Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit
Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit
Premium native (Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit) is a keystone Midwest native species highly prized by restoration ecologists, landscape architects, and home gardeners. Known for its strong ecological resilience, exceptional wildlife support, and a floristic C-Value of 5, this hardy perennial thrives in full sun across dry to mesic soils. Whether you are creating a dedicated pollinator garden, stabilizing soil on slopes, or restoring remnant prairie and woodland acreage, Natural Communities supplies this species in dependable formats—including deep-cell live plugs, bare-root stock, individual seed packets, and bulk Pure Live Seed (PLS) by weight.
Comprehensive Ecological & Growth Specifications
| Botanical Name | Premium native |
| Alternate Common Names | Garden Kit Choose, Premium native |
| Regional Native Status | Native |
| Native Range (States) | AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV |
| Midwest & Regional County Distribution | IL: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, Kendall, Boone, Winnebago, DeKalb, LaSalle, Grundy; WI: Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Dane, Rock, Jefferson; IN: Lake, Porter, LaPorte |
| Primary Native Habitats | Mesic Prairies, Open Savannas, Prairie Borders |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | Zone 3 - 8 |
| Sunlight Exposure | Full Sun |
| Soil Moisture Range | Dry to Mesic |
| Soil pH Range | 5.5 - 7.5 |
| Height at Maturity | 2' - 5' |
| Spread & Growth Habit | Clumping / Well-Mannered (Non-aggressive) |
| Root Architecture & Depth | Deep Taproot System (18+ Depth) |
| Deer & Wildlife Resistance | High to Moderate |
| Drought Tolerance | Medium |
| Salt Tolerance | Low to Moderate |
| Larval Host Status | Specialist Native Pollinators & Beneficial Insects |
| Specialist Insects & Wildlife Support | Native Solitary Bees (Andrena, Lasioglossum spp.), Bumblebees (Bombus spp.), Songbirds (Winter Seed Forage), Beneficial Predatory Wasps |
| Ecological Function | High Drought & Heat Resilience, Erosion Control on Dry Slopes & Kames, Early/Late Pollinator Forage Hub, Root Biomass & Soil Structure Improvement |
| Coefficient of Conservatism (C-Value) | 5 |
| Germination Code / Stratification | C(30) |
| ACOE Wetland Indicator Status | FACU |
| Recommended Plug Spacing | 12 to 18 on-center |
| Plant Associates | Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem), Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower), Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot / Bee Balm), Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower), Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint), Sporobolus heterolepis (Northern Dropseed) |
| Seed Packet Coverage | Covers 100 to 250 sq. ft. |
| Seeds Per Pound | 100000.0 |
| Broadcast Seeding Rate (PLS) | 1.50 – 3.00 lbs/acre PLS |
| Toxicity & Pet Safety | Non-toxic / Safe for native wildlife & domestic pets |
Botanical Profile & Ecological Characteristics
Premium native plays a critical role in establishing healthy, diverse native plant communities throughout the Midwest. Adapted over thousands of years to regional climate patterns, seasonal temperature extremes, and variable moisture conditions, it develops a resilient root architecture (deep taproot system (18"+ depth)) that builds soil organic matter, improves water infiltration, and resists environmental stress.
Click Here to See Plants
Small Kit - Choose any 5 pint flats (50 pint plants total) and receive $50 off at check out!!!! Add any 5-pint flats to your cart and the discount automatically is applied at check out.
Large Kit - Choose any 10 pint flats (100 pint plants total) and receive $100 off at check out!!!! Add any 10-pint flats to your cart and the discount automatically is applied at check out.
Pints only come in flats of 10, all one species. Pint flats cannot be substituted or quantities changed.
We have some of the most sought-after native woodland flowers (and sedges) for the home woodland garden. Many of these are premium hard-to-find plants that we are providing in a larger more mature pint-size plant for better success right off the bat.
Faunal Associations & Specialist Wildlife Support
As a vital resource in native ecosystems, Premium native provides essential sustenance across multiple trophic levels:
- Larval Host & Pollinator Support: Specialist Native Pollinators & Beneficial Insects.
- Specialist Floral Visitors: Native Solitary Bees (Andrena, Lasioglossum spp.), Bumblebees (Bombus spp.), Songbirds (Winter Seed Forage), Beneficial Predatory Wasps.
- Avian & Insect Forage: Flowers provide dense, accessible nectar and pollen during the peak growing season, followed by nutritious seed heads that feed native songbirds and overwintering wildlife.
Native Plant Associates & Community Ecology
In authentic Midwestern habitats—such as Mesic Prairies, Open Savannas, Prairie Borders—Premium native naturally co-occurs and establishes balanced, biodiverse communities alongside:
- Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem)
- Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
- Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot / Bee Balm)
- Ratibida pinnata (Yellow Coneflower)
- Pycnanthemum virginianum (Common Mountain Mint)
- Sporobolus heterolepis (Northern Dropseed)
Landscape Applications & Restoration Guidelines
Premium native is well-suited for home landscaping borders, rain gardens, naturalized meadows, and conservation acreage alike.
- Plug Spacing: Space live plugs approximately 12" to 18" on-center for optimal crown development and contiguous ground coverage.
- Broadcast Seeding Rate: 1.50 – 3.00 lbs/acre PLS (when included in diverse prairie seed mixes).
- Regional Provenance: Sourced and propagated from regionally adapted Midwest ecotypes for maximum ecological fitness and cold hardiness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the ideal growing conditions for Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit?
Premium native performs best in full sun with dry to mesic conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.
How do I germinate and establish Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit from seed?
Seed of Premium native has a germination code of C(30). For best results, sow seed in late fall/winter for natural outdoor freeze-thaw stratification, or cold-moist stratify in refrigeration for 30 to 60 days before spring indoor propagation.
Is Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit deer and herbivore resistant?
Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.
When should I expect Choose Your Own Native Garden Kit to emerge and bloom?
Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
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