Wilderness Center promotes native plants for sustainable landscaping

The months of March and April offer warmer days and nights, making it a good time to start planning gardening and landscaping.

The Wilderness Center in Wilmot recently hosted a presentation by Jim McCormac, author, botanist and photographer, titled “Native Plants: The Building Blocks of Biodiversity.” The native plant design workshop was held Feb. 27.

The Wilderness Center is a private nonprofit organization in Stark County. Its mission is to inspire and nurture a connection between people and nature through habitat conservation, environmental education and community engagement.

During the presentation, land stewards, designers and homeowners learned how to transform high-maintenance lawns into resilient, habitat-rich landscapes using Ohio’s native species. The presenter emphasized that ecological landscaping can be both environmentally beneficial and visually appealing.

“There is a lot of interest right now in native plant gardening and landscaping. We had more than 100 people attend in person and online for this event,” said Daniel Volk, director of conservation and land management at The Wilderness Center. “There was so much excitement among the attendees, and there is potential for us to do more workshops on this topic.”

Topics included plant species, design strategies for creating clean and intentional landscapes, rain garden construction for water management, and approaches such as “soft landings” to support pollinators. Attendees also learned how native plants and dark-sky-friendly lighting can support moths, fireflies and bats.

“This workshop reinforces that native plants aren’t just about conservation — they’re about reimagining how our landscapes function and look,” Volk said. “When we design with intention, we can create beautiful spaces, support wildlife and work with nature rather than against it.”

Using native plants can reduce maintenance and benefit the environment. Plants placed in appropriate conditions require less trimming and watering and help support birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Volk said the use of native plants is a growing movement across Ohio, offering landscapes that are functional, visually appealing and beneficial to ecological resilience.

Examples of native plants for Ohio landscapes include perennials such as purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, blue flag iris, turtlehead and wild wood aster; shrubs such as wild hydrangea, prairie wild rose, spicebush and American hazelnut; trees such as Ohio buckeye, red maple, white oak, flowering dogwood and eastern redcedar; and vines such as Virginia creeper.

Benefits of native landscaping include reduced maintenance due to deep root systems, improved stormwater management, less need for fertilizer or pesticides, and increased biodiversity that supports insects, butterflies and songbirds.

Volk said gardeners do not need to use only native plants but suggested a mix of about 70% native and 30% non-native plants. He advised avoiding invasive species such as Japanese barberry and tree of heaven, which can disrupt local ecosystems.

Japanese barberry is a thorny shrub linked to increased tick populations, while tree of heaven is a fast-growing tree that can damage infrastructure and host the spotted lanternfly.

Volk also recommended plants such as milkweed for monarch butterflies, purple coneflower, cardinal flower, elderberry shrubs and native ferns. Oak trees, he said, are especially valuable for supporting birds and insects.

He advised avoiding invasive species such as English ivy and certain non-native ground covers.

Additional landscaping tips include matching plants to site conditions, selecting locally adapted varieties, starting with trees to provide shade and ecological benefits, and focusing on native species to prevent overcrowding.

Resources for gardeners include the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity and local native plant nurseries. The Wilderness Center also hosts an annual native plant sale.

Using native plants in Ohio landscaping can create sustainable, low-maintenance spaces that support local wildlife while thriving in the region’s soil and climate.