Three favorite native plants for Illinois |

[@LY43537]

More episodes like this please! Given how much our climate is changing, I'm hoping to replace my lawn with a garden that uses substantially less water and can contribute to stabilizing my little corner of the world.

[@pcurryii]

Just curious, what are you thinking of going with? What area of the state? Hoping to do the same in the NE

[@jdy1054]

I’d pick a willow for spring feeders, perennial sunflowers for summer and clumping goldenrod for fall feeders. You provide both the nectar and pollens several hundred native bees, and butterflies require to reproduce. But I love coneflowers and beardtongue, and many berried shrubs. Hard to pick just three!

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

It is hard to limit it to three!

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

Thanks for the very good info. Put out more detailed info about natives in the midwest!

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

We'll add it to the list!

[@aq9714]

Three great picks!

[@ninja1antelope]

No butterfly weed? Thank you for sharing!

[@KevinSmith-dx6xq]

Thank you.

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

You're welcome!

[@miguelg4556]

Nice. Thanks!

[@gardenscape-NCal]

I don't understand "burning the prairie" in March. So many of the Natvive Plant channels recommend not touching the garden for "clean-up" until late Spring, since many beneficial bugs are living on the downed plants at this time, and leave nearing Summer.

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

Great question! When it comes to prairie burns it needs to be on a case-by-case basis. Many invasive plants are knocked back by spring burns, and others are stimulated by it. The same goes for particular native plants. A land manager has to plan for what they are trying to promote/control in their prairie. Also in many cases, it depends on weather and ideal burning conditions. Sometimes, that just doesn't happen in the fall. Plus, coordinating with others to help in the burn might only work in the spring. Whether a prairie is burned in the fall, winter, spring, and (on rare occasions) summer, we typically recommend burning only a portion to reduce the impact on wildlife that may be using that prairie at that time of the burn. And then rotate which sections are burned on a year-to-year basis

[@carriemou3678]

Would red chokeberry work as a foundation plant around a home, ie to replace burning bush?

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

Red chokeberry would serve as a great foundation plant. Be sure to plant far enough away from the building to accommodate mature plant size or select a dwarf cultivar. To look the best, avoid shearing the plant like we tend to do with foundation plantings. Hand pruning is recommended. Full sun to part shade conditions and tolerant of a range of soils.

[@carriemou3678]

@@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture thank you

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

Too big for foundation planting, I'd say

[@theresapalmer9238]

Where can I see the Macon county list? And do you have a foraging class?

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

Here is a link to the Macon County Extension office webpage. extension.illinois.edu/dmp

[@macylouwho1187]

*takes notes and heads to eBay to see if anyone listed seeds for sale.

[@jdy1054]

I prefer pycnanthemum muticum better. Smells better, more sweet like spearmint rather than peppermint and silvery bracts are nice looking after flowering is done.

[@IllinoisExtensionHorticulture]

Thanks for sharing!