Southern Gardeners ~ gardening locally, sharing globally

Why plant native?

The first question people ask me when asking for advice on what to plant in their yard is always “Why should I plant native plants?” My general answer is “You cannot afford not to!” Native plants and the native animals and birds they draw are in great danger from habitat destruction and climate changes. Saving them is becoming more and more of an individual gardener’s quest. Large tracts of untouched wilderness are becoming a rarity. Each of us has a chance in our yard to bring back native plants and, in turn, native animals and birds.

Native plants are not only drought tolerant (another problem many areas of the country are facing more and more often) they are also more pest and disease resistant than imported plants and trees. They also tend to draw more of the native wildlife than tropicals or imports.

There are some characteristics you should look at when choosing native plants, shrubs, and trees. Do smart research. What I mean by that is, research the plant you are interested in to see if it is a food source or shelter for native birds or wildlife. Does it provide a fruit of some type on which the wildlife could feed? Does it provide nectar or is it a host plant for butterflies? Is it a plant that requires special treatment that I may or may not be able to provide?

Think about your own planting area and what types of wildlife you’d like to attract. Do you like butterflies? Then, you’d need sunny areas and natives like milkweed and certain types of trees like willows to serve as hosts for the caterpillars. Do you like birds? Then maybe wax myrtle trees or blackberry brambles would be the thing for you. Perhaps you have woods nearby and would like to attract deer? Maybe a row of corn or tender greens would be best for you. It is easy to personalize even a backyard to your tastes as well as to the tastes of the the native wildlife and wild bird populations.

Finally, planting native plants can be financially smart. They hang on during low rainfall times so replacement due to death via drought happens much less often. They are more easily obtained. Check with local forestry departments or local extension offices to see where you can get cuttings, rooted starts, or even whole plants from areas that are being developed and plowed under. Find like-minded gardeners and share plants with each other. And, get native perennials from nurseries or retailers when they are done blooming and the sellers are closing down for the season. The plants may not look as beautiful as they did in the growing season, but as long as the roots are healthy, they’ll come back in full force. You can also plant seeds-a much cheaper alternative to plants.

Remember, it’s up to us to keep native populations going! Get out there and Grow it Native!

 Print This Post

Share This: