Page 63 - Free State Spring 2023_WEB

GROWING WITH EDUCATION A Ginny Rosenkranz

Native Shrubs not

Dear to Deer

here is a large movement for both professional The earliest of the natives to bloom is Myrica cerifera or
landscape contractors and homeowners to plant Sothern Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry. This lovely
Tnative herbaceous perennial plants that provide evergreen shrub thrives from USDA zone 7 to 10, reaching
food for pollinators with their beautiful flowers. There is 10-15 feet tall and spreading 8-10 feet wide. Southern Wax
also a growing movement to plant native shrubs and trees Myrtle grows best in full sun to light partial shade, in medium
to provide sites for other native insects that, in turn, could to wet soils, and is very tolerant of both high winds and salt.
provide food for native birds and animals. This landscape By thriving in windy and salty conditions, it is a wonderful
paradigm has a lot of merit, but reality can come quickly addition to both a seaside landscape and a northern or
when one thinks about how one of one of our native animals Northwest landscape where the winter snow, ice, and salt
eats all the plants in our landscape. What can be planted cover both roads and sidewalks. In February to March, the
that is native and not dear to deer? There has been some dioecious fragrant flowers bloom in 4-5 inch catkins on male
research that gives a few lists of beautiful native plants or female flowers, allowing the late winter winds to pollinate
where deer might only nibble on young tender foliage,
but a lot of grazing damage can (continued on next page)
weaken or kill the native plants.
The plant’s survival depends on
the population of the white-tailed
deer in the neighborhood. Deer can
eat or browse plants to the ground
or crush them to create a bed for sleeping.
Male deer will rub their emerging antlers on shrubs
and trees to remove their ‘velvet’, which must itch. Deer will
also eat plants that might be considered poisonous if there
is nothing else to eat. Choosing the right plant for the right
place that provides beauty for the homeowners and food
and shelter for our native birds, animals and insects has
become important to many homeowners, and as a result,
increasingly important to many professional landscape
contractors. The local nurseries have already started the
movement by planting a large palate of native plants that
are just waiting to find a new home. Hopefully this list will
encourage more professional plant people to increase
their appreciation of our native shrubs and use them in
their designs and plantings. The following plants are not in
alphabetical order, but in order of bloom time, to increase
the ease of designing with plants that provide flowers and
fruit from early spring to late fall landscapes.

Get Active. Stay Involved. • SPRING 2023 63