What are native plants?

Native plants are the naturally occurring, indigenous plants within a specific habitat of a specific biographical region. Native plants are adapted to the soil and climate in which they live, and have evolved defenses to many disease and insect pests.

Why use native plants?

Native plants offer many advantages and help to create a self-sustaining, low-maintenance habitat over time. Native plants are drought and disease tolerant, require little maintenance once established, attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds, help restore plant diversity, and help stabilize and restore soil. They are hardier than many of their non-native, cultivated cousins. Many native species are long-lived perennials which survive for decades.

Although native plants require the same care and attention as non-native, cultivated varieties in their first couple of years, once established, native plants should survive and thrive for many years with little maintenance.

What are exotic and invasive plants?

Exotic plants are species that do not naturally occur within a given habitat of a biogeographic region. When an introduced, exotic plant species establishes itself in a given environment and grows aggressively to the detriment of local, native plant populations, then it is considered an invasive species. Invasive species have adaptations that allow them to respond too favorably to local environmental conditions. Without natural enemies or competition, they spread rapidly, taking over an area. As the native vegetation is out-competed by the invasive species, the habitat quality rapidly declines and the diversity and richness of plant species decreases. This has an adverse effect on wildlife.

Call us for assistance or questions with native plants.