Plants that aren't bad for the environment.

[josieposy]

You want plants that haven't been treated with neonicotinoids (bee-killing pesticides). But I think a really good place to start would be any local nursery that deals in native plants for your area. Google will be your friend in this arena.

Native plants mean less maintenance typically. You can use them with other plants and have a pretty nice garden overall.

I'm on a native plant kick. It's in the works for my yard next year.

[dirtyred]

Yes, Home Depot and Lowe's sell treated plants. Avoid if at all possible.

I agree with using natives, but not a lot of new variety natives. I have native and new hybrid coneflowers, and I have yet to see a bee on the new hybrids. The natives are covered with bees.

[gardengal]

Deer resistant isn't "bad". Your post reads like it's something bred into the plants or something & that's not really the case but maybe I'm reading your post wrong

For me, the right plant for the right place is what matters re: maintenance & not where the plant came from. Some carex grown in dry sun just isn't gonna work despite being native. That said, in the gardens I design I do typically use about 70%+ native plants.

Re: hybrids of natives. If you're wanting to attract wildlife, think about how the hybrid was selected. Are the berries ginormous (like some Ilex verticillata & viburnums ?) then it might be difficult for native birds to eat them as intended. So it diminishes the wildlife value. Similarly, a rsdically different color from species can make it harder for insects to "find" it if they are attracted to a particular color.

On of my favorite sites to brainstorm for plants is a wholesale nursery: North Creek (on phone can't link(

[munkii]

Indiana Native Plant & Wildlife Society is fantastic (www.inpaws.org/). You should take a look at their native plant palettes to determine the best options for your planting location(s). With regard to shopping for natives, since you're in Indy, try Allisonville Nursery in Fishers. 

ETA: The INPAWS website also lists friendly non-natives.

[pescalita]

Natives natives natives. I'm planning to do our whole front yard in natives and I really want to pull out the irrigation entirely. There's no reason natives should need it.

[ESF]

Aug 31, 2014 22:57:44 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Natives natives natives. I'm planning to do our whole front yard in natives and I really want to pull out the irrigation entirely. There's no reason natives should need it.

I don't know the specifics, but I'm fairly certain that the state gives tax breaks to homeowners who replace their water-sucking plants with native plants.

[pescalita]

Aug 31, 2014 23:37:43 GMT -5 ESF said:

Aug 31, 2014 22:57:44 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Natives natives natives. I'm planning to do our whole front yard in natives and I really want to pull out the irrigation entirely. There's no reason natives should need it.

I don't know the specifics, but I'm fairly certain that the state gives tax breaks to homeowners who replace their water-sucking plants with native plants.

Last I heard the rebates ran out sept 30, and getting a contractor out before then sounds like a monumental task, but I'm hoping they extend it. Actually I think there's a standing rebate, it's just doubled for the drought.

[gardengal]

Sept 1, 2014 7:32:02 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Aug 31, 2014 21:13:48 GMT -5 gardengal said:

Deer resistant isn't "bad". Your post reads like it's something bred into the plants or something & that's not really the case but maybe I'm reading your post wrong

For me, the right plant for the right place is what matters re: maintenance & not where the plant came from. Some carex grown in dry sun just isn't gonna work despite being native. That said, in the gardens I design I do typically use about 70%+ native plants.

Re: hybrids of natives. If you're wanting to attract wildlife, think about how the hybrid was selected. Are the berries ginormous (like some Ilex verticillata & viburnums ?) then it might be difficult for native birds to eat them as intended. So it diminishes the wildlife value. Similarly, a rsdically different color from species can make it harder for insects to "find" it if they are attracted to a particular color.

On of my favorite sites to brainstorm for plants is a wholesale nursery: North Creek (on phone can't link(

I thought it was bred into the plants. It's just a spray? Or something? I went to Lowes and their selection sucked anyway so I'm definitely going to an actual plan nursery and there's one close to my house that specializes in,natives. I did see at Lowes that the flowering plants were COVERED in bees. Does that mean they're safe?

There is deer spray which is usually a mixture of garlic, hot pepper, & coyote urine (or something). Typically it's organic but smells terrible.

"Deer resistant" plants are just ones that don't taste good to them, like beets taste gross to me. It's not an exact science bc some ppl like beets, and some deer will eat stuff they aren't supposed to like. Unfortunately, deer like most of our natives because the evolved together. However, there is stuff they don't like that is also native. It just limits your plant palette. Note that sometimes deer don't like something is bc it's toxic so if you have pets that eat plants, be aware. I do a lot of work in Great falls va which is full of deer & still manage to create pretty spaces so I don't mean to sound discouraging.

My favorite resource for deer resistence is a Rutgers site. Can't link on phone but google "Rutgers deer resistence " and you will find it. You can search by common or botanic name.

Now, I'm biased when it comes to nurseries bc I own an independent nursery. I would really encourage you to seek out an independent nursery. They typically have a far better selection (lowes/hd just carry stuff in bloom in the season so unless you do repeated trips you'll only have 1 season of interest) and far more knowledgable staff that can also help with design decisions & such. I think bees go to plants that have been treated & they also go to non-natives. My oregano (non native) is beloved by native & non-native bees, for example.

This is kind of a brain dump...

[gardengal]

Reading fail. I see you're going to Indy nursery.

[nomad100]

Deer resistant plants are not always hybrids. Many times they are just plants that they don't usually like to eat. They have a bitter taste, the leaves are fuzzy, etc.

For example, they love tulips but (at least in my area) leave daffodils alone. Cone flowers are another one I see a lot of and Irises, lavender, and black eyed susans. I live in an area with A LOT of deer so will be tearing out my hostas next spring and replacing with native perennials. The deer have eaten those things down to the ground.

I found this website from Rutgers that has a way to search deer resistant plants (annuals, perennials, shrubs, etc.) This may be helpful.
njaes.rutgers.edu/deerresistance/

ETA:  gardengal  I love the Rutgers site and will be using it when planning my perennial gardens for next Spring.  While it isn't the same area/zone as me, it has lots of great info to help with my selections.

[gardengal]

Fwiw, some of my favorite natives (not nec my ecoregion, but still) are: carex pensylvanica, carex muskegensis 'oehme', amsonia (several species), packera aurea/senecio aurea, aster/eurybia diverticus, clethra alinifolia, sambucus canadensis, monarda (there's a few species), mountain mint (I forget the botanic. It's not actually mint but it's aggressive spreader. Fantastic for bees though!)...

I'm not using botanic names to be a douche, but things can go by multiple common so I'm doing it to be clear

[gardengal]

Sept 1, 2014 8:14:07 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

Deer resistant plants are not always hybrids. Many times they are just plants that they don't usually like to eat. They have a bitter taste, the leaves are fuzzy, etc.

For example, they love tulips but (at least in my area) leave daffodils alone. Cone flowers are another one I see a lot of and Irises, lavender, and black eyed susans. I live in an area with A LOT of deer so will be tearing out my hostas next spring and replacing with native perennials. The deer have eaten those things down to the ground.

I found this website from Rutgers that has a way to search deer resistant plants (annuals, perennials, shrubs, etc.) This may be helpful.
njaes.rutgers.edu/deerresistance/

Tulip flowers are edible (even for human apparently) while daffodils are toxic (to animals/humans)

OP, that's the website I was talking about. It's really great

[auntie]

Our 2 "Friends of the Local Park" organizations do native plants sales as their primary fundraiser.

Deer resistant typically means the plant is something most deer won't eat if they have other options. My deer will eat damned near anything- the bastards ate the deer resistant day lilies I had planted on my front step.

I bought a bunch of stuff at Lowe's this spring on sale. The bees and butterflies have been all over it.

[ESF]

Sept 1, 2014 7:29:10 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Aug 31, 2014 23:37:43 GMT -5 ESF said:

I don't know the specifics, but I'm fairly certain that the state gives tax breaks to homeowners who replace their water-sucking plants with native plants.

What's this, you say?

California lets you get a rebate or a credit or something for fixing your lawn so it doesn't require water.  They've been pushing it hard lately due to the drought.  I don't think there's a federal equivalent.