A Native Container Garden on Your Patio

You may know that native plants have a positive impact on the environment, while non-native species can harm insects, birds, and the greater ecosystem. But maybe you live in an apartment, townhouse, or senior living community with no yard or patch of ground to call your own. What can you do to promote native plants and, in turn, their pollinators? Actually, with a native container garden, you can do quite a lot!

If you have a balcony, patio, deck, or even just a window for a window box, you can create your own native container garden to provide nectar for bees, birds, butterflies, and other insects. And when they drop in for a meal, those pollinators will return the favor by fertilizing your flowers to proliferate those native species as well as keep you connected with nature.

So, what is a native plant?

A native plant is one that has existed in and has been part of the area’s ecosystem for centuries. Since they’ve already adapted to the climate and physical conditions of that area, these plants require less water and fertilizer than their non-native counterparts.

Unfortunately, many of the plants you commonly see in people’s yards and even in big-box garden centers are not native to the area. Over time, these non-native plants can become invasive and displace natives, destroying habitats, causing pollinator populations to decline, and overall upsetting the area’s ecosystem.

Which native plants can be grown in pots?

Just about any native plant you can grow in the ground can be planted in a pot. You just have to pay attention to how large the plant will get. While some small shrubs and trees will work in very large pots (and the branches can provide overwintering habitat for small fauna), eventually they’ll need to be transplanted in the ground. Same goes for large perennials like sunflowers. A good rule of thumb is to keep plants you grow in pots and other containers to a maximum of about two feet tall .

You can use a single species in each pot or mix plants with similar light and soil requirements. When combining plants in a pot, gardening experts suggest including a thriller (a tall, distinctive plant that attracts attention), a filler (something that mounds and fills up the empty spaces) and a spiller (a trailing plant that spills over the sides).

Benefits all year long

While your native container garden will burst with life from the spring into the early fall, its contributions to the ecosystem continue throughout the year. In the fall, dried seed heads on your plants offer sustenance in the winter for birds and shelter for insects under fallen leaves in your containers. Come spring, birds can scavenge your pots for dried stems to build nests and pollinators coming out of hibernation can look for food.

In the spring and summer, pollinators begin to enjoy nectar from flowering plants and, in the process, start spreading pollen for fertilization. The saucers under your plants can even provide a water source for birds and other animals.

Related: Natives Benefit You and Your Environment

Tips for growing a potted native garden

• Some native flowers may not be as vivid and showy as the non-natives you may be accustomed to. For some plants, you may find that you enjoy the foliage as much as or more than the flowers. Rather than focusing simply on how showy a flower is, adjust your priorities and choose native plants based on the pollinators they may attract or the caterpillars they may host .
• Of course, native plants vary by location. Find a listing of plants native to your area to ensure you’re fulfilling your positive purposes. One helpful source is The Native Plant Finder from the National Wildlife Federation. A web search will turn up sources especially for your area, including from state government or nonprofit organizations.
• The best time to plant is about six weeks before the first frost. Not only is it cooler and easier to plant then, but your new plants will require less maintenance and you’ll also be helping pollinating birds and insects find food during the winter. They may not seem to thrive above the soil, but they can begin to establish their roots. You can plant your pots in early spring, too.
• Locate each pot in a location suitable for its resident plants – in sun or in shade, for example.
• Make sure the pots or containers you use are generously sized. According to horticulturalist and landscape design consultant Claire Jones, your pot should be at least 15 inches deep and 19 inches wide “to give your plants a good soil run.” Large pots also require you to water less frequently. You’ll need plenty of drainage holes in the pot, too. After your plant gets established, check to be sure the roots aren’t blocking the drainage holes.
• While you’ll want to remove dead foliage from your plants, avoid deadheading your flowers . Gardeners recommend deadheading (removing faded flowers) for many ornamentals, but in this case, you want to keep flowers as they fade so that they produce seeds. These seeds will both feed the birds as well as be dispersed to spread to other areas.
• You may be able to transplant wild native plants into your pots – if the new growing conditions are the same and if you have permission from the landowner (public lands usually have regulations against that). You can also plant natives from seed or purchase a plant from a reputable nursery.
• In the winter, potted plants are more vulnerable to the cold than those planted in the ground. Protect your native container garden from the weather either in a sheltered outdoor spot or shielded with leaves or blankets. You can also give some plants extra warmth with a string of holiday lights! Just remember to uncover plants or remove lights when the weather warms up. Also, avoid overwatering your plants when they are dormant as it can cause rotting.

When your native container garden is teeming with birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators in the spring, you’ll feel proud of the part you played in supporting your little part of the natural world.

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