Digger Diaries | September-October Bringing Natives Home: How to Grow More Native Plants, Even When They’re Hard to Find

Jessica Russell Hilton
Sep 4
6 min read

Goldfinches love the seeds of Coneflowers. Photo Credit: Unsplash

If you’ve ever watched a tiger swallowtail butterfly dance across your yard or seen a goldfinch perch on a coneflower, you already know: native plants bring magic to the garden.

They’re more than just pretty faces. In recent years, researchers like Doug Tallamy have helped shine a spotlight on the essential role native plants play in supporting pollinators, birds, and the health of entire ecosystems. His Homegrown National Park movement explains how shockingly easy it is for any one of us to plant a living haven for wildlife.

Even better, it doesn’t take a thousand acres to make a difference. Whether you’ve got a yard, a patio, or just a windowbox, every native plant you add to your landscape is a step toward a healthier world.

Black-Eyed Susans are a reliable native in the Deep South and are prolific reseeders. Photo Credit: Gina McLean

So why aren’t we all growing more of them?

That’s the question. We all know native plants need delightfully little maintenance. They’re already adapted to our tough Southern summers. And they bring a beautiful parade of butterflies, bees, and birds right to our doorsteps.

The catch? Finding native plants in stores can be surprisingly tricky.

Where to Actually Find Native Plants for Your Garden

If you’ve ever walked into a big-box garden center and struggled to find a single native plant, you’re not alone. For decades, garden retail has prioritized showy annuals and exotic imports over the quiet powerhouses that evolved right here in our backyards.

The tide is turning, though. Across the deep South, more independent nurseries are adding native plants to their inventory—and some are going all-in.

Camp Creek Native Plants (based in New Albany, Mississippi) is one shining example. Their online nursery is a treasure trove of Southeastern natives, thoughtfully sourced and beautifully grown.

Local nurseries aren’t the only place to shop for natives. Increasingly, nonprofit community organizations are offering seasonal plant sales that feature native plants—like the Crosby Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi, and the Birmingham Botanical Garden, to name a few.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to check with your local cooperative extension service, garden club, or Master Gardeners. Groups like these often host native plant sales, or know who does.

Craving More Selection? Grow from Seed

Coneflower, asters, and black-eyed Susans are native garden mainstays, and rightfully so. But what if you’re looking for something less expected?

Asters are a reliable fall bloomer. Photo Credit: Unsplash

If you’re itching to bring even more diversity into your garden—or stretch your budget—consider growing native plants from seed! Not only does buying seeds allow you to shop a much broader range of species, it’s also deeply satisfying to raise a plant from the very start of its life. (As a bonus, you’ll quickly find that growing plants from seed is, by far, the most affordable way to fill your yard with beauty!)

Starting plants from seeds is easy if you provide the right soil and growing conditions. Photo Credit: Gina McLean

Two well-respected seed sources we love are:

• Wildseed Farms (based in Texas)

• Prairie Moon Nursery (based in Minnesota)

Both companies ethically source and carefully curate their native seed selections. You’ll find everything from wildflowers and grasses to trees and shrubs. They also provide generously detailed growing instructions, which are incredibly helpful.

Understanding Stratification: Nature’s Wake-Up Call

If you’re new to seed starting, there’s one important term to get familiar with: stratification. Many native seeds need a period of cold, moist conditions before they’ll germinate. This mimics the natural rhythm of falling to the ground in autumn and sprouting in spring.

That’s why fall is the perfect time to start planning your native seed project. Depending on the species, you can either:

Direct sow native plant seeds in the Fall. Photo Credit: Unsplash

• Direct-sow the seeds this fall and let nature handle the stratification for you, or

• Simulate it indoors by placing seeds in a moist medium in the fridge for several weeks or months, depending on their needs.

For the “moist medium,” make sure to use a lightweight, well-draining seed-starting mix. It’s too soon for regular garden soil or compost yet! Native seedlings appreciate that loose, airy texture as they get their start. Speaking of soil…

Prepping Soil for Native Plants

One of the joys of growing natives is that they’re often happy to grow in the conditions you already have—be it heavy clay, coastal sand, or loamy earth. In fact, many native species prefer leaner soil and may not need as much organic matter as we’re used to feeding our non-native ornamentals.

Loamate Soil Enricher inproves soil nutrients and structure so young roots can get established. Photo Credit: Gina McLean

That said, if you’re planting in dry, sandy ground or compacted clay or (hello, Deep South!), it can help to amend your soil to create more hospitable conditions. Penick Organics’ Loamate Soil Enricher will do just that. Whether you're dealing with slow-draining clay or fast-draining sand, Loamate improves structure and regulates moisture, making it easier for young roots to get established.

Bonus: If you’re interplanting natives with traditional ornamentals like roses or irises (both of which are moderate to heavy feeders), a little extra soil nutrition from Loamate won’t hurt one bit!

Unsure What Native Plant to Grow?

One place to start is the Native Plant Finder by the National Wildlife Federation. Simply enter your ZIP code, and you’ll get a list of the exact native plants that support the greatest number of species in your specific area!

Another guide we love for choosing the right native plants is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s lists of plants recommended for each state, based on how well they perform there. Click your state and discover tons of plant profiles, growing tips, and gorgeous inspiration tailored to the region where you live. For deep-south gardens in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas in Zones 8 and Zone 9, options abound!

One little reminder: Native plants and seeds aren’t magic!

Native plants are so hardy and adapted to our region, it’s easy to forget that, like any plant, they still have certain requirements. Just because a plant is native doesn’t mean it’s indestructible, or automatically the right choice for your intended location. It’s always best to follow the age-old advice: “right plant, right place.”

Milkweed is a favorite of Monarch butterflies. Photo Credit: Unsplash

You Don’t Need a Perfect Native Garden. You Just Need to Start!

No, you don’t need to tear out your entire landscape or say goodbye to your favorite hydrangeas. Nor does “growing natives” mean you have to turn your yard into a naturalistic landscape—unless you want to! Goldenrod, hyssop, woodland phlox and little bluestem look as beautiful in a meadow as they do when added with intention to a more formal bed design. Your planting style is your choice!

The simple fact is, every native plant you add enriches the nature around you. It’s amazing what can start with just a gentle shift—one milkweed, one aster, one goldenrod at a time.

Bees, wasps and butterflies love the bright yellow blooms of Goldenrod. Photo Credit: Unsplash

As you watch pollinators return, hear birdsong more often, and marvel at how much beauty can come from plants that have always belonged here, you’ll soon realize you’re not just growing a garden. You’re healing a little piece of the world.

Parting Gift: Our 10 Favorite Native Plants for Deep-South Gardens

Though biologists now say there’s hardly anything better we can do for native wildlife than to plant an oak tree—but we’ll share our favorite native trees and shrubs later. For now, perhaps one of our 10 favorite native ornamental flowers and grasses from this list will find its way into your garden.

For Full Sun

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Pollinator magnet, long bloom season

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Cheerful color, tolerates tough soil

Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Native grass, great for texture and nesting habitat

Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) – Low-growing and long-blooming