Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: April 28, 2006

Grow Native! plants provide natural, diverse landscaping alternatives

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) — Have you ever wished you could grow a garden as beautiful as the neighbors, but just don’t have the time or green thumb? The problem might not be the color of your thumb, but the label on your plant.

Missouri’s Grow Native! branded plants are the perfect choice for landscaping, whether you have a small plot in the city, four acres at the edge of town, or 40 acres in the country. Too often, well-intentioned gardeners select plants which are non-native to the soil and conditions where they live. The plants therefore require more time and care than the gardener has to give, creating an unhealthy environment for both flower and caregiver.

“By selecting the proper plant for a particular area of the state, the gardener can create a natural environment which will support wildlife, reduce maintenance and offer year-round interest,” said Tammy Bruckerhoff, business development and marketing specialist with the Grow Native! Program. “Such plantings are also less vulnerable to destructive insects and diseases and seldom need inputs such as fertilizer or chemical pesticides.”

A cooperative program between the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Grow Native! program helps protect and restore our state’s biodiversity by increasing conservation awareness of native plants and their effective use. By increasing environmental awareness through an individual’s desire to connect with nature, native plants can provide both beauty and good land management practices.

Another significant advantage of selecting native plants is drought tolerance. Missouri has suffered drought conditions for the past few years, and native plants use considerably less water due to extensive root systems. These roots, which can spread up to eight feet beneath the ground, help the plants withstand long periods of dry weather with little or no watering once established.

“Using natives increases the natural diversity of any landscape,” said Bruckerhoff. “Gardeners need to be certain to buy Grow Native! branded plants. This will ensure a successful garden, and will support Missouri’s economy.”

For more information on the Grow Native! program, please visit the Web site at www.grownative.org, or link to the site from MDA’s Web site at www.mda.mo.gov. Through Grow Native!, MDA and MDC make it easy for everyone to discover, buy and successfully use Missouri source native plants on any landscape.

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