Gardening: Native Medicinals

By Sage Writer: Hillary Givhan

If you take a walk around the Mount Airy, you might notice signs in front yards indicating that the landscaping incorporates eco-friendly native plants. Native plants are easier to care for because they are native to our climate and soil. They also benefit the environment by preserving our natural wildlife and providing shelter and food for native insects and birds. Below is a list of some native species that have also been traditionally used in herbal medicines. Of course, we do not recommend harvesting and using these herbs from your garden unless you are familiar with the plant and how to use it. It’s gardening season, so why not try adding some native medicinal species to your home garden?

1. Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
2. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
3. American Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
4. Red Mulberry Tree (Morus rubra)
5. Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
6. American Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis)

We recommend buying native plants from a nursery that has cultivated them, rather than harvesting from the wild. You can go to: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants to search species and sourcing in your local area.

Have you utilized native species in your gardening? How did it go? We’d love to know!