Boost Your Mood and Landscape with Native and Low-Maintenance Plants
General
April is National Native Plant Month and to celebrate, we’re giving our beds and walkways a fresh look for spring. Whether you’re planting new trees around the pool, updating your planters on the front porch, or adding new plants to the vegetable garden, here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of native plants, and how to find native plant species for your location. We’ve also highlighted a few of our favorite low-maintenance indoor plants to help give your home or business—and your mood—an uplifting update this season.
Why are native plants so important?
Native plants are naturally found in your geographic region, so they’re more inclined to thrive in your soil and climate conditions. They’ve also evolved to resist local pests, and don’t invite new pests to take up residence. The wildlife in your region has evolved alongside these native plants, so local birds, butterflies, and small animals have come to rely on this vegetation for necessities like food and shelter.
Because they’re so well acclimated to their conditions, native trees and flower beds typically require less care and maintenance than exotic (non-native) species. That means less watering and fewer harmful chemicals being added to the soil.
How can I find native plant species for my area?
There are many websites available that will help you find and purchase native plant species for your area. Here’s an example native plant finder for everyone in the United States. Simply enter your zip code to find a list of flowers, grasses and trees that will support butterflies and local birds. Wherever you live, a simple online search will help you find resources for your local region
Enjoy nature in the shade
Create a comfortable, shady destination where you can gaze at the fruits of your labor and watch the butterflies gather. Tuuci parasols come in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes, with additional custom options to help you create a personal oasis. We’ll walk you through four easy steps to designing the perfect shady retreat in our online Shade Studio.
Hardy Indoor Plants for Every Black Thumb
There are many health benefits to adding greenery to your indoor spaces. In addition to enhancing indoor air quality, plants have been shown to improve mood, reduce stress and boost creativity—making them the perfect addition to any home or workplace. If nurturing plants isn’t your strong suit, here are a few low-maintenance houseplants that promise to thrive, even when they’re a bit neglected.
Aloe prefers indirect light, so you can add these plants almost anywhere and give them a good heavy watering every one to two weeks.
Jade Plants can go more than a month without water. Just place them in the full afternoon sun, and water when the soil feels dry.
String of Pearls grows into a wonderful trailing vine, so place it on the edge of a shelf or cabinet to give it room to run. You’ll need bright, indirect sunlight and water every one to two weeks.
Peace Lilies are perfect if you tend to over-water, and they aren’t terribly picky about sunlight levels. But with the right light, and maybe a steamy bathroom, they’ll give you white flowers throughout the year.
Pothos needs almost no light and won’t be phased by over- or under-watering. Its long vines make it a great hanging plant for adding height and a bit of drama.
Plants have tremendous health benefits for both people and our planet. Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist or a budding plant lover, these tips will help you fill indoor and outdoor spaces with invigorating, therapeutic greenery.