5 Things Every Western Gardener Should Know Before Planting Native Plants by Kathy Settevendemie and Madeline Mazurski

1. 5 Things Every Western
Gardener Should Know Before
Planting Native Plants
Madeline Mazurski
Montana Native Landscapes
Kathy Settevendemie
Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery

2. What is a ‘native’ plant?
• A plant species that occurs naturally in a
particular region, ecosystem, and/or habitat
without direct or indirect human intervention
• A species that evolved over time with its biotic
community
• A species that has not been genetically altered

3. Cultivars
• A cultivar is a plant or group of plants selected for
desirable characteristics that can be maintained by
propagation.
• A cultivar is given a cultivar name, which consists of the
scientific Latin botanical name followed by a cultivar
epithet. The cultivar epithet is usually in a vernacular
language. For example, the full cultivar name of the
Amber Wheels Blanket Flower is Gaillardia aristata
'Amber Wheels’.
The 'Amber Wheels‘ part of the name is the cultivar
epithet which, according to the Rules of the Cultivated
Plant Code, is bounded by single quotation marks.
• Created by selection, hybridization or genetic
engineering.

4. Native plant taxonomy
• Common names:
– Sagebrush
– Mountain Big Sage
– Big sagebrush
• Scientific/botanical names:
Artemisia tridentata v. vaseyana
Genus
– Artemisia
Species
– tridentata
Variety
– vaseyana

5. Local Provenance
• “Native plants with local provenance
(place of origin) will be genetically better
suited to your local growing conditions
than one that is indigenous to another part
of the country with very different growing
conditions.” -Wasowski

6. Why use native plants?
• Lower maintenance
• Water conservation
• Sustainability
• Lower your carbon footprint
• Minimize environmental effects of herbicides and
pesticides
• Decline in pollinators
• Preserving sense of place
• Concern about invasive species
• Have a role in preserving species
• Part of natural ecosystems

7. Native Plant Gardens
Only native Only exotic
plants (alien) plants
Integrating natives with
non-native species
Where are you now?

8. Where Does That Plant Grow
and Why Does It Matter?

9. Where Does That Plant Grow?
Sun & Shade
Moisture & Dryness
Timing of Moisture
Soil
Elevation
Aspect
Exposure
Slope

10. Mount Sentinel, Missoula MT
High Elevation
North-facing, & Moist
Steep & Rocky
Drainage Area: Moist &
Protected
Hot & Dry:
Exposed

11. Ponderosa Pine
Woodland
Sparse Douglas Fir
Woody Draw with
Shrubs & Pines
Grassland

12. Why does it matter?
We can use this
same information
to create our home landscape

13. The Home Landscape
Sun & Shade
Moisture & Dryness
Timing of Moisture
Soil
Elevation
Aspect
Exposure
Slope

14. Map Your Microclimates:
Potential Plant Communities
Existing Ponderosa Pines
North
Moist
Dry
Flat Open Area Compact
RESIDENCE Soil
Shady
Entry
Sunny
Steep Slope
STORAGE
Wind

15. Identify Your Plant Communities
• Which do you have?
• Which can you re-create?
• Can you incorporate
more than one?

16. Where To From Here?
Design your garden!
Why Design?

17. Design Process
Site Assessment: Needs Assessment:
Possible Plant What You Want & Need
Communities In Your Garden
& Other Site Factors
Garden Design

18. Your Design with Native Communities
Existing Ponderosa Pines New Ponderosa Pines to block wind North
Forbs, Grasses,
Sedges, Low Shrubs
for Moist Shade
Dry Shade Pine Woodland Low Shrubs,
Forbs, Grasses & Sedges
Riparian
Shrubs
RESIDENCE New Back
Mesic
Patio
Grassland
Meadow
Dry
Grassland
Douglas Fir Meadow
Entry Court
Dry Shade
Forbs & Grasses Shrubs
From Dry Area
STORAGE

19. Example of Plant Community in
Missoula area - Grassland
• Grasses: Idaho Fescue, Bluebunch Wheatgrass,
Prairie Junegrass, One-spike Oatgrass…
• Wildflowers: Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Silky Lupine,
Little Larkspur, Yellow Bells, Sagebrush
Buttercup, Wild Bergamot, Showy Fleabane,
Shaggy Fleabane, Clarkia, Blanket Flower, Twin
Arnica, Goldenrod, Shooting Star, Mountain
Sandwort…

20. Example of Plant Community in
Missoula area - Grassland

21. Missoula area - Grassland
• Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis)

22. Missoula area – Grassland
wildflowers

23. Missoula area – Grassland
wildflowers

24. Missoula area – Grassland
wildflowers

25. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Work with your Site
Lewisia rediviva:
Bitterroot

26. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Abundance

27. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Plant Architecture

28. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Community Structure

29. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Provide for Everyone
People too!

30. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Seasonality
August
June

31. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Sprawl & Spread

32. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Regulations
“In situations involving parcels of land that are maintained and
designated or designed as natural parks/gardens, the owners may
request exemption from the Director of Public Works or designated
representative. The exemption will be in the form of a Managed
Natural Garden/Park Agreement. The purpose is to recognize that
private owners may have managed naturalized, less water
intensive gardens and lawns. It shall be the duty of such persons to
maintain their property so that it shall not be considered a fire
hazard, a public safety visibility hazard at street or alley
intersections, a public health hazard or a public/private nuisance.
Parcels of land designated or designed as natural parks/gardens
may lose the designation of exempt, under this ordinance, if the
property is not managed as stated in the management agreement.”

33. Hints for Gardening with Native Plants
Maintenance
EVERY
GARDEN
NEEDS
MAINTENANCE!
(But it can be less with native plants)