Landscape Spotlight: Small Lot Native Plants

Perennial border from left side

I wrote last week about building back diversity into our residential landscapes. With increasingly smaller lots, some folks might think they don’t have room to do it. Or people think their HOA won’t allow using native plants. Well, let me introduce you to my friend, Lynn. Her yard is a showcase that proves both of those assumptions to be wrong.

Almost four years ago, Lynn and her husband Bob downsized from a large and mature garden filled with native plants to a home in a community with single, detached homes; a lot size of .21 acres; and an arrangement where lawns are mowed for everyone by a community-arranged service.

It wasn’t smooth sailing at first. 

Their house backs up to a sunny slope that runs down to a wooded, natural area. First ideas included seeding a native meadow on that slope. The HOA and the maintenance crew nixed that idea. After some negotiation, they now have a backyard composed of a gorgeous perennial border and a diverse collection of native trees and shrubs squeezed into just 50 feet (from patio to their property line). The maintenance crew still mows most of the slope, but the diversity she was able to artfully arrange is a tribute to her own design talents.

Perennial border from right side

Phlox carolina and Coreopsis major

Pussytoes, lyreleaf sage, sundrops, Georgia savory, and amsonia in the front

Natives are not limited to the back; the front garden consists of the two native oak trees that the community planted plus native shrubs and perennials (she replaced most of the shrubs provided by the builder). The 70-foot wide lot leaves just 10 feet on each side but those sides are put to good use. The shady side has an assortment of native ferns and perennials while the sunny side hosts native shrubs like beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’).

Shady side of the house

Clethra on the sunny side

American lady on milkweed

American lady caterpillar

Her garden provides host plants and nectar plants for butterflies and moths and plenty of insects and fruits for birds. Native trees that she's added include black gum (Nyssa sylvatica 'Wildfire'), serviceberry (Amelanchier), redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'), and more. There was a bird's nest in the coral honeysuckle vine. She has bird boxes, bird feeders, and hummingbird nectar as well. The garden was full of life while we were visiting. A stone patio and a screened porch provide plenty of places to watch the wildlife.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

Hydrangea quercifolia

Mixed in with the native plants are pots of herbs for cooking, favorite non-native perennials, and treasured plants from friends. And she's not done yet! Sheri and I brought her more plants, and we talked about things to add into the few spots still open. 

She is a passionate advocate for native plants in the garden. Neighbors have been recipients of her extras: scarlet beebalm and sundrops were blooming in their gardens too. Their patches of barren grass may one day bear more sprouts of her inspiration. I hope that some of you with small lots will be inspired too.

Dwarf iris, foamflower and herbs

What it could have looked like ...