By Jayme Rieuf
Note from G. Rogers: This essay is by horticulture student Jayme Rieuf, written during the Corona downtime. This is so true, and so well written, I felt moved to share it on the blog. Thank you JR.
Using native plants could arguably be the most valuable thing one can do for their landscape for many reasons. Native plants are classified as a species that occurs naturally and thrives in an area in which it originally evolved. Native plants in any given area, state or every country differ. To begin native species are in fact better conditioned to the local environmental conditions. An example of this would be Forestiera segregata also known as Florida Privet that has adapted to sustain in Florida’s hot sandy soils. Native plants on average use less water because they are established to conditions of the area. This saves water which is considered a very valuable resource.
Species that are grown in their native environment usually are not in need of as much assistance from crutches like fertilizer, pesticides or even excessive watering patterns. In convential landscaping most often pesticides are over used or wrongly applied, which can actually kill beneficial insects which may be doing good for your plants. Not to mention how terrible pesticides can be for the environment and the one handling the product. With native species the minimization of these products means less runoff into oceans, streams and even our drinking water, which improves water quality for humans and animals. But this also reduces risk to humans for the long term with less handling, inhaling etc. of such toxic products.
Maintenance is lower in Native vs. Conventional landscaping because mowing, trimming etc. is not needed as frequently, which helps reduce use of non-renewable resources but also protects our water and air quality. As the world evolves the importance of air quality is increasing. Air quality is protected with reduced emissions of air pollutants caused by things like the gasoline from mowers, leaf blowers etc. Natives definitely reduce maintenance. Landscaping with natives is a positive for the environment by making an area healthier and introducing diversity of seed spreaders and pollinators alike. Luring in different species of birds, butterflies and other insects and animals adds to the beauty of one’s property and helps out others. This also proves to be an opportunity to educate our neighbors or friends on ways they can improve their own landscape saving time and energy. That may even encourage some balance of landscape designs to add a touch of coordination between properties.
The most valuable reason for using native species in your landscaping is the fact that it saves you money, because they practically take care of themselves. Native species evolve for survival over many years. They have adapted and will continue to adapt to our ever-changing conditions. Native species are valuable to landscaping for a number of reasons, if people understood more about the advantages of going for a native landscape they may be more opt to do so. That is the beauty of choice however, some people are high maintenance like their lawns. Taking this natives class has honestly given me such an appreciation for the species that are actually “meant to be here”.
photo by John Bradford
John Bradford
George Rogers
Dee Staley
Treasure Coast Natives 
Annie Hite
April 4, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with planting natives for all the reasons Jayme Rieu gave, and since putting in just a few of them, our garden now attracts many different butterflies, birds and bees. It’s nice to see the irrigation bills decrease also.
George Rogers
April 4, 2020 at 6:06 pm
For certain!
friedova
April 4, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Well written. I would like ot share with others locally. In Eastern Ontario, we are lagging a bit in attention to native species for landscaping. The rationale here may prompt a few more people to enlist in the movement!
Diane Goldberg
April 5, 2020 at 7:20 am
The article was very good. Native plants when put in the right place, don’t need fertilizer, too much water, and can sustain the inundation of insects, so don’t need pesticides. The native trees and shrubs also sequester carbon into the ground, which helps with climate change and lowers the acidification of our oceans. It also means salt intrusion in our shallow aquifers from sea rise. Insects are an important part of the food web. Leonard Perry, University of Vermont says: “96% of terrestrial bird species depend on insects – and lots of them. Gardeners should increase native plants to 75% to increase the number of bird species and overall numbers of birds.”
Per the World Wildlife Fund’s 2018 Living Planet report, which tracked 4,000 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, we have lost 60% of world animal populations from 1970 to 2014.
Though Forestiera segregate is one of my favorite trees because the birds in my yard like it so much, it’s common name is also Florida Swampprivet. Therefore, it does need irrigation if not planted in a moist or wet location.
It was Thoreau who in writing of the destruction of the forests exclaimed, “Thank heaven they cannot cut down the clouds.” Per Gene Stratton Porter: “Aye, but they can!…if men in their greed cut forests that preserve and distill moisture, clear fields, take the shelter of trees from creeks and rivers until they evaporate, and drain the water from swamps so that they can be cleared and cultivated, they prevent vapor from rising. And if it does not rise, it cannot fall. Man can change and is changing the forces of nature. Man can cut down the clouds.” She wrote that between 1910 and 1920. We have not doing enough. We are still cutting down forests, but now it’s mostly for urbanization. We need to plant not just more native plants, we need to plant more native trees and shrubs. We need to teach our politicians and government employees that they save money and the planet. The monopoly of grass in no longer prestigious and should be discouraged.