This fall, Maine Audubon partnered with IDEXX (a Maine Audubon Corporate Partner) to design and install a Maritime Shrubland demonstration landscape at the company’s global headquarters in Westbrook. This project transforms a previously conventional planting area into a thriving native ecosystem modeled after Maine’s resilient coastal shrublands, plant communities found on windswept dunes and rocky headlands from Kittery to Acadia.
The planting celebrates the beauty and ecological value of these hardy habitats, featuring native species that are well-adapted to sandy, nutrient-poor soils and full sun. Shrubs such as Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica), Beach Plum (Prunus maritima), Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), and Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) provide year-round structure, color, and wildlife value. Interplanted among them are Lowbush Blueberry, Bearberry, Scrub Oak, and Virginia Rose—all offering food and cover for birds, pollinators, and small mammals.
A diverse mix of native grasses and wildflowers fills the understory, mimicking the open, grassy texture of a coastal heathland. Species such as Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Poverty Oat Grass (Danthonia spicata), Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis), Flax-leaved Stiff Aster (Ionactis linariifolia), and Downy Goldenrod (Solidago puberula) add texture and long-lasting seasonal interest while supporting pollinators throughout the year. Together, the planting includes over 30 native species and more than 800 individual plants, demonstrating the depth and diversity of Maine coastal flora.
Instead of adding compost or traditional mulch, the project team brought in several yards of coarse sand to improve drainage and mimic the naturally dry, low-nutrient soils that these species prefer. This approach helps the plants thrive while discouraging weed germination and reducing maintenance pressures compared with more nutrient-rich amendments.
The result is a landscape that requires minimal irrigation, fertilizer, or maintenance, while providing rich habitat and year-round ecological function. It serves as a living example of how corporate campuses and commercial properties can lead the way in restoring native biodiversity, right outside their doors.
A huge thank you to Jim Cole, whose expertise, creativity, and dedication were instrumental in the design and installation of this project, and to IDEXX for embracing this vision and supporting the creation of a beautiful, wildlife-friendly landscape.
Why It Matters
This project shows what’s possible when we combine ecological inspiration with design imagination. By looking to natural plant communities—like the maritime shrublands that thrive in dry, sunny, and windswept environments—we can find planting palettes that are perfectly suited to the conditions of our built landscapes. Rather than forcing gardens to fight their environment, this approach works with it, creating places that are both functional and full of life.
Home gardeners can take inspiration from this project, too. Even a small sunny area with sandy or well-drained soil can be transformed into a vibrant mini-habitat. Try pairing Bayberry, Sweetfern, or Lowbush Blueberry with Little Bluestem, Butterflyweed, or Wild Strawberry. You’ll be creating a landscape that feels rooted in Maine ecology while welcoming pollinators, birds, and other wildlife right to your doorstep.
