EcoBeneficial - Useful Tips on Ecological Gardening & Native Plants

I have a few native Viburnums but I never see any fruit. I planted them to feed birds. What is going on?
Answer:
Ah yes, the complexities of native plants. Most nurseries and garden centers don’t tell you that almost all native viburnums need cross-pollination to set fruit (there are some exceptions). Retailers often suggest something like, “just buy several viburnums and you’ll be all set.” And so, off you go with your new plants, and later you wonder why your viburnums flower but never fruit….

Great Native Plants for Hummingbirds: What Are You Growing?

EcoBlog

Humming Bird and Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans)

Want hummingbirds? Skip the feeder (or add to it) and grow some of the native plants that hummingbirds favor. Hummers particularly love red tubular flowers, so make sure to include some. Here are some hummer favorites:
Native Perennials and more for Hummingbirds
Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)
Aquilegia canadensis (Canada Columbine)
Asclepias species (Milkweed)
Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead)
Chelone lyonii (Pink Turtlehead)
Hibiscus moschueutos (Swamp Mallow)
Impatiens capensis (Spotted Jewelweed) annual
Iris versicolor (Blueflag)
Iris virginica (Virginia Iris)
Liatris scariosa (Eastern Blazing Star)
Liatris spicata (Marsh Blazing Star)
Lilium canadense (Canada Lily)
Lilium superbum (Turk’s cap Lily)
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia)
Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells) spring ephemeral
Monarda didyma (Scarlet Bee Balm)
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)
Monarda punctata (Spotted Bee Balm)
Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)
Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)
Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox)
Phlox paniculata (Tall Garden Phlox)
Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia)
Salvia coccinea (Scarlet Sage)
Silene regia (Royal Catchfly)
Silene virginica (Fire Pink)
Spigelia marilandica (Indian Pink)
Native Vines for Hummingbirds
Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine)
Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper)
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle)
Native Trees and Shrubs for Hummingbirds
Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye)
Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye)
Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea)
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree)
Rhododendron atlanicum (Coast Azalea)
Rhododendron arborescens (Sweet Azalea)
Rhododendron catawbiense (Catawba Rhododendron)
Rhododendron periclymenoides (Pinxterbloom)
Rhododendrom viscosum (Swamp Azalea)
Happy Nectaring from Kim Eierman EcoBeneficial!…

Native Viburnums and Cross-Pollination – What the Nursery Isn’t Telling You

EcoBlog

Ever wonder why those terrific native viburnums you planted are not producing fruit? You are not alone. It’s one of the frustrations of gardening ecologically in a world where “cross pollination” is rarely mentioned at local nurseries or garden centers (and forget about the big box stores!). Some plants, although deemed self-fruitful, may need a “pollinator partner” to bear fruit reliably.
Most native viburnums are actually pretty self-incompatible and typically require cross-pollination for good fruit production. Two genetically different plants of the same species should be planted in reasonably close proximity. …

Extending the Garden With Great Native Plants in Pots

EcoBlog

If you are like many gardeners, you are scouring your landscape to figure out where else you can squeeze in another plant. No empty spots in your garden? No problem. Containers are the answer! While many gardeners plant in pots, few realize that there are many native plants which will do very well in containers. Not only are native perennials and smaller shrubs less expensive than exotic annuals as container plants, they provide many ecological benefits.
I particularly like to use what I term “multiple-duty native plants” which offer several ecological and aesthetic benefits….

Garden Groove Radio Interview

On the Radio

Garden Groove, Interview with Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial April 10, 2019

Ecological Gardening Tips for Spring

EcoBlog

As spring begins in earnest, pause for a moment before rushing off to the nursery or garden center to shop for plants. First, consider how the steps you take and the choices you make can increase the health of your landscape and the environment around you. Here are some tips to get you started:
1) Do a soil test before you buy a single plant. You cannot know what plants to choose unless you know the basic information about your soil. …

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I never see any fruit on my native Viburnums. What is going on?

Great Native Plants for Hummingbirds: What Are You Growing?

Native Viburnums and Cross-Pollination – What the Nursery Isn’t Telling You

Extending the Garden With Great Native Plants in Pots

Garden Groove Radio Interview