Native Plants for zones 7-8
One of the many wonderful outcomes from native plants becoming popular again is that state university extension services are posting lists of native plants for gardeners. Ten years ago most of us gardeners couldn't tell an Asian invasive from a native beneficial. Today, most gardeners are at least aware of the problems non-native plants can cause, in particular, choking out the ability of native plants to thrive and support local wildlife. The University of Mississippi Landscape Services has posted a guide to commercially available native plants for that state. MS growing zones range from 7a in the north (just south of Memphis TN) to 8b on the gulf coast.in Biloxi and Gulfport. Here's a map . In contrast, Oklahoma is zone 6b on the Kansas line (Bartlesville) but zone 7 for most of the rest of the state. We all know how microclimates and rainfall variations make zone 7 wildly different from one area to another. With all that said, the current changes in climate worl...