Landscaping with Native Plants
Native plants are awesome!
The plants that have evolved in your ecosystem provide niche services that other plants can't. They support all components of the ecosystem such as soils, neighboring plants, pollinators and other animals, and microbiota. Beyond this, installing native plants in your landscape can be a low-maintenance and cost effective option.
What is a Native Plant & Why are they Cool?
A native plant is one that occurs naturally in an area, without human introduction. These plants evolved with the surrounding ecosystem, including animals, microbiota, the non-living landscape, and climate.
Native Plants Can...
- Drastically reduce the need for chemical fertilizers
- Act as natural pest control
- Lower landscape maintenance
- Be water-efficient through drought and flood
- Support soil health
- Reduce erosion by water and wind
- Nourish bees, birds, butterflies, and other critters
- Supply year-round color, texture, and vibrancy
- Create shade, wind protection, and privacy
- Provide edible fruits and flowers
- Restore habitat in large and small spaces
- Inspire community action for our shared planet
- Increase your garden's ecosystem service output
New Blog Series: Subbing Native Plants into my Landscape
Native plants can fulfill most landscape needs better than ornamentals!
Our new blog series is called Subbing Native Plants into my Landscape. It explores how classic landscape features can be enhanced by native plants as opposed to traditional ornamental plant selections.
This is an ongoing series. We hope through these posts you will become inspired and install more native plants throughout your landscape.
Consider installing native plants as:
- Evergreen hedges
- Deciduous screening
- Groundcovers
- Pollinator gardens
- Erosion control
- Food forests
- Wildlife habitat
- Social trail deterrent
Vine Maples as Foliage Trees for Rubies & Bees
Want to add shade and color to your landscape while helping native-pollinators? Acer circinatum by…
Huckleberries as Specimen Shrub Candy for your Eyes and Tongue
Seeking a centerpiece for your native plant garden? Consider one of our huckleberries native to…
Strawberries for Groundcover & Snacks
Love Plants that Provide Multiple Ecosystem Services? We do too! Fragaria vesca patch with fruit…
Red Osier Dogwood for Winter Bird Food & Colorful Solitude
Ever notice vivid pops of red, twigy thickets on a grey winter day? Cornus sericea…