April 2, 2025 Out with Ornamentals in with Natives Ready to take on the most rewarding garden challenge ever? Imagine gradually planting beautiful, low maintenance native species to replace ornamentals. Transform your landscape into a haven for pollinators and wildlife, while reducing chemicals, water use, and maintenance. Minnesota’s native plants, from vibrant coneflowers to hardy prairie grasses, thrive in our climate and offer year-round beauty. We challenge you to start small—swap out just a few ornamental plants the first year. Once you gain confidence, think about going big and taking on larger areas. Over time, watch as your natural areas grow into a sustainable, eco-friendly landscape that benefits both you and our Minnesota environment. Let’s get started by comparing common ornamental species with viable Minnesota native plant substitutes. While you may not want to fully replace ornamentals just yet, this guide will help spark your creativity with natives. Our Minnesota native plant pallet is quite robust, which makes planning and establishing natural areas so very interesting. Forbs Daylily cultivars are commonly used in residential and business landscapes because of their long-lasting bloom times and compact growth forms. Our native lanceleaf Coreopsis is a great substitute. Blooming throughout the summer, staying on the shorter side, and thriving in nutrient poor and drier soils. Its brilliant yellow flowers attract native pollinators. For instance, butterflies such as the common yellow swallowtail and the skipper species, feed on its nectar. A variety of songbirds will harvest seeds from this plant in the fall of the year. Ornamental hostas are widely cultivated in shaded gardens, prized for their diverse cultivars with various leaf shapes and colors. However, they provide minimal ecological value, primarily serving as a food source for slugs, which can cause extensive damage to the foliage. In terms of ecosystem support, hostas have limited benefits beyond offering shade. A more ecologically beneficial alternative is wild geranium, which provides basal foliage while supporting a range of small invertebrates and pollinators. Another excellent option is wild ginger, which thrives in similar conditions and contributes to soil health while providing habitat for beneficial insects. Additionally, both plants offer aesthetic appeal with wild geranium’s pink flowers and ginger’s unique heart-shaped leaves. Gardeners commonly use salvia in full-sun gardens. Instead, try our native prairie species, anise hyssop, looks quite similar, with its stately purple flower spikes blooming in June and July. Like Salvia, anise hyssop thrives in full sun and dry, well-drained soils, growing to about 3-4 feet tall. In addition to its aromatic foliage, anise hyssop is a magnet for pollinators, attracting bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. This is a great way to replace ornamentals with a native species. It provides nectar for species like honeybees, painted lady butterflies, and swallowtails, supporting the pollinator community. Grasses/Sedges The ornamental, feather reed grass, is often used in landscapes for its adaptability and upright form, but a more ecologically beneficial alternative is our native Indian grass. Like feather reed grass, Indian grass grows 3-6 feet tall and thrives in a wide variety of soil types. It is also ecologically valuable by providing habitat for pollinators like the rusty-patched bumblebee and the monarch butterfly. The grass attracts grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, while native Minnesota birds like the American goldfinch and dickcissel eat its seeds. In addition to its ecological benefits, Indian grass improves soil structure and prevents erosion, making it a sustainable and beautiful choice for natural landscapes. Japanese pachysandra is a shade-loving groundcover known for its drought tolerance and adaptability to various soil conditions. Valued for forming a lush, green carpet, it outcompetes other woodland species, often creating a monoculture in shaded areas. A better alternative is Pennsylvania sedge, a low-growing native that blooms early in the season. Its elegant flowering spikes resemble soft glowing candles, adding beauty to the garden. Unlike Pachysandra, Pennsylvania sedge forms an open groundcover, allowing other native plant species to establish. It is also highly tolerant of a wide range of soil types, making it a versatile choice for your landscape. Additionally, Pennsylvania Sedge provides habitat for various animals, including the silver-spotted skipper butterfly, which feeds on the sedge’s nectar. By gradually planting native species to replace ornamentals, you’re not only enhancing the beauty of your garden but also supporting the health of Minnesota’s ecosystems. The plants we’ve discussed are just the beginning. There are countless native alternatives that will thrive in our climate, support local wildlife, and reduce the need for excessive water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Whether you start small by swapping out a few plants or decide to take on larger areas, each step you take toward creating a native landscape makes a positive impact. So, let’s embrace Minnesota’s native flora, and together, we can cultivate a more sustainable landscape that benefits the environment. Happy planting!
