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The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants
Midwestern gardeners and landscapers are becoming increasingly attracted to noninvasive regional native wildflowers and plants over popular nonnative species. The Midwestern Native Garden offers viable alternatives to both amateurs and professionals, whether they are considering adding a few native plants or intending to go native all the way. Native plants improve air and water quality, reduce use of pesticides, and provide vital food and reproductive sites to birds and butterflies, that nonnative plants cannot offer, helping bring back a healthy ecosystem. The authors provide a comprehensive selection of native alternatives that look similar or even identical to a range of nonnative ornamentals. These are native plants that are suitable for all garden styles, bloom during the same season, and have the same cultivation requirements as their nonnative counterparts. Plant entries are accompanied by nature notes setting out the specific birds and butterflies the native plants attract. The Midwestern Native Garden will be a welcome guide to gardeners whose styles range from formal to naturalistic but who want to create an authentic sense of place, with regional natives. The beauty, hardiness, and easy maintenance of native Midwestern plants will soon make them the new favorites.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 15, 2015
Feb 2013
This book is AMAZINGLY helpful in showing what plants you have, and what you might plant that is similar and ALSO native to the midwest. The book is divided by seasons. What I liked best was the information on what bees, moths, butterflies, birds and wild life each plant attracts. I had to read the half page about goldenrod to my husband- it is astounding!!
Working with this book along side my Prarie Moon Catalog, I have decided on some native plants to add to several existing flower beds. With so many choices, all unfamiliar, I had to narrow my focus for this year. I decided to go with plants that butterflies like. I had to measure and draw out my flowerbeds on paper, indicate which were shade or sun, dry or wet. Then I narrowed the choices to plants that come either as plants or roots from the catalog, or as seeds I can plant without "stratification" (giving them a period of cold in the fridge).
I'm a person who is able to compromise and accept changes, so I am just going to start planting natives, but also enjoy the other plants I already have. Even if all they do is look pretty, that's OK! Now, I can't wait for the butterflies!!!!
Initial reaction:I started looking at this tonight- just picked it from the new books shelf at the library. It caught my eye because I bought 4 kinds of native plants from a catalog this spring.
At first look, I am just feeling like such a failure. I think of myself as a gardener and friend of wildlife, but what have I planted? Mostly aliens!
I just never realized that these plants originated in other countries and they are just not inviting or helpful to our local insects and birds. And I'm 60 with a bad back, and it may be too late for me to repair the damage I have unintentionally done.
Those poor birds, looking down, trying to find something to eat, a place to live. I imagined them being so pleased with the yard I have worked on for 20 years.
I feel like I did when I realized toilet paper is made from virgin timber. Horrified! What a waste of good trees!
I am just amazed we are not all dead from our ignorance of how to preserve the environment.
OK, I'm recovering from my initial shock and am planning on asking for this book for Christmas. It is way too detailed for me to remember everything. Combining this book with my Prairie Moon Nursery catalog, perhaps I can pick a few natives to integrate. Some is better than none, and maybe I will live another 20 years so I can make a difference to wildlife. 10-12-12
This book is AMAZINGLY helpful in showing what plants you have, and what you might plant that is similar and ALSO native to the midwest. The book is divided by seasons. What I liked best was the information on what bees, moths, butterflies, birds and wild life each plant attracts. I had to read the half page about goldenrod to my husband- it is astounding!!
Working with this book along side my Prarie Moon Catalog, I have decided on some native plants to add to several existing flower beds. With so many choices, all unfamiliar, I had to narrow my focus for this year. I decided to go with plants that butterflies like. I had to measure and draw out my flowerbeds on paper, indicate which were shade or sun, dry or wet. Then I narrowed the choices to plants that come either as plants or roots from the catalog, or as seeds I can plant without "stratification" (giving them a period of cold in the fridge).
I'm a person who is able to compromise and accept changes, so I am just going to start planting natives, but also enjoy the other plants I already have. Even if all they do is look pretty, that's OK! Now, I can't wait for the butterflies!!!!
Initial reaction:I started looking at this tonight- just picked it from the new books shelf at the library. It caught my eye because I bought 4 kinds of native plants from a catalog this spring.
At first look, I am just feeling like such a failure. I think of myself as a gardener and friend of wildlife, but what have I planted? Mostly aliens!
I just never realized that these plants originated in other countries and they are just not inviting or helpful to our local insects and birds. And I'm 60 with a bad back, and it may be too late for me to repair the damage I have unintentionally done.
Those poor birds, looking down, trying to find something to eat, a place to live. I imagined them being so pleased with the yard I have worked on for 20 years.
I feel like I did when I realized toilet paper is made from virgin timber. Horrified! What a waste of good trees!
I am just amazed we are not all dead from our ignorance of how to preserve the environment.
OK, I'm recovering from my initial shock and am planning on asking for this book for Christmas. It is way too detailed for me to remember everything. Combining this book with my Prairie Moon Nursery catalog, perhaps I can pick a few natives to integrate. Some is better than none, and maybe I will live another 20 years so I can make a difference to wildlife. 10-12-12
May 29, 2017
It's taken me a while, but I've finally figured out what bothers me about this book: its organization.
The author seems to have assumed that the reader knows what they like (hostas, tulips, vinca, etc.) and has decided to replace them with native plants. Consequently, the reader can look up the plant to be replaced and find alternatives. If, however, the reader is looking for a summer flowering groundcover, they have to first look up the non-native versions (sorted by common name and season of bloom) to see what is being recommended as a replacement.
Despite many beautiful illustrations of flowers, the page layout is maddening. Illustrations of varying sizes are scattered all over the pages, with the text weaving around them in response. I find it rather difficult to tell when one entry stops and the next begins.
The alphabetical sorting of non-native plants by common name is also frustrating. Will it be called periwinkle or vinca? Will it be listed under its adjective (woodland, European, tall) or by its noun (aster, iris, goldenrod). The only way I can reliably find a specific plant is to first look in the index.
The organizational problems of this book are a real shame, because the content is great! Unfortunately, all but the most dedicated are likely to find this book frustrating and give up on it.
I'd love to see the same content in a new, completely reorganized book.
The author seems to have assumed that the reader knows what they like (hostas, tulips, vinca, etc.) and has decided to replace them with native plants. Consequently, the reader can look up the plant to be replaced and find alternatives. If, however, the reader is looking for a summer flowering groundcover, they have to first look up the non-native versions (sorted by common name and season of bloom) to see what is being recommended as a replacement.
Despite many beautiful illustrations of flowers, the page layout is maddening. Illustrations of varying sizes are scattered all over the pages, with the text weaving around them in response. I find it rather difficult to tell when one entry stops and the next begins.
The alphabetical sorting of non-native plants by common name is also frustrating. Will it be called periwinkle or vinca? Will it be listed under its adjective (woodland, European, tall) or by its noun (aster, iris, goldenrod). The only way I can reliably find a specific plant is to first look in the index.
The organizational problems of this book are a real shame, because the content is great! Unfortunately, all but the most dedicated are likely to find this book frustrating and give up on it.
I'd love to see the same content in a new, completely reorganized book.
February 19, 2021
The content of this book is phenomenal but I do echo what others have said about the non-intuitive structure and page layouts. An excellent resource for someone who has an established garden or has a base knowledge of flowers, but I can see that it would be confusing for someone just starting out. I kept my own separate index to keep track and have a future research and planting list.
August 31, 2016
Of the three books, this one is the only one specific to native plant gardening in the Midwest and so I was the most interested in it from the start. However, the organization is nonintuitive and frustrating. The subtitle reads "native alternatives to nonnative flowers and plants" and this is how the book is organized. First it is organized by season, then alphabetically by nonnative plant. Each nonnative plant is described and then native alternatives are offered. This means that one native may be referenced at several different points in the book but it is hard to find the primary reference with the most information. I found myself searching using the index rather than just browsing because the layout was so confusing. I suppose this could work well for someone who has been gardening with nonnatives for a long time and is looking to replace them with native plants. It's a shame the organization is so odd because the information itself is quite good and includes great information about different species of birds and butterflies that are attracted to different plants.
January 12, 2012
Who those of you who can't understand why your new plants always seem to be suffering, (or die), and for those who wonder why destructive pests out number the butterflies you so desire, this is the book for you.
The use of native plants ensures that what you've planted will actually thrive in your area. Native plant support the local birds, insects, and of course, those butterflies. Additionally, the improve air and water quality, reduce the need for pesticides, and provide vital food and reproductive sites for birds and insects.
The authors lay the information out by identifying those plants that are commonly found, but are not native to the Midwest. Then they offer substitutes and explain their beneficial qualities including what such plants might attract. The book contains numerous photographs of plants, birds, insects and other creatures so identification is made simple.
The use of native plants ensures that what you've planted will actually thrive in your area. Native plant support the local birds, insects, and of course, those butterflies. Additionally, the improve air and water quality, reduce the need for pesticides, and provide vital food and reproductive sites for birds and insects.
The authors lay the information out by identifying those plants that are commonly found, but are not native to the Midwest. Then they offer substitutes and explain their beneficial qualities including what such plants might attract. The book contains numerous photographs of plants, birds, insects and other creatures so identification is made simple.
November 27, 2019
This book has a wealth of information, but good luck finding what you need. The layout and organization are so chaotic I found it virtually impossible to read. The book assumes that your starting point for selecting natives plants is with an exotic in mind first. Images seem to be tossed on the page without any thought to layout or organization, making each sheet so different from the last that you have to get your bearings on every page.
Maybe useful to the master gardener who has a history with non-native plants, but useless to a native plant enthusiast.
Maybe useful to the master gardener who has a history with non-native plants, but useless to a native plant enthusiast.
March 28, 2018
Must-have resource book.
August 21, 2022
This is an amazing guide if you are passionate about doing a native plant garden and looking to learn more about native plants. I discovered so many beauties I absolutely HAD to add to my garden. Bottle gentian, Bride’s Feathers, Blazing Star, purple prairie clover, violet woodsorrel, swamp hibiscus….and the show stopper Queen of the Prairie.
The alternatives sometimes didn’t make sense to me, such as listing the native version of a plant after the alien version, when they have the same name and look very much alike. It’s hard to tell if the plant you are purchasing is the native version, so I would probably just avoid getting that plant, and also sometimes they cross pollinate and hybridize. That was the confusing part. I’ll probably just avoid larkspur and sedum, for example.
The alternatives sometimes didn’t make sense to me, such as listing the native version of a plant after the alien version, when they have the same name and look very much alike. It’s hard to tell if the plant you are purchasing is the native version, so I would probably just avoid getting that plant, and also sometimes they cross pollinate and hybridize. That was the confusing part. I’ll probably just avoid larkspur and sedum, for example.
November 9, 2018
The primary function of this useful book is clearly stated in the title so if you live in the Midwest and want to replace your nonnative (perhaps invasive) plants, The Midwestern Native Garden is tailor made for you. The dense and detailed information is organized in an atypical manner so check out a library copy before buying. Since I discovered the book, I have borrowed it and the companion volume repeatedly so I finally decided to buy both.
Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees: Gardening Alternatives to Nonnative Species is the companion volume.
Both books are illustrated, predominately with photos.
Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees: Gardening Alternatives to Nonnative Species is the companion volume.
Both books are illustrated, predominately with photos.
May 11, 2021
The perfect book to bring on walks in the spring! I can identify so many more wildflowers because of this book. The only downside: some of your favorite spring flowers turn out to be invasive species.
September 9, 2025
Honestly I think if I sat down with the author and she explained her thought process and organization for this book I would appreciate it more. Lots of great info but takes some effort to figure out how to find what you are looking for.
May 2, 2022
Great source if your looking for alternatives for non-native plants. I do wish there was a section that just gave information on just the native plants in alphabetical order though.
January 24, 2014
This is a very good for for those who would like to learn more about native wildflowers. We are becoming increasingly aware how the decline in native species is harmful for certain insects and animals and this book can help show how incorporating natives can be done without looking "weedy" if done right in the design of your garden. It gives a list of non-natives (which can be surprising) and native alternatives. Some plants look like they might be native but are just "naturalized" imports. Also, some plants (ex. geranium or iris) may have some native and non-native species. You need to do some homework to know which of these you have. Moreover, the index lists plants in a way so you can tell if it is a non-native or not. I know that the awareness of natives is becoming increasingly important and I recommend it to anyone who wants to contribute to the environment.
April 5, 2016
A very useful collection of alternatives to non-native plants, arranged by season of bloom. So, in Spring you find a listing of daffodils and bleeding hearts and all those other plants we're accustomed to see blooming, along with features of the non-native plants. After that you get suggested alternatives that have similar characteristics (similar size, conditions, bloom time) but are native to the Midwest. Often the differences are slight like using a wild variety of a geranium or hyacinth instead of the imported Eurasian variety. What's kind of depressing is realizing just how many of the common plants in our gardens are not native and won't necessarily support native wildlife.
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August 14, 2016Charlotte Adelman, AB'59, JD'62
Coauthor
From our pages (Jan–Feb/12): "Illinoisans Charlotte Adelman and her husband recommend ways to incorporate native Midwest flora, such as butterfly milkweed and tall prairie grasses, into local gardens. Nonnative plants threaten indigenous ones and the wildlife that depend on them. Because some gardeners like the look of the nonnative plants, the authors suggest native flowers that look similar to invasive species, or grow at similar rates, to replace them."
Coauthor
From our pages (Jan–Feb/12): "Illinoisans Charlotte Adelman and her husband recommend ways to incorporate native Midwest flora, such as butterfly milkweed and tall prairie grasses, into local gardens. Nonnative plants threaten indigenous ones and the wildlife that depend on them. Because some gardeners like the look of the nonnative plants, the authors suggest native flowers that look similar to invasive species, or grow at similar rates, to replace them."
December 1, 2015
This is a reference book for gardeners. It talks about the plants that appear in most gardens and tell the native replacement for it.
Chapters are the seasons and it discusses what you can expect in each season.
Native plants are hosts and food sources and places where insects lay eggs.
The purpose of reading this book was to mentally check off what should/sould be replaced in my garden beds to attract more bees, butterflies, hummingbirds - in general more pollinators.
I will be referring back to this book every season for the next couple of years.
Chapters are the seasons and it discusses what you can expect in each season.
Native plants are hosts and food sources and places where insects lay eggs.
The purpose of reading this book was to mentally check off what should/sould be replaced in my garden beds to attract more bees, butterflies, hummingbirds - in general more pollinators.
I will be referring back to this book every season for the next couple of years.
March 23, 2016
This one has a great premise but a difficult layout.
It's divided by seasons and then by non-native plants with their native counterparts.
We were looking more for something to help us determine if said native plant would do well in said conditions, like shady backyard.
This one requires the leap of knowing what non-natives work and then looking for native substitutions.
It's divided by seasons and then by non-native plants with their native counterparts.
We were looking more for something to help us determine if said native plant would do well in said conditions, like shady backyard.
This one requires the leap of knowing what non-natives work and then looking for native substitutions.
September 14, 2012
This belongs on any native gardeners bookshelf.
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August 25, 2017I found this book to be really informative. It's kind of a reference book rather than a how-to. The only thing i found a bit annoying? :) was that nonnative plants were listed in red as if you were doing something wrong by planting them. Kind of like certain poisons or god forbid banned books!! :)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews