Growing Native
Let us count the ways why you should garden with plants that are native to your region:
1. They’re well adapted to your environment, making them a whole lot easier to care for than your average fussy tea roses.
2. They’re typically low-impact growers, meaning that they generally require less water, fertilizers, maintenance, etc., making them better all around for the environment, as well as your water bill.
3. Growing native plants improves the botanical biodiversity of your area, which is especially helpful in the suburbs where The Lawn reigns supreme.
4. Native plants often provide habitats and food for butterflies, pollinating insects, birds, and other wildlife, turning your garden into a mini-ecosystem or haven in the middle of the city. You’d be surprised by the diversity of insects and birds that visit my urban rooftop garden.
The trick to growing native plants begins with identifying plants specifically for your region. The North American landscape is incredibly diverse, so it is important to find plants native to your area and not simply labelled “native to North America.” A good starting place is a website like the Lady Bird Johnson Native Plants Database that allows you to search by region, family, scientific name, and common name. Another excellent resource (though it’s a bit less intuitive), is the USDA’s Plants Database. If you’re interested in how to get started with native plant gardening and design, check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s printable handbook called The Wild Ones.
