Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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Saturday - November 30, 2013
From: Naperville, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Wildlife Gardens, Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Wildlife and bird friendly hedgerow for Chicago suburb
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Want to plant a wildlife/bird friendly hedgerow in suburban Chicago. Looking for a recommended mix of understory trees as well a shrubs and grasses. Site is part shade with average to wet soil and transitions to a mature Oak/Hickory woodland. Length is 100' x 20'wide.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants suggests that you visit our Recommended Species page to choose Illinois from the map to find the Illinois Recommended list of commercially available native plants suitable for landscaping in your state. The list contains more than 170 species which include trees, shrubs, herbs, etc. You can limit the list by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option in the sidebar and choosing the type of plant you are interested in from General Appearance, Light Requirement, Soil Moisture, etc. Here are a few selections from this list:
Shrubs or Small Tree
Amorpha fruticosa (Indigo bush)
Cornus racemosa (Gray dogwood)
Rhus aromatica (Fragrant sumac)
Corylus americana (American hazelnut)
Vaccinium angustifolium (Late lowbush blueberry)
Grasses
Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem)
Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats grama)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
You can find more possibilities by performing your own search in the Illinois Recommended list. On each species page you can scroll down the page to the BENEFIT section to see what wildlife makes use of the plant.
From the Image Gallery
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Native grasses for Gilmer TX
March 01, 2009 - I would like to get some native grasses growing on our farm that are good for wildlife - barnyard grass - sedges - smartweed - have read and heard that all I need to do is disc and fertilize - yes/no ...
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Soil Loosener/Pollinator Plants for Houston
August 11, 2014 - I am trying to establish a mostly-native pollinator way-station in a recently purchased lot in a 100 year old neighborhood in Houston. Much of the property has a thick layer of oyster shell four to si...
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Plants for a creek bank in Northern Illinois
March 26, 2009 - Hello.
I live in Northern Illinois. The creek (northern exposure in a wooded area) on the back of my property has bare muddy banks and is subject to seasonal floods. I want to plant something hardy t...
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Need native plants to place in chicken coop in Charolette, NC
September 20, 2014 - Hi, I live near Charlotte, NC. I'm looking for native plants that I can plant in my chicken coop that will produce food for the chickens. If they also produced some delicious food for me, I wouldn't...
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