College of Charleston's

Campus Sustainability

Plants used in the garden

Tips on growing these plants

Signature species: Muhlenbergia filipes

Interesting facts

Pictures

Urban Native Species Gardening:

A New Model on the College of Charleston Campus

 

In the spring of 2004, work was completed to convert the area behind the Political Science Green Building into a model of an urban native species garden. With funding provided by the Sustainable Universities Initiative, the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, the Urbanization and Southeastern Estuarine Systems (USES) project, the Master of Environmental Studies Program and the Political Science Club at the College of Charleston, this effort has been under way to further the mission of the Political Science Green Building to encourage sustainable building by providing this model to promote the benefits of sustainable gardening.

The benefits of native species gardening range from lowering the amount of water, pesticides, and fertilizers needed for healthy plants to maintaining the natural biodiveristy of a habitat. Plant species native to a particular area are generally better adapted to soil and climate conditions, making them easier and cheaper to grow and maintain.

 

 
Preparation and Planting 
Spring 04  Seasons 
Spring 04 Fall 
04  Fall 05

Resources

Native species poster

 

***NEW FEATURE***:

Native Species Slide Show