Plant Native Seeds in Autumn to Help Wildlife in Spring

By Jody Sackett, Rumson Environmental Commission

Native plants are essential to our ecology. Over centuries, they have evolved to thrive here in the local soil, water, and climate conditions of our coastal-inland area. Natives are hardy because they don’t need fertilizer or pesticides, and are drought and cold resistant. Plus, with their deep roots, native plants protect against soil erosion, which translates into fewer pollutants entering our beloved local rivers. While deer don’t like to eat them (luckily for gardeners), other wildlife need these essential native plants for shelter and food.

Our local wildlife evolved together with native plants to create important interdependent relationships, so that natives provide resources when wildlife needs them. Flowers will bloom just when the bees and butterflies need the nectar for food, and pollination is the insects’ thank-you gift. The leaves, twigs, and fall-ripening berries of Spicebush provide autumn food and cover for many birds and mammals. A champion native plant is the Red Oak (NJ’s state tree) which sustains the thousands of species that depend on it to survive. For example, in spring the oak leaves attract hungry caterpillars, which in turn attract birds because mama needs over 9,000 caterpillars to feed the babies in her nest. The same oak tree produces acorns in the fall just when squirrels and chipmunks are storing up food for the coming winter.

We can help wildlife and our environment by growing native plants. There are hundreds of varieties of native flowers, shrubs, and trees that thrive in our area. Cultivation can be as simple as just putting seeds in existing garden beds or empty patio pots. Homeowners have planted gardens filled with a wide assortment of natives, to ensure wildlife visits their yards year-round for food and cover. Since turf lawns provide little benefit to local insects and wildlife, other ambitious gardeners have transformed their underused side yards and property borders into lovely essential native gardens.

It’s fun to choose garden plantings from so many hardy and colorful options. Butterfly Weed produces pretty orange flowers to feed and host the threatened monarch butterflies, and grows happily in garden beds or porch pots. Hummingbirds and bees love nectar from purple coneflowers, red Bee Balm, and yellow black-eyed Susans. And evergreen Holly trees not only brighten winter yards but provide shelter and berries for migrating birds. Visit www.jerseyyards.org for lots of ideas and excellent information about choosing native plants.

The Rumson Environmental Commission, which just received an ANJEC award for its work in building local rain gardens with native plants, makes it easy and cheap for anyone to help here. They operate a year-round Seed Exchange in Rumson’s cherished Oceanic Free Library, and offer many kinds of free native seed packets for anyone interested. These seeds can be planted right now in the fall, so they’ll set roots before the winter hits, and be ready to sprout forth in springtime. Butterfly Weed, Purple Coneflower, Bee Balm, Black-Eyed Susan, Coreopsis, Cardinal Flower – all these beauties are stocked and available now to be planted in your autumn garden or just patio pots. Experienced local gardeners periodically donate seeds too, so it’s always interesting to see what new varieties have arrived. Visit the Library, grab some free seeds, and check out the Environmental Commission’s website at https://www.rumsonnj.org/env/native-seed-exchange.html for cultivation instructions and details. And thanks for helping the wildlife.