Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Saturday - November 30, 2013
From: Naperville, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Wildlife Gardens, Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Wildlife and bird friendly hedgerow for Chicago suburb
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Want to plant a wildlife/bird friendly hedgerow in suburban Chicago. Looking for a recommended mix of understory trees as well a shrubs and grasses. Site is part shade with average to wet soil and transitions to a mature Oak/Hickory woodland. Length is 100' x 20'wide.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants suggests that you visit our Recommended Species page to choose Illinois from the map to find the Illinois Recommended list of commercially available native plants suitable for landscaping in your state. The list contains more than 170 species which include trees, shrubs, herbs, etc. You can limit the list by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option in the sidebar and choosing the type of plant you are interested in from General Appearance, Light Requirement, Soil Moisture, etc. Here are a few selections from this list:
Shrubs or Small Tree
Amorpha fruticosa (Indigo bush)
Cornus racemosa (Gray dogwood)
Rhus aromatica (Fragrant sumac)
Corylus americana (American hazelnut)
Vaccinium angustifolium (Late lowbush blueberry)
Grasses
Andropogon gerardii (Big bluestem)
Bouteloua curtipendula (Sideoats grama)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
You can find more possibilities by performing your own search in the Illinois Recommended list. On each species page you can scroll down the page to the BENEFIT section to see what wildlife makes use of the plant.
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Trees for home in Kansas
April 01, 2012 - I am needing help planting trees in my yard. It's a new construction home and I would like a tree that won't get into the septic system easily. Also, I have to plant 3 other trees as well due to the...
view the full question and answer
Removal of invasive non-native Chinese wisteria
September 10, 2007 - I am going to be removing my ubiquitous chinese wisteria very soon (the method I'm going to use is undetermined). If I decide to use Round-up on the cut-stem (which may take more than one application...
view the full question and answer
Distinguishing elm species from volunteers in yard
April 10, 2008 - What's the best way to distinguish young elm tree species apart from one another? We have a bunch coming up in our yard and we're trying to figure out if they are Winged, Cedar or American. Some of ...
view the full question and answer
Watering practices for live oaks in drought from New Braunfels TX
September 04, 2011 - We have conflicting info about watering live oaks. An arborist says to water now using soaker hoses or small sprinklers and a landscaper who spoke to our garden club said that after August is too late...
view the full question and answer
Norway Pine vs. Norway Spruce
April 28, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Is a Norway Pine the same species of tree as a Norway Spruce?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |