This week, I attended a garden seminar on plants native to the state of Virginia.

Local ecosystems are derived from a combination of land form, climate, and vegetation.

Our speaker talked about a variety of native plants in our area.

When you plant native plants, it increases the quality of the native environment.  This means your garden will attract an abundance of native birds, insects and animals.  It is definitely smart gardening.

It also seems that quite a few of the native plants we looked at were deer resistant.

However, please do not go into the woods and remove any plants.  This is often illegal to do and it harms the environment.

There are growers and nurseries who actually grow and sell native plants.

Some of the more interesting variety of native plants we talked about were:

• Blood Root – This plant needs shade.  The blooms on the Blood Root plant do not last long.  The plant depends on ants to take its seeds to their ant hill.  The ants eat off the fatty outer layer of the seed and then discard the seed.  This helps the plant grow in new locations.
• Christmas Fern – Plants like deep shade and acidic soil.  The Christmas Fern is an ancient plant.  The deer do not like to eat this plant.
• Lady’s Tresses – This is a rare orchid found in the woods.  Orchids grow native all over the world, except in the desert.  Lady’s Tresses need good soil to grow.
• Dwarf Crested Iris – The blooms on this plant do not last long.  However, it is a very pretty flower.

• Large White Trillium –  It takes a trillium seven years to grow from seed to flower.  This native plant should never be collected in the wild.
• Native Prickly Pear Cactus –  Interestingly enough, the state of Virginia actually has a native prickly pear cactus.

In closing, the woods of Virginia are full of beautiful native flowers, shrubs, plants and trees.

Buy native plants from your local nursery to add to your landscaping.

This will help boost your ecosystem and draw more birds, insects, and animals to your yard.

What are you going to plant in your garden this year?  Please leave us a comment below.

Grow a Happy Garden with Native Plants!