Severnista

Now more than ever do we need more native plants adorning our gardens, yards and patio spaces. Here are my top five reasons for incorporating native plants into your landscapes.

1. They’re absolutely beautiful! From color, texture and shape to taste, smell and sound, there is something outstanding about their good looks and performance in the garden.

2. They will attract friends and family like no other! Native plants invite insects, birds and other wildlife into your garden. They are necessary for pollinating insects but also to support an entire web of ecology and life.

3. Tough as nails! That’s how I like to refer to their admirable resiliency. They don’t need to be babied like other perennials and annuals. They aren’t especially finicky. Even if they take a hit one year, just wait and see, there’s a good chance they’ll come back. They can handle the flux of the elements, chomping insects, and some of the least ideal locations and still revive each year. In fact some may say ‘too resilient’ but that’s not without having something to offer.

4. They are water wise! When choosing native plants for your area, their water wisdom is already gauged for your climate. When you pick the right plant for the right place, or even when experimenting with those limits, your plant should fit right in and after the first year of support and watering, your native plants should show their very resilient nature.

5. The perennial lifestyle :) Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the seasonal landscape evolve and change. To me this goes back to #1. Part of the beauty of native perennial plants is witnessing their evolution throughout the year. I get giddy when I see Baptisia bursting up through the soil in early spring. In such a short time it is then filled with beautiful florescences. But this re-giving also saves me money. Not only are they here again next year but they are often spreading and producing seeds that can be used to add beauty to other parts of the garden or to give to friends or to sell.

These are my top 5 reasons for using native plants in the garden no matter how big or how small.