Are you interested in finding plants for your landscape that easily reproduce from seed? Perhaps plants that are beneficial for wildlife create a natural look and cover a lot of ground? How would you recognize a seedling of one of these species? In this article, we will look at a dozen species of native plants — including trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers — that germinate naturally, transplant easily when small, fill in your landscape or garden with beauty, are easy to care for and are low to moderate water users.

 

Trees:

Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

This lovely drought tolerant native is not a true willow, but the long, narrow leaves are similar enough to willows to inspire the common name. The lovely, ruffled flowers come in a variety of colors from white to pink to deep burgundy and attract hummingbirds and a wide variety of other pollinators. This tree can range from 12 to 20 feet tall and wide and is appreciated for its dramatic sculptural form, with curvy branching that creates a sinuous feel. Often multi-trunked, its signature orchid-like flowers appear in abundance in spring and frequently repeat throughout the warmer months. With careful proper pruning, this tree is a lovely addition to any landscape, casting light shade and requiring only monthly deep watering after several years of establishment.

 

Unless you have a seedless cultivar, this plant produces a prodigious amount of narrow, elongated seed pods resembling thin, dried bean pods. It will germinate in poor soil, gravel or crusher fine mulches — or anywhere the seed catches and gets the moisture and light it needs. A deep-rooted species, this native transplants easily when tiny, within the first couple of years of growth. After that, the deep roots can be damaged by digging. Recognize young plants by the narrow leaves that look like miniature versions of the mature leaves, usually a single vertical stem a few inches tall when you first notice it. It is easy to gather seeds and grow in containers.

New Mexico Olive (Forestiera neomexicana/Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens)

Sometimes also called New Mexico privet, this native bosque understory plant is neither an olive nor a privet. Common names often refer to an aspect of the plant that reminds people of a familiar landscape plant. Some folks prune this plant severely to resemble privet hedges, though that is not recommended. Usually multi-trunked, this plant hovers between large shrub and small tree, growing from 10 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide. It is happy in full sun to moderate shade, and the female plant produces small purplish berries that are beloved by many birds. The birds deposit the seeds with their natural fertilizer, and you will find transplantable volunteers scattered throughout the landscape. The pale rounded green leaves look like tiny versions of the parent plant. The early, almost inconspicuous flowers born before the leaves emerge are visited by many species of bees. If the tree has eggs of the cabbage looper (the early white butterfly flitting about the garden), which produce tiny inchworm caterpillars, you may see delighted flocks of tiny bushtits swarming in for the buffet. These lovely birds feast on the caterpillars before much leaf damage occurs, making your habitat garden functional and educational.

 

Shrubs:

Three Leaf Sumac (Rhus trilobata)

This native shrub is a wonderful habitat plant. The early, almost inconspicuous greenish yellow flowers come early, giving bees a good source of nectar and pollen. Later, small, berry-like fuzzy fruits ripen, much to the pleasure of the spotted towhee, who will dance and stomp under this shrub, feasting on the fallen fruit. The fruit has a lemony flavor and can be used to make a flavored drink or a great seasoning for grilled trout. Widely branching, this very low water use shrub can grow from 3 to 10 feet tall and wide but can be pruned to keep it on the smaller side. The autumn color ranges from yellow to orange to red and is a great addition to any landscape. The dense branching provides cover from raptors and roadrunners hunting for small birds. The fallen or bird-deposited seeds germinate easily, the three-lobed leaf is easily recognizable, and the seedlings transplant well.

 

 

Golden Currant (Ribes aureaum)

Golden currant is named for the beautiful golden flowers that bear a slightly spicy clove like fragrance and are visited by many pollinators. The delicious fruits ripen to a shiny blackish purple and are a favorite of birds and humans fresh off the plant or made into jam, jelly or syrup. This is a wonderful native shrub. Found in riparian areas, it needs moderate water to thrive and full sun to part shade. The prodigious berries produce many seedlings to transplant around the garden. It can be pruned to create a fuller shape and usually grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.

 

Grasses:

 

Many of our native grasses are prolific seeders, producing volunteers that transplant easily.

 

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).

This is an upright clump-forming grass that ranges from shades of green to blue-gray during the growing season and beautiful reds and russet colors in fall. A warm season, drought tolerant grass, it is at home in masses, in a meadow or as an individual accent, punctuating the landscape with its strong, vertical form. It produces fluffy, silvery seed heads in the late summer to early fall. These seeds are fabulous light catchers, and this robust grass is spectacular when the seeds are backlit by the rising or setting sun. It is a host plant for native skipper butterflies, and songbirds enjoy the seeds. Best in full sun.

 

Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

This lovely, clump-forming, self-seeding, drought tolerant native grass is well known for its signature curling seed head that begins with an eyebrow shape and curls to a circle as it dries. This grass is often used as a native lawn mixed with buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) and mowed for a turflike appearance, but the real benefit is to let this grass grow naturally, its deep roots penetrating the soil while the top of the grass goes to beautiful seed and provides habitat for native bees and butterflies. You will notice pollinator activity during the flowering season for this grass. Great in a meadow, as a specimen in a rock garden or tucked among wildflowers.

 

 

Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides)

This striking native loves hot, dry, sandy soil found in west side neighborhoods. It has tiny, gluten free seeds that were a staple food for Indigenous peoples in the Southwest. The thin, wiry leaves grow 1 to 2 feet tall. They are sage green and are topped by ivory colored seed heads that appear in early summer. Another clump-forming grass, it is grown for its durability and lovely seedheads that are beautiful in dried arrangements. A natural food source for wildlife, as well as attracting birds and butterflies, it is the larval host of skipper butterflies.

 

Flowers:

 

So many of our wildflowers produce seeds that volunteer easily in the right location. For ease of growth and transplanting, we will look at a few species that have many benefits to offer.

 

 

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).

This perennial delight grows in full sun to part shade and looks its best with moderate water. Beloved by bees and butterflies, the purple/pink petals and dark center cone are a striking form in any landscape or garden. Leave the seed heads through the winter and not only will seed eating birds have a source of nutrition, but you will be rewarded with volunteer seedlings that you can easily transplant in your garden. The small new plants look just like tiny versions of the mature ones.

 

 

Prairie Coneflower/ Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)

This tough, drought tolerant native perennial is known for the distinctive tall center seed cone and drooping flower petals that give it the common name of Mexican hat as it resembles a sombrero. It re-seeds readily, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. It attracts pollinators, with flowers that can be yellow, maroon or a combination of the two. It has a lengthy bloom time, and birds love the seeds. Growing to about a 1½ feet tall, it is at home in mixed meadows, flower beds and even container gardens.

 

 

 

Tickseed (Coreopsis)

This low maintenance wildflower comes in both perennial (Coreopsis) and annual (Plains coreopsis, C. tinctoria) forms. The perennial is a sturdy plant featuring bright yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom for a long time, attracting bees, butterflies and birds when it goes to seed. The tick-like shape of the seed gives it its common name. Plains coreopsis is airy and thinner than perennial coreopsis and has smaller flowers that are usually yellow around the margins, with red to burgundy in the center.

 

Large Flowered Beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflora)

A 2- to 4-foot-tall native perennial, this penstemon features large lavender to pink tubular flowers in late spring and early summer. It prefers well drained soil, even thrives in sandy soil, and attracts a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds and the checkerspot butterfly. Wonderful in meadows and prairies, this striking native also looks great when planted in masses as it produces smaller clumps than other large penstemons such as desert beardtongue or Palmers penstemon. The large flowered penstemon re-seeds easily, but like most penstemons, needs to be seeded in the fall for natural cold stratification. The leaves are rounded and a rich blue-grey color.

 

 

Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)

This sky blue, delicate looking wildflower is actually quite tough. It blooms profusely on thin, airy stems in spring to mid-summer. The flowers open in the morning and close by the afternoon. It prefers poor, well-drained soil and is very drought tolerant once established. It is usually a short-lived perennial, with each plant lasting perhaps several years in the landscape, but it is a prolific producer of seeds and, if the conditions are conducive, it naturalizes in large, shimmering swaths, with the rounded petals giving a satin sheen effect. It is to be fond of sprouting in decomposed granite or crusher fine mulches.

 

Learn more here:

Recipe for a High Desert Meadow

Food Forests: A prehistoric agroecosystem for your backyard.

Ornamental Grasses: How and When to Use Them