Small Native Shrubs for the Home Garden

[@limitlessends]

So glad you tried muscling through the latin names. They're such a struggle! And it's always about us giving our best try.

[@awildapproach]

I should have used the North Carolina extension plant toolbox website to get some pronunciations, but totally forgot to do that! plants.ces.ncsu.edu/ It helps me learn how to say the names.

[@suzannewells1]

I am new to your channel and am delighted to have found you! I'm gardening in South Mississippi and are gardening styles are similar. Thanks for sharing your garden!

[@awildapproach]

Thank you so much for saying that! That means a lot to me. I've always loved the wild look and when I realized native plants are a thing, I quickly came to the conclusion that it was the way to go, especially since it provides vital habitat for wildlife. It warms my heart that you are here. Happy gardening in Mississippi, Suzanne!!

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I can vouch for bearberry!! Or kinnikinnick which is its other name that comes from an Algonquian term that means "smoking mixture" (or so I have read, because I guess it was mixed and smoked with tobacco). Bonus that its scientific name translates literally to "Beargrapes [Greek] beargrapes [Latin]" which I think is hilarious. It's a great ground cover, and can get color sometimes when it gets really cold at least OR when it gets bright galls on its leaves in the summertime that look like little beans attached to the leaves. Tiny little cute flowers that are pretty early, adaptable about sun, yeah this is a really good one. I also grow the snowberry you mentioned, it's not a show piece and mine doesn't great fall color BUT its flowers are very attractive to pollinators and like you said -- it's very adaptable. I grow it for host plant reasons + nectar and cover for birds to kind of fill in areas at the perimeter of my yard. If you have a Ceanothus available to you, you need to grow it -- I'm in the West and my yard has 4 different species of Ceanothus in it and I still have more on my wish list because they're the BEST.

[@awildapproach]

Thank you so much for commenting! Those are great details about these plants that I love getting to read. I feel I never know enough. I always want to know more. It makes it fun, too. As for Ceanothus, I planted one, but I definitely didn't put it in a good spot and it didn't make it. I need to try that again. Some plants I also mostly grow for host value, too. I find great joy in adding host plants for butterflies and moths especially. I always check them for caterpillars. :)

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

@@awildapproach Bummer, what do you think did it in? It's tricky, they're drought tolerant but they do need summer water to get established more so if they're in really hot/hostile locations. Our species in the west all need good drainage, getting too wet in winter is the kiss of death for them.

[@awildapproach]

@@Hayley-sl9lm I think the spot I put it in was too tight and full of competitive weeds. I think I should have given it more room to grow and spread out. My own fault. Otherwise, it could have been too moist of a spot, maybe.

[@ThreeRunHomer]

I’d like to add more shrubs with berries for the birds, so your video gave me ideas. Thanks. I’ve got New Jersey tea, buttonbush and beautyberry. They’ve all been slow growers so far but are only 2 to 3 years old.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

They say the 1st year they sleep, 2nd year they creep, 3rd year they leap! It really is true. Bearberry for example, I thought it hated my yard for the 1st two years then year 3 it grew a lot!

[@awildapproach]

That's great! I'm so glad this was a helpful video. :)

[@jacandtea]

Informative list. Wish you had included growing zones.

[@awildapproach]

In the context of native plants, there's not much use for USDA hardiness growing zones. I've included native range maps with each plant, which is displayed in bright and dark greens. If it's native to your area (if your area is lit up in green), then it should grow in your area, if you pick the right plant for the right soil and light you have. Thanks for watching!

[@AbilityToBeAwesome]

Thanks for sharing your garden ideas! Hope you’re having an amazing day. Remember you have the #AbilityToBeAwesome! I just want to rip out all the day lily in my yard 😂

[@awildapproach]

Sounds good to me! Do it. :D Thanks so much for the kind words.

[@mirkalenarcik6889]

Honeysuckle is the best. I like chokeberry but rabbits as well. I had to fence it.

[@sabinetemby1542]

For us beginners: Please include growing zones, companion planting and edible / how to use/preserve vs toxic to humans. Thanks otherwise.

[@awildapproach]

I wouldn't know all that preserve info or how to use, etc, plus the video would be too long. As for growing zones, for native plants, you wouldn't need to know the growing zone. That's for non-native plants. BONAP.org is best for finding out what plants are native to your area. Thanks for watching.

[@standingbear998]

'Native' shrubs? all plants began as an invasive species. these native Plants were not there in the past.

[@awildapproach]

Sounds like you're struggling with the definition of native plants. Check out these websites for more info: www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/whatare.shtml theconservationfoundation.org/native-plants-101-what-is-a-native-plant/