As I socialize with fellow gardeners, there is a common discussion that comes up when discussing plants. That discussion focuses on native plants. So, what is this surge in interest in native plants? This post explores the basic information you need to know about the importance of native plants in your landscape.
Let us begin with a definition. Native refers to a plant that existed in a geographical area prior to the European’s arriving on American soil (~1500). The plants developed and adapted over hundreds or thousands of years in an ecosystem. Because native plants occur naturally in an area, they generally grow with minimum maintenance. They have adapted to local soils, rainfall, and climate. While they have adapted, it’s still important to consider cultural requirements such as sun, water, soil and plant growth habits when choosing where to plant natives. Native plants include ferns, grasses, perennial and annual flowers, shrubs, trees and vines.
Ok, now we have a definition of native plants. Let’s look at additional plant classifications that you may also hear.
Non-native – A plant introduced with human intervention to an area where it did not grow before. Sometimes you will hear these plants referred to as exoticor alien. For example, a plant grown in Europe is considered exotic in America and vice versa.
Naturalized Plant – A non-native plant that is moved to a new location and is able to reproduce there.
Invasive Plant – A non-native plant that causes harm to the environment due to their extensive growth and ability to displace other plants. Examples include Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.) and English ivy (Hedera helix).
Native Plants
Benefits of Native Plants
As mentioned earlier, native plants generally require less maintenance (time, water, money). In addition, there are further benefits by including native plants in your landscape:
Planting native plants protects them from extinction
Native plants can survive in extreme sites were other plants cannot (think wildflowers growing near a roadway)
They can withstand various climatic conditions (example drought)
Native plants form the foundation for a region’s biodiversity (number and variety of living things) while providing food and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies and other insects
Since native plants adapt more readily to their environment, you can buy smaller plants to start
Considerations
Gardeners need to consider what ‘native’ means to them. Native can apply to plants that are native to the United States, plants that are native to a state or native to a smaller geographic area. When buying native plants, choose a reputable source and never transplant a native plant from the wild into your landscape. Here are some questions to ask prior to buying a native plant:
Is the plant native to your geography?
Where did the seed come from that grew the plant?
What are the cultural requirements such as sun, water, and soil?
Lastly, even native plants need to be the right plant for the right spot. Here are a couple of great resources to help you choose native plants for your region.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – I love this site because not only can you choose your state but also filter plants on other cultural characteristics such as light requirements, soil moisture, bloom time, and height. In addition, pictures are provided for each plant.
National Wildlife Federation Plant Finder – This site allows you to search by zip code and to say a list of the plants that you like.
To sum the importance of native plants in your landscape, you can add both beauty and create a habitat for pollinators at the same time. A good way to get started with a native garden is to plant a Monarch Butterfly Garden. Check out my post titled “How to Create a Monarch Butterfly Garden“.
