do not exist to be pretty. They are hubs of life for species above and below the soil.”
Our neighbors have arrowleaf balsamroot growing on a nearby hillside and another flower I have noticed is the four-nerve daisy growing along my walk. These are all plants that can be incorporated easily into my home garden.
If you want to add native plants to your landscape, search for region-specific varieties at your local greenhouses. While there is some crossover within Montana or Wyoming, some plants are specific to their area. Living in Great Falls, I look for the species I'll find on my walks along the Rivers Edge Trail or hikes in the Highwood or Little Belt Mountains. Go for a walk to see what’s blooming in your area.
If local greenhouses don't carry native plants, ask them to. If there is enough demand, many will accommodate the need.
"The Montana Native Plant Society has a great resource of who sells native plants," Jen added. "And keep an eye out (for local options). More growers (like Grow Wild and other organizations) sell native plants as fundraisers."
Some intrepid gardeners like to start their own seeds as a challenge. Jen notes that many of them have particular stratification requirements. Yet, if you are going to collect seed, do so well away from common areas and only take a very small amount.
"I really love planting established plants because native plants are very finicky (to grow from seed). I have tried a couple of times and failed," she said. And she warned against digging up native plants. "If these natives have deep roots, they're not going to live.”
Even if they don't have a distinct taproot, moving them out of their native habitat is usually a death sentence. This is especially true with wildflowers such as orchids. Because of their complex relationship with the mycorrhizal fungi within the soil, orchids die if they are disrupted. The bottom line is to leave native plants where they are in nature and find them through other sources.
When planting native plants in the landscape, treat them like other perennials and remember: The first year, they sleep; the second year, they creep; and the third year, they leap!
This means you want to give them space when planning your design. The first year may look more sparce than you envisioned, but it takes on a more mature appearance by the second year. In the third year, you'll probably want to find friends who need starts.
Contact a local grower to learn what species grow best in your area. Creating a native plant garden, even if it’s a small footprint in your landscape, is a wonderful way to bring nature a little closer to home.
