NEWS FROM THE GARDEN

MU Horticulture Manager Earns Native Plant Certification

Part of Mizzou Botanic Garden’s (MUBG) mission is education —to demonstrate the growth habit, viability and adaptability of a wide variety of attractive plants and trees in mid-Missouri landscapes. That includes plants and trees that are native to the Show-Me State.

“Sometimes natives are seen as ‘just weeds’,” said MUBG Horticultural Manager Jenna Sommer “But they are just as attractive and important as any plant in a landscape when they are part of a thoughtful design.”

Sommer just successfully completed the Missouri Grow Native! Professional Certification Program (GNPC). She said she saw the certification as an opportunity for professional growth and advancement, and as a landscape designer, a way to evaluate her own knowledge of natives.

“It was largely a test for myself,” she said. “Is there something I’m missing? I saw this certification as a way to make my understanding of using natives more well-rounded.”

Grow Native! is the native plant marketing and education program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation. Responding to an identified need, GNPC was designed and developed to certify and recognize those with professional expertise in native landscaping. Emphasis areas include:

• Plant identification, botanical terminology, growing conditions and plant communities

• Ecological considerations and benefits

• Planning and design

• Installation and maintenance

Testing is done in each area and participants must pass the exam for each but may retake them individually, if necessary.

“Both native and non-native plants can exist in a thoughtful design if you have an understanding of how to layer them,” Sommer said. “Some beds lend themselves better to native plantings. Mizzou Botanic Garden can show people how they can work together where it is appropriate.

“The Butterfly Garden features natives, and we incorporate them in other places where we can — where it is relevant.

“We have also utilized natives in mass plantings to reduce mowing.”

Sommer said that natives are especially beneficial when it comes to attracting and sustaining insect pollinators as both nectar and larval host plants. Deep-rooted natives also lend themselves to soil conservation.

Sommer said the most difficult part of the certification was identifying native plants by their seedlings.

“One thing to consider when you think about using natives is that they will seed-out. Some can be aggressive. Seedling ID is really important to be able to make decisions on whether to keep seedlings or not.

“The certification adds a level of credibility to my knowledge base and native plant design skills,” she said.

MUBG Groundskeeper II Hannah Lee also recently completed the GNPC program.