For a garden full of colorful, varied blooms that also supports bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, native plants are a great place to start — and many are surprisingly low-maintenance.
Native plants are species that evolved alongside an ecosystem and its wildlife over the course of thousands of years. In the Madison area, these plants are available at a number of local sales, farmers’ markets and plant nurseries throughout the spring and summer.
“For me, it’s about a connection to a place. Rather than something that you could buy and plant across the country, it’s something that is going to be reminiscent of some of our favorite places in Wisconsin,” says Kate VandenBosch, President of the Friends of the Arboretum, or the FOA. The FOA’s annual native plant sale on May 16 at the Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum Visitor Center.
The Friends of the Arboretum prepare for their Native Plant Sale on May 16.
Photos courtesy of Kate VandenBosch
For those new to native plants or gardening, VandenBosch suggests starting by surveying your space — whether that be a yard, porch or balcony — and identifying conditions like the amount of sunlight the area receives, or the texture of your soil.
“You want to choose plants that are right for your conditions. It’s so much easier than changing the conditions,” she says.
The FOA offers a list of the over 150 native plant types they’ll be selling and information on the specific conditions each species prefers. For example, in areas that get less than six hours of direct sunlight, elm-leaved goldenrod, Short’s aster and hairy wood-mint typically perform well. Alternatively, swamp milkweed, great blue lobelia and black-eyed Susan are all good picks for planting in a pot or container.
Before planting, remove competing plants — especially invasive ones — from the area, VandenBosch says. She also recommends taking a few extra steps to care for your native plant during its first year, like adding mulch to the area and paying close attention to its water levels.
Once planted, the native blooms attract a host of pollinators like bees and butterflies.
“You’ll have a parade of wildlife coming through your yard to delight you all year long,” VandenBosch says.
Find native plants at Madison-area nurseries
Legacy Native Plants, 512 N. Ridge Drive, Waunakee, online orders begin in late May, with pick-up or delivery available
Prairie Fairy Native Plants, 2890 Henshue Road, order online for pick-up
Riley Native Plant Nursery, 3233 N. Riley Circle, Verona, open everyday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sprig Native Plant Nursery, 10 Bromley Circle, online sales begin in late May or early June, with self-serve pick-up available
Tend Native Plants, 10663 W. Blue Mounds Road, Blue Mounds, open Sunday through Friday starting on May 11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Shop for plants at these upcoming events
Eastside Farmers’ Market at McPike Park (202 S. Ingersoll St.), Tuesdays, April 28 through Oct. 27, 4-7 p.m.
Fitchburg Center Farmers’ Market at the Agora Pavilion (5511 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg), Thursdays, May 7 through Oct. 29, 3-6 p.m.
Friends of the Arboretum Native Plant Sale at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum Visitor Center (1207 Seminole Highway), May 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Friends of Wisdom Prairie, SOS Save Our Songbirds and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance Native Plant Fundraiser with pick-up at Holy Wisdom Monastery (4200 County Highway M, Middleton) or 3030 Gateway Place, order online until May 11 for pick up May 17
Monona Farmers Market at Ahuska Park (400 E. Broadway, Monona), Sundays, May through Oct., 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Mount Horeb Farmers Market in downtown Mount Horeb (315 E. Main St., Mount Horeb), June 4, June 11, June 18 and June 25, 3-6:30 p.m.
Spring Pop Up & Plant Sale at Green Haven Gardens (N8431 County Road E, Brooklyn), May 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sun Prairie Farmers’ Market in downtown Sun Prairie (1 Cannery Place, Sun Prairie) Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31, 7 a.m.- noon
Troy Farm Plant Sale at the “Duck Pond” at Warner Park (2920 N. Sherman Ave.), May 9 and 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Verona Downtown Farmers Market at Hometown Junction Park (101 W. Railroad St., Verona), Wednesdays, May 13 through Oct. 14, 3-6:30 p.m.
Westside Community Market at University Research Park (505 S. Rosa Road), Saturdays, May 16 to June 27, 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lily Spanbauer is an editorial intern at Madison Magazine.
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