Native gardeners in the southeastern US

[fldiver97]

I know we have a lot of gardeners on the site.
I am very interested in native plants and curious if anyone has same interests. I moved to Tennessee 3 years ago, left my old house and property with a big native garden.
Now I had to start from scratch again and it feels like it’s taking forever. The property had to be cleared from a lot of trash, building materials etc. I am working on an area that sometimes gets flooded a little. I have expanded it a bit at a time.
Just had a lot of invasive privet cleared (yea, right…… it’s hard to eradicate) and want to plant some native shrubs and some native persimmons and paw paw trees.

 

[LoveClockwise]

I'm not from the Southeastern US, but definitely interested in native plants! I think this thread is a good idea. Good luck on your new garden!

 

[FunClucks]

Have you checked out Wild Ones? It's a group of folks interested in this topic. I think they have a website.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I was going to recommend Pollinator Pathways, but I’m looking at their site and not seeing a sub-site for Tennessee.

 

[fldiver97]

Have you checked out Wild Ones? It's a group of folks interested in this topic. I think they have a website.

I went to Chattanooga a couple of years ago, they had a native plant sale and folks from Wild Ones were there. Good group ! One of the issues purchasing small native starters is cost and often selection.
I know I can start from seeds and I have seeded every year but many of the seeds are eaten by the large number of birds coming in the yard. Plus …. It takes a while for some plants and a few need years to grow (I think shooting star was one I had in the woodsy part of the yard in Wisconsin and there were a few others that took a while)
After spending a lot of money on my last conversion of all grass to mostly native plants and shrubs and trees I started posting in our neighborhood online site that I had plants to share. I let people bring pots and soil and gave them some of what I divided or had to clear every year or two. I was happy that others planted natives and they were happy to get plants for free

 

[VaDutch]

I got a mulberry tree, some witch hazel, and an elderberry plant from a local native nursey last year but I forgot their name. If I see them at any Farmers Markets or events this spring I will remember the name and let you know. I am in the same state as you. Id also like to plant some paw paw trees in future.

 

[BoundlessLove]

The Nature Center in Chattanooga has a native plants sale twice a year. Arrive early because it can get crowded.

 

[Rillowen]

I know we have a lot of gardeners on the site.
I am very interested in native plants and curious if anyone has same interests. I moved to Tennessee 3 years ago, left my old house and property with a big native garden.
Now I had to start from scratch again and it feels like it’s taking forever. The property had to be cleared from a lot of trash, building materials etc. I am working on an area that sometimes gets flooded a little. I have expanded it a bit at a time.
Just had a lot of invasive privet cleared (yea, right…… it’s hard to eradicate) and want to plant some native shrubs and some native persimmons and paw paw trees.

I would be planting Youpon Holly! I loves water, is aggressive enough to out compete the privet, yet doesnt spread, is a pretty shrub that can be trained, good for pollinators and birds(native to S USA) and as a bonus: free green tea (its a cousin of Yerba Matte) !!! I have been trying to get some myself, but in MO I'm at the very edge of its range, and it will probably die if it isn't a native version. I just have to find it i guess!