Swift-Expanding Indigenous Vegetation Options for Your Floral Oasis
Hankerin' for a garden that pops but short on patience? Fast-growing native plants are the way to go! Lend some oomph to your yard with flora that can shoot up several feet in a single year, offer shade, shelter, and sustenance for fauna troops, and promote pollinator welfare in spades.
These expert-recommended varieties will be your garden's green MVPs:
- Linda Eirhart, horticulture director at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
- Uli Lorimer, director of horticulture at Native Plant Trust
Hit the Ground Swinging with These 8 Native Plants:
1. Smooth Hydrangea
Ready for a flower power upgrade? The native hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) flaunts cuplike blooms from June to early autumn, stackin' on a few extra feet each year. "Lacecap forms are ideal for pollinators," says Linda Eirhart, horticulture director at Winterthur Museum and Garden. Whack it back in late winter, post-flowering, to manage its height better.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Growth: 5 feet tall x 3 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
2. Red Twig Dogwood
Have a fondness for fiery red stems? Snag yourself a red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea). This color-popping shrub grows about 2 feet yearly, delivering white flowers in spring, berries in late summer, and wildlife-friendly red foliage in the fall.
- Zones: 2 to 7
- Growth: 9 feet tall x 9 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun to part shade; tolerates a wide range of soils, requires regular watering
3. Carolina Allspice
Looking for an easy-peasy plant that oozes aroma? The Carolina Allspice is your gal. It boasts beautiful, fragrant maroon flowers with hints of strawberry, banana, or pineapple in the spring, followed by light yellow foliage in the fall. Anticipate a growth spurt of 12 to 18 inches each year.
- Zones: 5 to 10
- Growth: 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun; organic, well-drained soil
4. Hay-Scented Fern
Think ferns are too fussy? Think again! Hay-scented ferns (Dennstaedtia puntilobula) thrive in shadier spots and can take over large areas, perfect for covering up unsightly ground. "They're also fantastic for layering with non-native spring bulbs," says Eirhart.
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Growth: 2 feet tall x 3 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Part shade to full shade; tolerates a wide range of soils, keep moist
5. Goldenrods
Goldenrods (Solidago sp.) are a cinch to grow and can tolerate dirt bags. Find a sun-loving variety for your garden, and enjoy golden blooms in the fall that draw in all the wildlife friends.
- Zones: 2 to 8
- Growth: 3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun; well-drained soil
6. Tulip Poplar
Missing those summer vibes all year round? Tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera) are here to inject some spring cheer with their epic tulip-shaped flowers. "A top-notch shade tree with beautiful flowers," boasts Uli Lorimer, horticulture director at Native Plant Trust.
- Zones: 4 to 9
- Growth: 90 feet tall x 60 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun to part shade; well-drained organic soil
7. Chokeberry
Versatile, lovely, and a pollinator's paradise - the chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) has got it all. A true chameleon, it presents white blossoms assuring bees in spring, shimmering red leaves in autumn, and even red buds for visual interest in the winter.
- Zones: 3 to 8
- Growth: 6 feet tall x 6 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun to part shade; well-drained, moist soil
8. Broad Leaf Mountain Mint
Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) gets down to business with clusters of tubular pink flowers complimented by silver bracts. Can't resist the pollinators? Neither can they - this plant is an absolute magnet for bees and butterflies.
Caveat: This plant can spread like wildfire if not contained.
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Growth: 3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
- Sun & Soil Preference: Full sun to part shade; medium watering, well-drained soil
Grow your green thumb with these rapid-growing beauties and watch your garden burst into action!
- Martha Stewart might recommend incorporating these fast-growing native plants for a striking garden: the Smooth Hydrangea, Red Twig Dogwood, Carolina Allspice, Hay-Scented Fern, Goldenrods, Tulip Poplar, Chokeberry, and Broad Leaf Mountain Mint.
- Marilyn Monroe might be an admirer of the Red Twig Dogwood's fiery red stems, showcasing its vibrant color as a popular shrub in her backyard landscape.
- Fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts could appreciate the pollinator haven provided by the Broad Leaf Mountain Mint, flaunting its clusters of tubular pink flowers that attract butterflies.
- If you're a foodie, the Chokeberry's versatile fruits can be used to create delicious jams, sorbets, and wines, making it a perfect addition to your home-and-garden lifestyle.
- Travelers enlightening their minds through education-and-self-development may find solace in the Hay-Scented Fern's tranquil beauty, serving as a perfect serene element in a meditative garden.
- For sports fans, Tulip Poplars offer towering heights with their beautiful tulip-shaped flowers, mimicking the epic athletic achievements of top players.
- Lifestyle enthusiasts uneasy about cultivating a garden that favors the short-patience crowd can rest easy, as these rapid-growing native plants can deliver dramatic results in a short span, also promoting wildlife conservation.
