Native plants are the backbone of ecological success. They play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of local ecosystems. There is a symbiotic relationship between natives, wildlife, and soil. It has developed over hundreds of years. Exotic plants cannot fill the role played by native plants.
This article covers five facts everyone should know about native plants.
1. They Have an Important Relationship with Local Wildlife
beneficial. The dependence of specific native plants on pollinators is one common example.
While feeding on a plant’s nectar, pollen sticks to the pollinator’s body. When the insect moves on to another plant, they transfer the pollen. This helps plants develop viable seeds and reproduce.
2. They’re a Product of Millions of Years of Evolution
Natives occur within a given region. They are the foundation upon which all other natural life in the area depends. Native plants help local insects survive. These insects, in turn, feed local birds.
Entomologist Doug Tallamy showed native oak trees support over 500 species of caterpillar. In contrast, non-native ginkgos– a commonly-planted landscape tree from Asia – supports only five.
3. Natives Provide Several Environmental Benefits
Natives contribute to the environmental health because they’re adapted to the local region. Humans also enjoy these contributions. Natives help remove impurities from air and water sources like streams and rivers.
4. Many Natives Are Colorful in the Winter
Add color to winter landscapes with native plants. Native deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua) and Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) help create a dynamic, colorful space year-round.
This article shares some of our favorite winter-interest natives to brighten winter landscapes.
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5. They’re Easier to Maintain Than Non-Natives
If you like low-maintenance gardening, add more native plants! In most cases nature provides your native garden with all the nourishment it needs to thrive. Also, hardy native perennials return year after year. That saves you money on replacements.
Your Experts in Native
Forrest Keeling has been a leader in the nursery industry for 75 years and counting. Family-owned, our native plants are the benchmark for conservation remediation projects everywhere. Seven decades later, our Nursery continues to live out our mission, ‘…to restore the earth’s ecosystems one tree at a time.’
Forrest Keeling Nursery… it’s where the best natives begin! Contact us today.