Blog
Learn about native species and ecological landscaping tips from a Minnesota Master Naturalist.
Native Groundcovers for Matrix Plantings
I’m highlighting my favorite groundcover plants that are native to central and northern Minnesota. While native populations may not be recorded in every single county, all these plant species are generally considered native throughout central and northern Minnesota. Many of them are also native to neighboring regions like northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. All can be grown in home gardens with relative ease, though I’ve noted special considerations, such as species that are aggressive growers.
Native Matrix Plantings for Monarchs
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) need our help! Once common across North America, monarch populations have collapsed due to the loss of milkweed and nectar-producing native plants. To preserve monarch populations, we need to add monarch-friendly native plants back into our landscapes. In this post, I’ll highlight three native matrix plantings (all 20’ x 10’) to support monarchs in various sun and soil conditions.
How to Design a Native Matrix Planting
Matrix plantings make fantastic bases for experimentation. The shapes of the landscape change over time and according to the seasons, creating continuous visual interest. They can be easily edited and the density of groundcover plants helps suppress weed growth. In this post, I’ll focus on how to design native matrix plantings for smaller gardens and landscapes.