Why are Native Plants Important?

Plants are the keystone to any ecosystem. They are the only means by which energy from the sun is transformed into useable forms for all life on Earth. We cannot live in a concrete jungle. Who would want to anyway? We cannot survive without plants.

The Importance of Native Plants

Plants native to a particular ecosystem form the backbone of that ecosystem. Insects have co-evolved to use specific plants as host plants for their young. Birds in turn require insects to feed their young, and nectar, fruit, and seeds to fuel their adult lives. Take away the plants, and slowly all other life starts to disappear as well. Local insects are unable to use exotic or introduced plants as their host. As uninhibited plants spread throughout our landscapes whether managed, like a yard, or unmanaged, like a woodland, our local insect population declines. With the reduction in available food for their young, the bird population also declines. Between the census data taken by the Xerces Society (invertebrate conservation) and Audobon Society (bird conservation), it is clear that both populations have declined precipitously in the past several decades.

Native Plant Communities

Creating native plant communities increases both the biodiversity of an area as well as climate resilience and carbon capture. Can a turf grass lawn capture carbon? Yes, but a meadow with native plants captures more. Can turf grass capture rain and recharge ground water aquifers? Some. The soil tends to be quite compacted under turf grass, and water tends to run right off it. A rain garden (or any garden) will do a better job of capturing rain, runoff, and charging ground water aquifers. Smart landscaping around parking lots and streets can reduce and eliminate flooding during heavy rain events.

Maintenance

Say good-bye to weekly mowing. Native plants do not need to be mowed, bagged, or taken away as part of yard waste. That said, especially in the first few years, the plants still need watering and care until they are well established. After that, if properly sited, they are drought and flood tolerant. They are relatively disease-free, and they don't require nearly as much maintenance, fungicides, pesticides, and general human interaction as many traditional landscaping plants.

Say hello to pollinators and birds

If you build it, they will come. What better way to get pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds to visit than planting a native garden? If you are looking for a natural, eco-friendly bird feeder, there is none more beautiful and alluring than this.

Eurybia divaricata (White wood asters)