Use Native Plants to Create a Natural Garden

Article by Josh Smith, Xeriscape Endemic Nursery (XEN)

Consider transitioning a section of your landscape to native plants, where you can reduce both maintenance and water use, conserving a vital resource in this arid valley, along with your own energy.

A side benefit is that you are providing valuable feed and habitat for all sorts of indigenous wild things– from insects to birds, to small and large mammals– by your restoration.

Do not embark on this project unless you are prepared to accept that you are collaborating with your environment, not conquering it.

Rabbitbrush, Eericameria nauseosa

WHAT ARE NATIVE PLANTS?

Native vs Endemic vs Exotic vs Naturalized vs Invasive
The scientific definition of a native species is an organism that occurs naturally in a region without human introduction, having evolved there or arrived via natural dispersion over evolutionary time.

• NATIVE plants belong here.
• ENDEMIC plants belong ONLY here.
• EXOTIC plants are introduced by humans from elsewhere.
  *NATURALIZED plants are exotic plants that behave themselves.
  *INVASIVE  plants are exotic plants that are ecologically harmful.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOICES

Consider first where a plant is native— Canada, B.C., or the Interior. Winter cold, summer heat, humidity/precipitation, and competition are all factors in limiting where exactly a plant is native.

Lots of plants native to B.C. are completely inappropriate in the Okanagan, so they’re unlikely to thrive here.

Then, within the Okanagan, first you must also consider whether a plant is native to our particular region of the valley; then, in which ecoregion it belongs: upland, riparian, high elevation, etc.

Further, consider whether it would thrive on a dry silty slope, a creek edge, or in a bed of clay.

Provenance (original seed source) and site matching (right plant, right place) matter more than just choosing a native plant.

Within the Okanagan, there are extremely diverse ecosystems in close proximity to each other, and ignoring sub-regional differences can cause failure unless you are careful to plant native plants in their natural environment.

Elevation, temperature, sun exposure, drainage, and soil texture often matter more than region.

In general though:

• The South Okanagan is hot and dry and of low elevation
• The Central Okanagan is transitional
• The North Okanagan is cooler and wetter

Pre-settlement landscapes in the Okanagan featured native plants that evolved with disturbance, not with watering, fertilizer, or mulch, such as we use on our man-made landscapes. This is a fire-adapted ecosystem that consists of drought-tolerant plant communities in patchy, disturbed, open landscapes.

Many native plants expect stress and respond poorly to pampering, so, as gardeners, we should take advantage of these attributes.

Showy Milkweed, Asclepias speciosa

ADVANTAGES OF NATIVE PLANTS

LESS WATER
The use of native plants in your landscape reduces the amount of supplemental water needed, but it does not necessarily mean they require no water. All plants require enough water when first planted to help them to settle in, so at least for the first year, they are likely to need some supplemental water over the summer and during drought.

LESS MAINTENANCE
Over the longer term, inputs such as fertilizer, replanting, chemicals and other maintenance are greatly reduced with native plants grown in a natural garden. Plants that evolved here are used to our weather swings. This is their home, and they are climate-resilient.

SUPPORT LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS
Native plants also support the local ecology, including pollinators, birds, mammals, and beneficial microorganisms, as well as their companion native plants.

Native plants overwhelmingly provide better habitat than non-native ornamentals and are the entry point for energy into our local ecosystem. They are the foundation of all food webs and feed everything, or everything’s food. Birds depend on insects as part of this food web: over 95% of land-based birds in North America feed insects to their young, and this includes species of birds that exclusively eat seeds as adults.

Birds cannot survive without insects, and insects are highly-specialized and often have evolved specific digestive enzymes and life cycles that require native plants as food or as a larval host for reproduction.

For an extreme example, the Okanagan has some species of butterfly that are at risk or endangered because they have evolved to only use one specific plant, or plant family, as a larval host.

Behr’s Hairstreak Butterfly depends on Antelope Brush; Monarch Butterfly larva can only survive on Milkweeds (Showy Milkweed is the only native here), and the Mormon Metalmark Butterfly relies on Buckwheats.

Human activity and climate change have reduced the population of these plants, which results in a reduced butterfly population, which in turn reduces pollination and seed production for these plants. This type of negative feedback spiral is often the cause of species extinction.

Pollinators also require native plants. Most ornamental, non-native flowers produce nectar that can be used by native adult bees as food, but the 500-600 species of bees native to BC are often pollen specialists that require specific plants or plant families for the pollen they need to feed their larva. Although the bees are very important, flies, other insects, and birds also do their share of pollinating plants.

In addition to pollination services, these insects and birds also often provide pest control, such as being predatory on pests like aphids.

GARDENING WITH NATURE

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Living with Deer in the Okanagan

Living in the beautiful Okanagan Valley comes with many perks, but for gardeners, there is one persistent challenge that stands out: marauding deer.

While deer may be lovely to observe from a distance, they can quickly transform a carefully-cultivated garden into their personal buffet. Understanding deer-resistant plants, particularly those suited to our semi-arid climate, can help you create a thriving landscape that both you and the local wildlife can appreciate—each in your own ways.

Deer are opportunistic feeders, but with surprisingly-discerning palates. They typically avoid plants with certain characteristics that make them either unpalatable or difficult to consume.

The most effective deer-resistant plants share common traits: strong fragrances, fuzzy or textured foliage, bitter or toxic compounds, thorny structures, or tough, leathery leaves.

Plants with high essential oil content, such as herbs and aromatics, are particularly unappealing to deer, as their sensitive noses find these scents overwhelming.

It’s important to emphasize that no plant is completely deer-proof. When food sources are scarce, particularly during harsh winters or drought conditions, deer will eat almost anything, a behavior that was especially obvious in West Kelowna gardens since the 2023 McDougall Creek Fire.

I have a client in Casa Loma who has gardened at her property for decades and accepted that the deer would munch on her Bergenia cordifolia flowers, but more recently, both flowers and foliage are missing.

Deer in an urban garden

Deer-Resistant Plants for a Semi-Arid Climate

The Okanagan’s semi-arid climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and relatively mild winters, makes it ideal for xeric plants, those adapted to dry conditions. These water-wise plants not only conserve our precious water resources but often possess natural deer-resistant qualities.

Many xeric plants have evolved tough, waxy, fuzzy or aromatic foliage as adaptations to conserve moisture—characteristics that coincidentally make them less appealing to browsing animals.

Check out the plant database on this website for examples of some plants we’ve found that normally deter deer.

Perennials: Okanagan deer-resistant, xeric perennials include Achillea cultivars (Yarrow), with its ferny foliage and flat-topped flowers in various colours, and Nepeta (Catmint), which produces spikes of blue flowers and aromatic foliage that deer find objectionable.

Lavender stands out as perhaps the perfect Okanagan deer-resistant plant. Its intense fragrance, drought tolerance, and beautiful purple flowers make it both functional and ornamental.

Similarly, Perovskia atriplifolia (Russian sage) offers aromatic silvery foliage and tall spikes of blue flowers while requiring minimal water once established. Both plants thrive in our alkaline soils and intense summer sun.

Ornamental grasses provide excellent deer resistance while adding movement and texture to the landscape. Helictotrichon sempervirens (Blue Oat Grass), Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem), and Pennisetum alopecuroides (Fountain Grass) all perform well in our climate, requiring little supplemental irrigation after their first year. Their thin, sharp-edged leaves are simply not appealing to deer.

Shrubs: consider Mahonia species, formally Berberis (Barberry) species, which combine drought tolerance with thorny branches that deer actively avoid.

Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) offers bright flowers throughout the summer in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and white while requiring minimal care. Appreciated more for its foliage than its flowers, Sambucus racemosa “Lemony Lace” (Elderberry) offers yellow-green lace-like foliage with highly dissected leaves and, as of yet, has not been browsed by deer in our West Kelowna demonstration garden.

Annuals: Tagetes tenuifolia (Signet Marigolds), Zinnia elegans (Zinnias), and Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon) provide bright blooms while being generally deer-resistant, though they’ll need a little regular watering in our dry climate.

Lavender

Designing a Water-Wise Garden with Deer-Resistant Plants

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate. Deer-resistant plants are included.

Sigrie Kendrick is a master gardener and executive-director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association.

GARDENING WITH NATURE

Not all bugs are bad!

Green Lacewings

Green lacewings are perhaps the most beautiful of these beneficial predators. With delicate, transparent wings and bright green bodies, these insects might look fragile, but their larvae are voracious hunters nicknamed ‘aphid lions’ for good reason.

A single lacewing larva can consume up to 200 aphids or other small prey weekly. The adults typically feed on nectar and pollen, making them excellent pollinators, while their offspring handle pest control. Their dual service makes them particularly valuable in any garden ecosystem.

Soldier Beetles

Soldier beetles, related to fireflies but without the light-producing organs, are another powerful ally. These slender, soft-bodied beetles earned their name from their colourful markings resembling British military uniforms.

Both adults and larvae are predatory, targeting aphids, caterpillars, and consuming grasshopper eggs. The adults supplement their diet with pollen, making them useful pollinators as well. Their ability to move easily between plant canopies allows them to hunt pests in multiple garden zones.

Tachinids

The Tachinid fly might not win beauty contests with its bristly appearance, resembling an
overgrown housefly, but its pest-management skills are unmatched. The family Tachinidae is the largest group of insect parasitic flies, with over 1,300 species in North America, many of which are important natural enemies of destructive pests.

These flies parasitize some of gardening’s most notorious pests: caterpillars, beetle larvae, and stink bugs. Female Tachinids lay eggs on or near host insects, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the host and consume it from within.

Tachinids have been used extensively in biological control programs. A single species, Lydella thompsoni, can parasitize up to 75 per cent of the highly destructive corn borer larvae.

Orb Weaver Spider

Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps represent perhaps the most diverse and specialized group of beneficial insects. Despite their name, they are completely harmless to humans and many are smaller than a grain of rice, escaping the attention of most people.

Their precision targeting of specific pest species makes them invaluable. Braconid wasps, for example, lay eggs inside aphids, causing what gardeners call ‘aphid mummies’, the dried husks of aphids from which adult wasps eventually emerge.

Trichogramma wasps target caterpillar eggs before they can even hatch, while others specialize in beetle larvae or white flies. These wasps are raised commercially around the world and widely released for pest control.

Spiders

Often misunderstood and feared, spiders are among the garden’s most effective generalist predators. A single spider can consume thousands of insects yearly. They maintain balance in the garden ecosystem by capturing flying insects, crawling pests, and even other beneficial insects when populations become too dense.

Orb weavers catch flying pests in their distinctive wheel-shaped webs, while wolf spiders
actively hunt on the ground, capturing soil-dwelling pests that other predators might miss.

How you can help beneficial insects in your garden–

• Plant diverse flowering species, especially members of the carrot, daisy, and mint families, to provide necessary nectar and pollen
• Maintain areas of undisturbed ground cover, such as fallen leaves and leave perennial plants standing in the fall, to offer essential overwintering sites and shelter
• Beneficials require a source of water to survive, so consider providing a shallow dish of water placed in your garden. Change it regularly to prevent its use by mosquito larvae.

The relationship between plants, pests, and beneficial insects represents a natural system of checks and balances. By supporting these natural predators, we align ourselves with ecological processes refined over millions of years.

Rather than fighting against nature with chemicals and barriers, we can harness these allies to create gardens that not only produce beautiful plants but also support diverse wildlife communities.

The next time you spot a lacewing, soldier beetle, or even a spider in your garden,
consider yourself lucky to be witnessing nature’s pest control experts at work.

Cultivate a Bat-Friendly garden

Guest Article by BC Community Bat Programs

How can you support the bats?

Spring is at our doorstep! This is the most exciting season for gardeners and nature lovers. This year, we encourage everyone to try something new– gardening for BATS!

The Okanagan is home to at least 14 different species of insect-eating bats – the highest diversity of bats in the province. Supporting pollinators in your garden helps to support bats as they prey on insects at night. Since bats are active from dusk to dawn, having night-blooming flowers in your garden attracts nighttime moths which are a great source of protein for bats. This practice is called moonlight gardening!

Join us in cultivating bat-friendly gardens and nurturing the rich biodiversity of the North Okanagan:

• Start planning early. Opt for native perennial plants – contact local plant nurseries to get your seeds.
• Choose plants with long flowering season or those that flower at different times of the year.
• Variety is key! Pick plants with different flower colour, shape, and fragrance.
• Don’t spring into garden clean up too soon. Wait until temperatures stay consistently above 10°C to start to start raking and pruning. Many pollinators like bees and butterflies are wintering in dead leaves and hollow stems of last-year plants. Bats and snakes sometimes also sleep under leaves and in wood piles.
• Invasive species like burdock can entangle bats and birds. Regularly remove weeds from your garden. If you plan on harvesting burdock, please be responsible and prune out the flowers before they go to seed and become traps for bats.

Invasive species like burdock can entangle bats

If you plan on harvesting burdock, please be responsible and prune out the flowers before they go to seed and become traps for bats.
Photo by: Ken Dzinbal

• Pesticides and chemical fertilizers kill insects and poison wildlife. Practice organic gardening by avoiding chemical products. Try composting to provide organic nutrients in your garden.
• Fact: Bats fertilize gardens with their nitrogen-rich guano (bat poop). Attract bats to have a natural source of guano fertilizer in your garden.
• Switch outdoor light bulbs to “warm” toned or filtered LEDs (under 3,000K) to reduce light pollution that harms bats and other animals. Dimmers, motion sensors, and timers can help to reduce illumination and save energy.
• Keep pets indoors or supervised outdoors to avoid predation on bats and birds.
• Keep dead-standing trees (if it is safe to do so) and mature trees on your property to provide roosting areas for hard-working bats. Peeling tree bark and bark crevices are great homes for bats.
• If you have a lake, creek or wetland by your house – great! Protect natural water-side vegetation; it provides vital food, shelter and water to wildlife.
• Consider adding a garden pond to create a biodiversity oasis in your backyard. Ponds need to be at least 3m wide to serve as drinking sources for bats.

Download the Bat-Friendly Gardening in the Okanagan PDF