Celebrate Earth Day 2025: New Hampshire Native Plant Gardening

As Earth Day 2025 approaches on April 22nd, it’s the perfect opportunity for New Hampshire gardeners to reconnect with the land through native plant gardening. This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, reminds us that we each have the power to make a meaningful impact—and it can start right in our own backyards.

At Painted Fern Gardening, we believe that sustainable landscaping begins by working with nature, not against it. Gardening with native plants represents a return to our roots. These stunning, low-maintenance gardens do more than beautify your space—they support local wildlife, improve soil health, and conserve water.

By choosing native plants, you’re not just celebrating the Granite State’s rich ecological heritage—you’re harnessing your power to help restore balance to our planet. Together, let’s grow a greener, more resilient future in honor of Earth Day 2025.

Benefits of Native Plant Gardening in New Hampshire

Native plant gardening provides a wide range of benefits, making it a smart and sustainable choice for New Hampshire’s distinct climate and terrain. These plants have evolved over thousands of years to thrive in the Granite State’s natural conditions, adapting seamlessly to our local soil types, seasonal weather patterns, and ecological rhythms. Incorporating native species into your landscape, allows you to enjoy a garden that’s not only beautiful and resilient but also supports pollinators, conserves water, and reduces maintenance needs.

What Are Native Species?

Native species are plants that have occurred naturally within their region without human introduction. They form the foundation of New Hampshire’s natural ecosystems and have co-evolved with local wildlife, creating intricate relationships that support biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem.

How Do Native Plants Help the Ecosystem and Support Local Wildlife in New Hampshire?

Native plants serve as crucial links in our local food webs. They provide:

Nectar for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Seeds and berries for birds and small mammals
Habitat for beneficial insects and amphibians
Soil stabilization and improved water quality
Carbon sequestration and air purification
Larval host plants for butterfly and moth species that can’t develop on non-native plants
Seasonal food sources that align with local wildlife feeding patterns
Deep root systems that increase groundwater infiltration and drought resistance

Shelter and nesting materials for native birds
Natural resistance to local pests, reducing the need for pesticides
Genetic diversity that strengthens local ecosystems against disease and climate changes
Preservation of regional biodiversity and unique ecological communities
Year-round resources as different native species provide benefits across seasons
Adaptation to local climate conditions, requiring less water and maintenance
Protection for endangered or threatened local wildlife species that depend on specific plant relationships

… this list could continue forever

One of the most rewarding aspects of native plant gardening is witnessing the return of wildlife to your landscape. New Hampshire’s fauna depends on native flora in ways that non-native varieties simply cannot match.

Did you know that native oak trees support over 950 species of caterpillars, while non-native ginkgo trees support just a handful? These caterpillars are essential food for nesting birds—it takes thousands to raise a single brood of chickadees!

The Threat of Invasive Species in New Hampshire

Invasive species pose one of the greatest threats to New Hampshire’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity. These non-native plants outcompete our native flora, disrupting the ecological balance that has evolved over millennia.

Common Invasive Plants to Remove

At Painted Fern Gardening, we help homeowners identify and safely remove invasive species, including:

Japanese Barberry, which alters soil chemistry and creates ideal tick habitat
Oriental Bittersweet, a climbing vine that strangles and topples trees
Purple Loosestrife, which takes over wetlands and reduces habitat quality
Norway Maple, whose dense shade prevents forest regeneration

Removing these invasives and replacing them with native alternatives is one of the most significant contributions you can make to local conservation efforts.

Native New Hampshire Plants for Your Garden

New Hampshire’s diverse landscapes support a remarkable variety of native plants adapted to different growing conditions:

Woodland Garden Natives

Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) – A spring ephemeral with distinctive burgundy flowers
Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) – Delicate groundcover with white flower spikes
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) – Evergreen fern that adds winter interest
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) – Early spring white blooms with unique lobed foliage
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) – Heart-shaped leaves with hidden maroon flowers
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – Frothy white flower spikes above maple-like leaves
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) – Graceful, delicate fronds for shade gardens
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) – Unusual hooded flowers and bright red berries.

Meadow and Prairie Natives

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) – Purple blooms that support fall pollinators
Goldenrod (Solidago species) – Yellow late-season flowers crucial for migrating monarchs
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Ornamental grass with stunning fall color
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) – Vibrant orange flowers attracting numerous pollinators
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Cheerful yellow blooms with dark centers
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – Lavender flowers beloved by bees and hummingbirds
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) – Tall stems with mauve flower clusters
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Long-blooming pink-purple flowers

Wetland and Rain Garden Natives

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) – Brilliant red flowers that attract hummingbirds
Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) – Elegant purple blooms for pond edges
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) – Essential monarch butterfly host plant
Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) – White to pink snapdragon-like flowers in late summer
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) – Striking blue flower spikes for moist areas
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) – Bright yellow spring blooms for wet soils
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) – Deep purple flowers on tall stems
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) – Distinctive fronds for wet woodland edges

Sustainable Gardening Methods and Permaculture Practices

At Painted Fern Gardening, we integrate permaculture principles with native plant gardening to create truly sustainable landscapes. Permaculture—a system of agricultural and social design principles centered on simulating natural ecosystems—aligns perfectly with native plant philosophy.

Core Permaculture Practices for Native Gardens

1. Observe and Interact with Your Land Before planting

Spend time observing your property’s unique conditions—sun patterns, water flow, existing plant communities, and soil conditions. This observation informs a design that works with your land’s natural tendencies rather than against them.

2. Catch and Store Energy Implement systems to capture and utilize natural resources:

Rain gardens and swales to direct and absorb stormwater
Strategic placement of deciduous trees for summer shade and winter sun
Mulching with leaf litter to build soil and retain moisture

3. Design From Patterns to Details Analyze natural ecosystems to inform garden design:

Layer plants as they would appear in natural communities
Create habitat niches for diverse wildlife
Establish plant guilds where species support each other

4. Use and Value Renewable Resources Incorporate sustainable practices throughout the garden:

Compost garden waste to return nutrients to the soil
Collect seeds from native plants for future propagation
Harvest rainwater for irrigation during dry periods

5. Produce No Waste Embrace circular systems in garden management:

Chop and drop prunings as on-site mulch
Create brush piles from fallen branches for wildlife habitat
Use fallen leaves as natural mulch and soil amendment

6. Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback Allow the garden to evolve naturally:

Learn from natural succession patterns in your landscape
Monitor which plants thrive and which struggle
Adjust plant selections based on observed performance

Gardening Organically with Native Plants

Native plant gardening thrives when organic practices are at the core. By avoiding synthetic pesticides and herbicides, gardeners can rely on beneficial predators and insect-eating birds for natural pest control. Compost teas, plant-based fertilizers, and disease-resistant native varieties boost plant health, while proper spacing and minimal soil disturbance improve air flow and soil biology. Organic mulches suppress weeds and conserve water, and crop rotation benefits edible native species. Companion planting with compatible natives supports ecosystem balance, while hand-removing invasives and timing maintenance for wildlife lifecycles protects local biodiversity. Building soil with organic matter and supporting mycorrhizal networks enhances native plant vitality. Harvesting rainwater ensures sustainable irrigation, rounding out an approach that nurtures both plants and planet.

Why Choose Painted Fern for Your Native Garden Project

At Painted Fern Gardening, we’ve specialized in native plant landscaping for over a decade. Our team combines horticultural expertise with ecological knowledge to create gardens that thrive in harmony with New Hampshire’s natural environment.

Our approach includes:

Site assessment to determine appropriate native plant communities
Plant selection based on local ecotypes and genetic diversity
Sustainable installation practices that minimize disturbance
Ongoing maintenance guidance for long-term success

We source our plants from responsible growers who propagate nursery stock rather than wild-collecting, ensuring we’re not depleting natural populations.

Start Your Native Plant Garden with Painted Fern Earth Day 2025!

As we celebrate Earth Day 2025, there’s no better time to commit to gardening practices that benefit our local environment. Whether you’re looking to create a pollinator paradise, a wildlife-friendly yard, or a permaculture-inspired native garden, Painted Fern Gardening is here to help.

Contact us today to schedule a native garden consultation, or download our free “Native Plants of New Hampshire” guide from our website. Together, we can create landscapes that honor our natural heritage while building a more sustainable future—one garden at a time.

Ready to transform your landscape with native plants? Contact Painted Fern Gardening at (603) 580-3840 or visit paintedferngardening.com to learn more about our Earth Day 2025 native planting packages.