{"id":8039,"date":"2022-02-13T21:27:01","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T21:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=8039"},"modified":"2023-11-21T23:47:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T23:47:11","slug":"what-is-native-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Native Plant?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are all the rage these days. They\u2019re hailed as the heroes of the natural world and saviors of local wildlife and ecosystems. But what <em>is<\/em> a native plant? We\u2019ll dig in a little deeper to learn more about these ecosystem superheroes.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-ad6b08da-cc1f-4e38-977b-fba343924f94\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#0-what-is-a-native-plant\" style=\"\">What is a native plant?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#1-why-are-native-plants-important\" style=\"\">Why are native plants important?<\/a><ul><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#2-drought-tolerant-and-deeply-rooted\" style=\"\">Drought tolerant and deeply rooted<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#3-adapted-to-local-climates\" style=\"\">Adapted to local climates<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#4-necessary-for-wildlife-and-waterways\" style=\"\">Necessary for wildlife and waterways<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#5-important-to-local-ecosystems\" style=\"\">Important to local ecosystems<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#6-what-are-the-benefits-of-native-plants\" style=\"\">What are the benefits of native plants?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#7-what-are-non-native-plants\" style=\"\">What are non-native plants?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#8-how-to-buy-native-plants\" style=\"\">How to buy native plants<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#9-how-to-use-native-plants-in-your-landscape\" style=\"\">How to use native plants in your landscape<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-is-native-plant\/#10-learn-more-about-native-plants-in-your-city\" style=\"\">Learn more about native plants in your city<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-what-is-a-native-plant\"><span id=\"what-is-a-native-plant\">What is a native plant?<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildflower.org\/expert\/show.php?id=972#:~:text=a%20plant%20that%20occurs%20naturally%20in%20the%20place%20where%20it%20evolved\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">native plant<\/a> \u201coccurs naturally in the place where it evolved.\u201d That\u2019s pretty straightforward. There are two other things to highlight from this definition of native plants.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Have a long lineage in a particular place (Their many times great-grandparents lived there, too, going back hundreds or thousands of years.)<\/li><li>Are not altered by human plant breeding efforts<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Basically, native plants are firmly rooted by a long line of predecessors in a particular place and have not been altered by human breeding.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-why-are-native-plants-important\"><span id=\"why-are-native-plants-important\">Why are native plants important?<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are a critical piece of local ecosystems. Here are a few reasons why:<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-drought-tolerant-and-deeply-rooted\"><span id=\"drought-tolerant-and-deeply-rooted\">Drought tolerant and deeply rooted<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are generally drought tolerant and need less water than non-native plants <em>once they\u2019re established<\/em>. This is in part because of their roots. The root systems of native plants and native grasses are generally much deeper than non-native ornamental plants or turfgrass.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, native <a href=\"https:\/\/cfpub.epa.gov\/npstbx\/files\/KSMO_KnowYourRoots.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">buffalo grass roots<\/a> extend up to 6 feet into the soil below. Non-native turfgrass? Only a few inches.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plant roots also stabilize soils and reduce erosion, which is critical. Soils are the foundation of all life, and lost soil is \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usbg.gov\/exposed-secret-life-roots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">largely non-renewable<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-adapted-to-local-climates\"><span id=\"adapted-to-local-climates\">Adapted to local climates<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you visit a national park or protected area, many of those plants have ancestors that lived there for hundreds or thousands of years before they did. These plants know how to tolerate or thrive under local temperatures (maximum and minimum), weather patterns, and soil conditions.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-necessary-for-wildlife-and-waterways\"><span id=\"necessary-for-wildlife-and-waterways\">Necessary for wildlife and waterways<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are only one part of a local ecosystem. Local wildlife, which also has ancestors in that area, have adapted to using these local, native plants as food, shelter, and nesting sites for their young.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants also help manage the flow of water in an area. Cities often use native plants to stabilize the banks along waterways and stormwater basins. Native plants\u2019 extensive root systems stabilize the soil, prevent erosion, and filter water as it drains into the ground.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-important-to-local-ecosystems\"><span id=\"important-to-local-ecosystems\">Important to local ecosystems<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are beneficial for local home sites, but they are also the foundation of local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnps.org\/gardening\/why-natives\/what-are-native-plants#:~:text=plants%20are%20a%20cornerstone%20of%20biological%20diversity.%20native%20plants%20do%20the%20best%20job%20of%20providing%20food%20and%20shelter%20for%20native%20wild%20animals.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biological diversity<\/a> (sometimes called <a href=\"https:\/\/askabiologist.asu.edu\/questions\/what-biodiversity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">biodiversity<\/a> for short). This biodiversity can be seen in the interdependence that native plants and animals have with each other.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This biodiversity extends below the soil as well. Complex networks of microorganisms, along with the visible elements above-ground, contribute to the interconnectedness of the whole ecosystem. Local wildlife, plants, microbes, and other living elements grow and change together over many generations.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-what-are-the-benefits-of-native-plants\"><span id=\"what-are-the-benefits-of-native-plants\">What are the benefits of native plants?<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are to your local climate like a favorite pair of old jeans is to you. They\u2019ve endured years of soaking rains (the washer), high heat (the dryer), and just about every climate they could encounter in your area, and now they fit like a glove.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants have gone through the wringer and come out stronger and more resilient. Here are a few benefits of the native plants that call your community <em>home<\/em>:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Little or no supplemental water<\/li><li>Little or no need for chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers<\/li><li>Generally low-maintenance<\/li><li>Plants won\u2019t become invasive<\/li><li>Birds, bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies may visit and even stay a while<\/li><li>Plants won\u2019t die from yearly temperature extremes<\/li><li>Less lawn to mow, fertilize, weed, aerate, or dethatch, saving time and money<\/li><li>With less non-native grass, you can specialize your planting areas:&nbsp;<ul><li>Use deep-rooting, heat-tolerant native plants in areas that face south or get the blazing hot afternoon sun<\/li><li>Use native plants that tolerate heavy rain in a rain garden or along stormwater pathways. Native plants also control erosion, runoff, and provide a natural filter for the water as it drains through the earth<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-what-are-non-native-plants\"><span id=\"what-are-non-native-plants\">What are non-native plants?<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what do you call plants that don\u2019t fit into the \u201cnative\u201d category? Here are a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/nrcs\/detail\/ct\/technical\/ecoscience\/invasive\/?cid=nrcs142p2_011124\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">distinctions from USDA.gov<\/a>:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Exotic plant: A plant that is living on a continent different from the one where it originated<\/li><li>Invasive plant: A plant that is disruptive to local ecosystems and is non-native<\/li><li>Naturalized plant: Non-native plants that survive and spread without human intervention<\/li><li>Non-native plant: A plant that is introduced into an area where it has not lived previously<\/li><li>Noxious weed: Plants that cause direct or indirect damage to crops, agriculture, or other natural resources. Some of these weeds are federally recognized, and as such, have laws surrounding them.<\/li><li>Opportunistic native plant: Native plants that spread aggressively and overtake other vegetation on that site<\/li><li>Translocated plant: A plant native to one area that makes its way to a non-native location<\/li><li>Weed: Plants that threaten ecosystems or agriculture<\/li><\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-how-to-buy-native-plants\"><span id=\"how-to-buy-native-plants\">How to buy native plants<\/span><\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Native plant sales<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact your state\u2019s native plant society (or your local chapter). These societies often host at least two plant sales per year (spring and fall) as a fundraiser for their group. Sometimes they will sell plants throughout the year at their meetings.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>From a local nursery<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With increased demand from consumers, many local, independent nurseries carry native plants.&nbsp;<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>From a friend<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t underestimate the willingness of local native plant enthusiasts to share their abundance. When it comes time to divide overgrown perennials, local gardeners would be happy to share the extra with you instead of putting it in the compost pile. Or, you could ask them to save some of the seeds so you can start your own plants the following season.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Online<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may be seeds or plants that you aren\u2019t able to find at local plant sales or nurseries. If you can find a seed supplier online that sources from plants with a long history in your particular region, give them a try.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To note:<\/strong> Some native plants have a wide natural range. So, while you can source native species from suppliers outside of your geographic area, it makes sense that the same species from a much warmer, colder, drier, or more humid region will have adapted more to that region and not perform as well in your climate.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll save a discussion on <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umd.edu\/resource\/what-native-plant#:~:text=Even%20within%20their,your%20project%20site.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ecotypes<\/a> for another day, but know that plants with ancestry in your local growing conditions (weather, soil, rainfall) provide the best addition to local plant communities.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-how-to-use-native-plants-in-your-landscape\"><span id=\"how-to-use-native-plants-in-your-landscape\">How to use native plants in your landscape<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants fill many different landscape niches. Choose the one or ones that work best in your yard.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Butterfly, pollinator, and wildlife garden<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may (or may not) be on a monarch migration route, but you likely have some type of butterfly or wildlife nearby that could use a helping hand. (Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.fed.us\/wildflowers\/pollinators\/Monarch_Butterfly\/migration\/index.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this map from the U.S. Forest Service<\/a> to see if you\u2019re on their route.) Ask your local conservation or native plant society which plants provide food or shelter for local wildlife, such as bird species and pollinator insects.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to attract monarchs, be sure to plant the type(s) of milkweed native to your area in your <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-create-a-butterfly-garden\/\">butterfly garden<\/a>. And don\u2019t forget those un-bee-lievable pollinators, our bee friends. Build a <a href=\"https:\/\/vtx.vt.edu\/articles\/2020\/03\/ext-entomologists-tips-for-installing-and-maintaining-native-bee-houses.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bee house<\/a> for local solitary bees, which are superb pollinators and don\u2019t normally sting humans.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Wildflower meadow<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you want to swap your lawn for a native prairie or add a small <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-grow-wildflower-meadows\/\">wildflower meadow<\/a> in your landscape, wildflowers add color and wildlife interest to brighten any space.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Rain garden<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rain gardens are another way to explore the diversity of the native plant species and local mulch, stone, or rocks in your area. <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/rain-garden-benefits\/\">Rain gardens<\/a> manage stormwater runoff on your property but also benefit local ecosystems, waterways, and wildlife. Use pollinator-friendly native plants in your rain garden and invite more wildlife to eat, drink, or nest in your landscape.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-learn-more-about-native-plants-in-your-city\"><span id=\"learn-more-about-native-plants-in-your-city\">Learn more about native plants in your city<\/span><\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Go birding<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What do birds have to do with native plants? Native species are part of their habitat; without them, they wouldn\u2019t have a place to live, nest, or food to eat. Check out your state or local Audubon or ornithological association. They host birding trips (where you can observe how they interact with local plant life), visit wildlife sanctuaries, and teach about ornithophily (how birds act as plant pollinators). They often host native plant sales as well.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Take a walk in an arboretum<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no better place to learn about native plants than a state or local arboretum. You may learn about invasive species in your state as well since these species are as important for public education as the native ones.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Trees and bees<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Major cities often have tree organizations to restore the tree canopy in their city. If you\u2019re interested in native trees, this may be a good place to volunteer. Similarly, bee societies are plentiful in cities (and less developed areas), and are a great place to learn about native plants and the insects that call them \u201cdinner.\u201d<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Native plant societies<\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plant societies have a mission to conserve native plants, but they can\u2019t do it alone. They need extra hands and hearts to dig, propagate, rescue, and care for native plant ecosystems in your community.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, don\u2019t forget to check out our articles on lawnlove.com<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/reasons-to-grow-native-plants\/\">12 Reasons You Should Grow Native Plants<\/a><\/li><li>How to Design a Native Plant Garden<\/li><li>Native Cultivar vs. Straight Species Native Plants<\/li><li>Native Plants [in Your City]: <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/\">Search for the largest city<\/a> in your state. We likely have a native plants story for that city. Here are a few:<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-native-plants-austin\/\">13 Best Native Plants for Your Austin Garden<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-native-plants-san-diego\/\">10 Best Native Plants for San Diego<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-native-plants-orlando\/\">13 Best Native Plant for Your Orlando Garden<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-native-plants-chicago\/\">9 Best Native Plants for Your Chicago Garden<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Too busy diving into native plants to focus on your small patch of grass? Let Lawn Love\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lawnlove.com\"><em>local lawn care professionals<\/em><\/a><em> take care of the lawn while you focus on creating a native sanctuary in your landscape.<\/em><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Photo Credit: NatureFriend | <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/chipmunk-animal-sunflower-seeds-3628624\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Native plants are all the rage these days. They\u2019re hailed as the heroes of the natural world and saviors of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":8041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[298],"tags":[132,222],"class_list":["post-8039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-landscaping","tag-gardening","tag-landscaping"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/rsz_chipmunk-gd09485fad_1280.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sarah Bahr","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/sarah-bahr\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8039"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8039\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}