Every year I give numerous talks, and undoubtedly get asked many questions. One question that comes up quite frequently is "Will I have more problems with insects if I install native plants in my landscape?" There is no such thing as an insect-free plant. However, you might believe that it is possible to have an insect-free world through pesticides. At least that is what the pesticide companies would like you to believe! Actually, pesticides may create more problems than they solve by killing the good insects (98%) as well as the bad (2%). The other factor is environmental harm which could be debated long and hard.

We have not used an insecticide, miticide, or a fungicide in 15 years. You might draw the conclusion that we don't have insect problems because we grow native plants. That would be the wrong conclusion. The reason we do not have a problem is that the method we use to raise our trees and shrubs dramatically reduces stress, which in turn reduces insect problems. another reason is that we are willing to accept a certain amount of damage, such as holes in leaves, gall (there are 400 gall that live on oak and do not seem to do damage), and an occasional defoliation of one or two trees. This does not mean we will never spray an insecticide, but we will try hard not to!

Another reason not to spray insecticides is BUTTERFLIES. As much as we hate to admit it, butterflies are insects and insecticides definitely kill them. To attract butterflies you must raise plants that are sources for larval food for the caterpillar and nectar sources for the adult butterfly. Butterflies seem to gather nectar from a large number of plants. Larva tend to be very specific and the chosen plants are mostly native. For example, the zebra swallowtail lays its eggs only on Asimina triloba (Paw Paw).

"If I grow these butterfly plants will they come?" Upon visiting the greenhouse last spring in the evening, I noticed the Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) were in bloom. When shining the flashlight into the plants I was greeted by 50 to 100 moths that were pollinating the plants. We asked an entomologist how the moths found our plants since the closest bladdernut we know of are four miles away. He said, "They blew in!" Fifty to one hundred moths pin-pointed these shrubs in the middle of nowhere. There must be an unbelievably potent pheromone involved that I want to bottle and sell! So, will they come? Maybe, but one thing is for sure. They will not come if you do not have the right plants.

Listed below are butterflies and the woody plants the larvae need to feed on. Watch our future catalogs for even more information regarding nectar-supplying plants.

Sources:
Field Guide to Butterflies of Illinois, Bouseman & Sternburg, Illinois Natural History Survey, 2001
Butterfly Gardens, a brochure from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Division

6) A Prairie-Style Front Walk – We have 3 jpg’s of the article. (American Gardener). Is there some way to work this into the site?

7) The Myth and Reality of Native Oaks (if possible, can you insert this picture with the Oak article? QuercusMacrocarpa2.jpg)

Oaks
There are nine species of oaks native to the Chicagoland area; we grow eight of them. They are divided into two families-- White oak family (Bur, Bicolor, Chinquapin, and White), and Red oak family (Hill's , Shingle, Red, and Black). We do not grow Pin Oak because we believe it is not suitable for most urban sites. Oaks are very tough. Many of them are very drought tolerant and pH adaptable.

Contrary to popular belief, growth rates for oaks are moderate (18"-24" per year) if they are mulched and watered during long periods of drought (3 or more rainless weeks). The oaks are truly some of the best shade trees for any Midwest situation. 

We highly recommend buying oaks in 1.5" caliper because they transplant easier and recover the quickest. 

These trees are truly some of the best shade trees for any Midwest situation!