I'm starting a project where I want to landrace/breed native perennials and annuals for drought tolerance. Most of the lawns in my area are completely...
Knowledgebase
Seeking native garden feedback #840625
Asked July 14, 2023, 10:24 AM EDT
I'm starting a project where I want to landrace/breed native perennials and annuals for drought tolerance. Most of the lawns in my area are completely dead from the drought the last few years. My own front yard is starting to have exposed soil and the soil quality is poor. I want to be able to provide alternatives for both my yard (and maybe eventually for my community) that don't need much/any supplemental watering. I have done some research and have some native candidates in mind that are already somewhat drought tolerant.
I am wondering if you or someone you know would have some expertise that you would be willing to share and to listen to the ideas I have so far on this project.
Project info:
I have really sandy soil in my yard. I did the jar test and got about 90% sand 8% silt and 2% clay. I also did an NPK test which came back as 0,0, and sufficient so no nitrogen or phosphorous whatsoever. I am looking at plants that are full sun and part sun as the west facing space I am looking at varies in sunlight depending on time of year and how much foliage is on surrounding trees. I'm also looking for plants that aren't terribly aggressive or weedy.
I used MN Wildflowers website to find the majority of my information. Here is the short list of plants that I'm looking at:
Agastache foeniculum (Blue Giant Hyssop)
Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)
Houstonia longifolia (Longleaf Bluets)
Antennaria parlinii (Parlins Pussytoes)
Symphyotrichum urophyllum (Arrow-Leaved Aster)
Anemone virginiana (Tall Thimbleweed)
Euphorbia corollata (Flowering Spurge)
Heuchera richardsonii (Prairie Alumroot)
Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea)
Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant)
Carex inops (Sun-loving sedge)
Carex brevior (Short-beak Sedge)
Carex bicknellii (Bicknell's Sedge)
Oryzopsis asperifolia (Rough-leaved Rice Grass)
Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black Eyed Susan)
Vulpia octoflora (Six-weeks Fescue)
Erigeron strigosus (Prairie Fleabane)
Hedeoma hispida (Rough False Pennyroyal)
Trichostema brachiatum (False Pennyroyal)
Hennepin CountyMinnesota
Expert Response
Good Morning Kelsey,
Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.
If I am reading your question correctly, you want to hybridize native plants for drought tolerance in your yard?
I am not aware of any current research into the idea you have. I am attaching another document about native plants.
I believe the native plant growers and suppliers are working to encourage planting native plants, I am unsure if there is any research related to your idea.
There is a wealth of research and information about native plants in the above websites. You could always contact a native plant nursery/grower in MN to see if this is something the industry would be interested in.
Thanks for getting back to me. I will be sure to check out all of the resources you sent me.
I'm not sure if hybridize is the correct term or not. Essentially, I want to grow native plants from seed, let only the strongest plants flower, collect and grow those seeds, etc. I think landracing might be the term closest to what I'm trying to do?
I worry about our native plants' ability to cope with climate change. Every time I leave my house I see dead and dying plants and trees along the roadsides, dead and dying lawns, etc., and it makes me really sad. I'm not sure if I can do any better growing these plants than they would naturally evolve. Maybe it's enough to just replace my lawn with native plants and maybe they will withstand the poor soil, hot temps, and unusual dry spells as is. I guess I'm just not very confident that I can get anything to grow in my front yard without a lot of water and serious soil improvement.
I'm really passionate about sustainability, and I want to be using less water and helping my community to do the same.
Thanks for your suggestion about reaching out to a native plant grower. I think that's a great idea, and it hadn't crossed my mind!
