By Susan Harkins
Contact Native Roots Nursery via their Facebook page and email.
Lizzie Darling started her native plant adventure in 2021, when she and her husband moved into a new home in Louisville. She noticed that many of the plants growing in their neighborhood were cultivars and even invasives, such as Japanese honeysuckle and winter creeper. After researching their origins, she learned that these plants prevented a more robust natural ecosystem from developing. Lizzie wanted a native habitat for wildlife and insects to thrive.
There are many reasons to plant natives Lizzie says. They’re beautiful, low maintenance, and hardy. They’ve adapted to the region, so nature supplies what they need. That means they need no fertilizer and little to no supplemental water once established. Natives provide food and shelter for wildlife thanks to their symbiotic relationship with the ecosystem. Consequently, natives require no pesticides to support good health. Finally, natives usually have deep roots that prevent erosion and water runoff, while enriching the soil for life beneath the surface. It’s a win for humans, flora, and fauna alike.
Yes, you’ll see the occasional insect having lunch, but in a balanced system, plants withstand the picnickers quite well.
In 2022, she began transforming her Louisville property, but was disappointed to find few natives at neighborhood nurseries. Dropseed Native Plant Nursery and Ironweed Native Plant Nursery proved to be excellent sources to meet her needs. But still looking for options closer to home and finding none, she decided to grow natives herself.
This past winter, she began growing native plants from seed and removing nonnative invasives and improving her wildlife habitat.
She joined several gardening groups this past spring and found many local gardeners looking for natives. That’s when she began growing them to sell, after acquiring her nursery license. Now, she supplies plants for local companies, such as Native Oasis, who designs and maintains native plant landscaping.
Native Roots Nursery is sold out for the 2023 season but watch for their pop-up events come spring. They also sell at local markets throughout the Louisville area. To keep up with her pop-up and local market events, like her Facebook page.