April was Native Plant Month, and we were so excited to take the opportunity to showcase some of our favorite native offerings at Millcreek. This posts recaps all of the natives that were featured on our social media, but first– what are native plants, and why bother with growing them in the first place?

Native plants are plant species that have evolved in a specific area or location over time. This means that these plants have a long evolutionary history with the other species, including plants, animals, and insects, that are also native to that area. It also means that these plants are specifically adapted to the climate of that region. This can lead to two main benefits for us as plant growers and consumers:

The first benefit to having native plant species in your natural and garden spaces is that they stimulate ecological functioning. When the birds, insects, and animals of the area recognize a native plant in your area, it means that those creatures are better able to find the food and shelter they need to thrive. Non-native plants may also serve to provide these things, but not on the same scope that natives do, due to their lack of a shared history.

The second benefit is that when a plant is adapted to the climate of a region, it is better prepared to handle some of the challenges that the weather, environment, and planting location may throw its way. A plant that is adapted to the clay soils of one place, or the hot summers of another, will be better able to tolerate those conditions than a non-native might.

Both of these ideas, of ecological function and of climate adaptability, are becoming increasingly important as growers and consumers alike shift their attention to issues such as supporting pollinators, or the prevalence of longer, hotter, and drier summers.

There are many benefits of planting natives, but bringing native plants to the retail world does have its challenges. As growers, we must think about the viability of growing natives in containers, any aesthetic comparisons between natives and non-natives, and the ambiguity of what actually qualifies as a native (such as nativars or hybrids). And while there are many wrinkles left to iron out on how to most successfully share natives on a commercial scale, something that many people in the industry are tirelessly working on, we hope that this series may highlight some of the beautiful natives that we already grow here at Millcreek Gardens.

Without further ado, here are the Native picks featured throughout the month of April: