Native Plants!

By Niki Kenniff, Agriculture & Horticulture Program Assistant

There is much talk in the gardening world these days about native plants. We may know or have a vague idea of what they are, but why should we plant them?

Let’s start with a definition of ‘native plants’, which turns out is more complex than one might expect. The short answer is that a native plant is one that occurs naturally in the place where it evolved without human interaction.

The benefits of adding native plants to your gardens are many. Native plants are species that have existed in a region for thousands of years, typically long before European settlement. These plants have evolved with the local environment, adapting to the specific soils, climate, and biomes of the area. Native plants minimize water and fertilizer input after establishment, build habitats, support dynamic relationships with animals, provide erosion control, ground water recharge, and support a strong sense of place. Their adaptations make them suitable to the region’s temperatures and weather. 

The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners will be hosting the Annual Native Plant Sale again this spring. It will be held on Saturday, May 30th from 9 AM until 3 PM in the Open Pavilion at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper Street in Lawrence, Kansas. Last year, we sold nearly 10,000 plants! We are expecting a great turnout again this year.

Bloom Boxes contain fifteen total plants – 3 each of 5 different plants that share common growing conditions. The Bloom Boxes will be available for presale starting on May 1st, at 8 AM until May 29th, or while supplies last. This year’s Bloom Box offerings include; “Bloom Baby Bloom”- all season, long blooming plants, “Easy Does It”- easy plants for beginners, “Sensational Sizzlers”- drought/heat tolerant, “Humming Along”- hummingbird-attractant, “Milkweed 'n Feed”- butterfly life-cycle sustaining, and “Short 'n Sweet” -short, well-behaved plants. 

New for 2026! Dr. Sharon Ashworth, Horticulture and Natural Resources Agent at the K-State Extension Office, will give a one-hour educational talk on the benefits of native plants on Thursday, May 28th from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM in the Dreher North Room at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.