St. Louis

Printing note: This design was created to be 8.5″ x 14″ and the design pdf will print best on legal size paper.

Meet the Designers of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Native Garden Designs

Existing Site Conditions & Plant Communities

Phasing

Phase 1)

Front yard – Everything up against the house could be planted first to frame the front of the house. If the oak tree is not already present in the front yard, the oak tree & the redbud can be planted in this phase also to give them some time to establish. **Take care to not plant too close to the tree trunks, staying at least 4-5 feet away from the trunk at time of planting so as not to damage tree trunks or shallow roots. 

Phase 2)

Back yard – Plantings around the deck (glade, glade transition to woodland to the east, and upland woodland to the west) could be planted first to frame the existing gathering area and to bring wildlife activity closer to the house for you to see! 

Phase 3)

Back yard – Plantings in low-lying area could be planted next. If the oak is not already established here, then plant the oak first and wait to install these plantings until the oak tree is well established and shading this area of the yard as most of the plants in this corner prefer shadier conditions. 

Phase 4)

Back yard – Hardscapes (circular patio/fire-pit area) & pond-less water feature may be added at this time with the surrounding plantings to follow as soon as construction is complete (from the redbud to all plantings surrounding the water feature to approximately the southernmost vine on the east fence). Right after construction can be a great time to plant since you have a blank slate to work with. 

Phase 5) 

Front yard – Once more shade is established in the front yard by the oak tree & redbud, everything else may be planted. 

Phase 6)

Back yard – Once more shade is established in the back yard under the swamp white oak, everything else may be planted in this corner. 

Phase 7)

East & West sides of house – Aesthetically this is the lowest priority – Not very visible and not the most heavily used section of the yard, so this may be planted last. **Mulch or flagstones may be used for walking paths. 

Phase 8)

Turf replacement – Remaining turfgrass areas may be replaced with buffalograss or other native turf alternative to reduce watering, fertilizing, and mowing for a more sustainable lawn. 

Plant List

This list is inclusive of only the native plants in this specific native garden design. The list is meant to provide a basic preview of the beautiful and diverse plants featured in this design and serve as a reference tool when selecting plants at a nursery. (The list can be printed in two columns using landscape mode in your print settings.) More thorough information about each of these native plants can be found online at the Audubon, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and United States Department of Agriculture websites, all of which provide a wealth of native plant information including comprehensive North American native plant databases.

Alumroot by Susie Van de Riet

Alumroot(Heuchera richardsonii)

American Beautyberry by Eric Hunt

American Beautyberry(Callicarpa americana)

American Hazelnut by Superior National Forest

American Hazelnut(Corylus americana)

Beebalm by Susie Van de Riet

Beebalm(Monarda bradburiana)

Blue Wild Indigo by Denis.prévôt

Blue Wild Indigo(Baptisia australis)

Bottlebrush Blazing Star by Clarence A. Rechenthin, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Bottlebrush Blazing Star(Liatris mucronata)

Butterfly Weed by

Butterfly Weed(Asclepias tuberosa)

Calamint by Susie Van de Riet

Calamint(Clinopodium arkansanum)

Cedar Sedge by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Cedar Sedge(Carex eburnea)

Cliff Goldenrod by Susie Van de Riet

Cliff Goldenrod(Solidago drummondii)

Common Ninebark by US Fish & Wildlife Service

Common Ninebark(Physocarpus opulifolius)

Coral Honeysuckle by Clarence A. Rechenthin, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Coral Honeysuckle(Lonicera sempervirens)

Cream Wild Indigo by Eric Hunt

Cream Wild Indigo(Baptisia bracteata)

Dittany by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Dittany(Cunila origanoides)

Eastern Blue Star by Radomil

Eastern Blue Star(Amsonia tabernaemontana)

Eastern Redbud by Julie Makin

Eastern Redbud(Cercis canadensis)

Fall Glade Onion by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Fall Glade Onion(Allium stellatum)

Fame Flower, Rock Pink by Corey Raimond

Fame Flower, Rock Pink(Phemeranthus calycinus)

Glade Coneflower by Mason Brock

Glade Coneflower(Echinacea simulata)

Hairy Mountain Mint by Daderot

Hairy Mountain Mint(Pycnanthemum verticillatum)

Indian Pink by Susie Van de Riet

Indian Pink(Spigelia marilandica)

Jacob's Ladder by Susie Van de Riet

Jacob's Ladder(Polemonium reptans)

Lanceleaf Coreopsis by KENPEI

Lanceleaf Coreopsis(Coreopsis lanceolata)

Late Purple Aster by iNaturalist user joef80

Late Purple Aster(Symphyotrichum patens)

Little Bluestem Grass by BBC Gardeners World, 2017

Little Bluestem Grass(Schizachyrium scoparium)

Meadow Garlic by Clarence A. Rechenthin

Meadow Garlic(Allium canadense)

Missouri Coneflower by Fredlyfish4

Missouri Coneflower(Rudbeckia missouriensis)

New Jersey Tea by JohnOyston

New Jersey Tea(Ceanothus americanus)

Nodding Onion by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Nodding Onion(Allium cernuum)

Oak Sedge by Mason Brock

Oak Sedge(Carex albicans)

Ohio Horse Mint by Michael Wolf

Ohio Horse Mint(Blephilia ciliata)

Post Oak by Choess

Post Oak(Quercus stellata)

Prairie Dock by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Prairie Dock(Silphium terebinthinaceum)

Prairie Dropseed by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Prairie Dropseed(Sporobolus heterolepis)

Prairie Pussytoes by Erutuon

Prairie Pussytoes(Antennaria neglecta)

Prickly Pear Cactus by Paolo

Prickly Pear Cactus(Opuntia humifusa)

Purple Coneflower by James St. John

Purple Coneflower(Echinacea purpurea)

Purple Poppy Mallow by peganum

Purple Poppy Mallow(Callirhoe involucrata)

Pussytoes by Susie Van de Riet

Pussytoes(Antennaria parlinii)

Rattlesnake Master by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Rattlesnake Master(Eryngium yuccifolium)

Robin's Plantain by Bouba

Robin's Plantain(Erigeron pulchellus)

Roundleaf Groundsel by James Steakley

Roundleaf Groundsel(Packera obovata)

Service Berry by G.A. Cooper, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, Rusty Russell

Service Berry(Amelanchier arborea)

Short's Sedge by Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln.

Short's Sedge(Carex shortiana)

Showy Coneflower by André Karwath

Showy Coneflower(Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii)

Shrubby St. John's Wort by Leonora (Ellie) Enking

Shrubby St. John's Wort(Hypericum prolificum)

Silky Aster by peganum

Silky Aster(Symphyotrichum sericeum)

Small Skullcap by Susie Van de Riet

Small Skullcap(Scutellaria parvula)

St. Andrew's Cross by Jason Hollinger

St. Andrew's Cross(Hypericum hypericoides var. multicaule)

Star Tickseed by David J. Stang

Star Tickseed(Coreopsis pubescens)

Swamp White Oak by Krzysztof Ziarnek

Swamp White Oak(Quercus bicolor)

Wild Columbine by Raul654

Wild Columbine(Aquilegia canadensis)

Wild Ginger by Wasp32

Wild Ginger(Asarum canadense)

Wild Hydrangea by Susie Van de Riet

Wild Hydrangea(Hydrangea arborescens)

Yellow Coneflower by Frank Mayfield from Chicago area, US

Yellow Coneflower(Ratibida pinnata)

Yellow Wild Indigo by Derek Ramsey

Yellow Wild Indigo(Baptisia sphaerocarpa)



About the Designer

Susie Van de Riet is the founder of St. Louis Native Plants LLC, whose services include consulting, coaching, design, & education. She obtained her bachelor’s in Women’s Studies and AAS in Horticulture. She is an ISA Certified Arborist and an NAI Certified Interpretive Guide. She has a passion for native plants and has been landscaping with them since 2009. Susie has served as Education Subcommittee Chair of Grow Native! and has participated with the St. Louis Audubon Society’s “Bring Conservation Home” program as a Habitat Advisor. She is a member of Grow Native! and Wild Ones and worked as a horticulturist managing 130+ acres at Forest Park. Her last yard was Platinum Certified with the BCH program, and she has attained the same certification for her current yard. She loves sharing the benefits of native plants with others. 

Listen to Susie discuss her native garden design for Wild Ones on St. Louis Public Radio!

Designer Statement

When I design a native landscape, I get to be the composer for a “symphony” of plants: Bringing together all elements including clients’ ideals for the space, how they want it to function, time they want to spend on maintenance, what kind of wildlife (including arthropods) they hope to attract or deter, and completing a site analysis. From there, I select a suitable plant palette and layout for that space. I incorporate standard design elements such as ensuring a variety of interest is present in the garden year-round, incorporating focal points, etc. I make sure to talk through maintenance tips and wildlife benefits with every client to ensure they have some idea of what to expect from their landscapes and how to manage it. Education is the key to success. It’s an absolute joy helping clients to create landscapes they will enjoy and that will work with their natural environment.  

Neonics & Advocacy: Protecting Pollinators and Influencing Policy
December 12th at 6:00 PM (CST)

Neonicotinoid insecticides, commonly known as “neonics,” have become the most widely used insecticides in the U.S., leading to drastic declines in bees, pollinators, birds, and aquatic ecosystems. In this webinar, Lucas Rhoads, Senior Attorney with NRDC’s Pesticides & Pollinators Team, will share expert insights on how neonics impact our environment and pose serious risks to human health. He’ll delve into the harms associated with neonic-treated seeds, which are a major source of contamination, and explore effective policy advocacy strategies to rein in their widespread use without disrupting farmers or landscapers.

About Wild Ones

Wild Ones (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) is a knowledgeable, hands-on, and supportive community focused on native plants and the ecosystem that depends on them. We provide resources and online learning opportunities with respected experts like Wild Ones Honorary Directors Doug Tallamy, Neil Diboll, Heather Holm, and Larry Weaner, publishing an award-winning journal, and awarding Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program grants to engage youth in caring for native gardens.

Wild Ones depends on membership dues, donations and gifts from individuals like you to carry out our mission of connecting people and native plants for a healthy planet.

Looking for more native gardening inspiration? Take a peek at what our members are growing!

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