Why are native plants important?
Plants maintain the health of your land by creating and protecting the soil, filtering and creating clean air, filtering and protecting groundwater, and providing food and shelter for you, your family, and native wildlife. Native plants are those that occur naturally in a particular area and are adapted to the local climate, soil, and water conditions. Once they are established, native plants will usually thrive without the need for supplemental irrigation or pesticides. In addition, because native plants have evolved with the local wildlife, they provide excellent sources of food, nesting, and shelter for native animals. The native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers in your area have traditionally grown together as members of plant communities.

In contrast to native plants, invasive plants are usually exotic (non-native) plants that escape into the wild and, without natural controls, may spread rapidly, out-compete and replace natives, and take over entire areas. Invasive species can completely alter local habitats and diminish the habitat's value to native wildlife. Invasives should be brought under control using the least toxic methods.

Getting Started: What You Can Do

• Find out what kind of native plants are on your property. Ask your local extension agent or native plant club for help and suggested field guides to help you identify your native plant communities and their trees, bushes, forbs, and grasses or visit the USDA online database (below).
• Plant native species that are appropriate for your local habitat and soil conditions. Seek to create or restore entire communities of native plants if possible.
• Determine what the most common exotic invasive plants are in your area and if you have them on your property. Find out the least toxic methods for removing them, avoiding chemical herbicides if possible.

Helpful Links

• USDA native plant database
• Native Plants database (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)
• Invasive plants
• Native Plants (Audubon At Home)
• Native Plants Action Plan PDF (Audubon)
• North American Native Plant Society