Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. VIII St. Louis, Mo., March, 1920 No. 3 
COLLECTING NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE GARDEN 
Native plants, well suited as they naturally are, to local 
climatic and soil conditions, are without a doubt the most 
satisfactory for gardens in the vicinity of St. Louis and should 
be used to a much greater extent than exotic materials. It 
should not be concluded, however, that because a plant is 
native to this section it will grow under all conditions, 
or that all of them are easily transplanted from their own 
environment into gardens. This idea has resulted in a ruth- 
less destruction of some of our most desirable and valuable 
native plants, first in the vicinity of larger cities, and, in later 
years, owing to the popularity of the automobile, in ever- 
widening cireles, with the result that native material is becom- 
ing scarcer each year. Many desirable things which were 
abundant near the city of St. Louis a few years ago are now 
found in only a few almost inaccessible or well-guarded loca- 
tions. It is for this reason that a careful study should be made 
of the requirements of native plants as to soil, moisture, and 
light, so as to establish these conditions before attempting to 
introduce the plants into the plantations of local gardens. 
In the series of articles which is to follow, the object 
is not only to popularize the use of our native plants in the 
garden, and if possible to create a horticulture particularly 
suited to local conditions, but also to indicate the requirements 
of these plants as to soil and environment. Such directions 
as are given should, of course, be supplemented by personal 
observation. 
Large trees and shrubs should never be removed from 
their native habitat except by persons skilled in such work. 
Small plants may be collected and transplanted successfully 
if care is taken to secure as much of the root growth as pos- 
sible, reducing the top of the plant to a size comparable to 
the spread of the roots taken up. In many instances the 
removal of the entire top is necessary. The roots must be 
kept moist from fhe moment the plant is dug until it is re- 
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