In this lively episode, Sarah and Hanna are joined by Chrissy Land from the Nebraska Forest Service to debate their favorite (and least favorite) landscape plants. From drought-tolerant natives to misunderstood troublemakers, they make their case for which plants deserve a spot in public spaces—and which are better for the home landscape. The discussion covers climate adaptability, maintenance concerns, personal bias, and the importance of matching plants to place.
Topics Covered
- Why “right plant, right place” is more than a slogan
- Balancing beauty, function, and maintenance in public plantings
- How personal experiences shape plant preferences
- The role of climate and regional conditions in plant selection
- Navigating invasive species concerns
- Native vs. non-native plant performance in Nebraska landscapes
Plants Mentioned in This Episode
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
- Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
- Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
- Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
- Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
- Hostas (Hosta spp.)
- Iris (Iris spp.)
Links
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