Ann Butler

Have you ever excitedly purchased a new plant from the nursery, brought it home, planted it, and then been disappointed when it languished in your garden? Consider planting Native Plants in your garden.

What is a Native Plant? According to the USDA website, “a native plant is a plant that is a part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem.” Additionally, “only plants found in this country before European settlement are considered to be native to the United States.” For gardeners in this area, that means these plants survived and thrived in the East Texas region before settlers came to the area.

Why use a Native Plant in your garden? Adding them increases the biodiversity of your land and neighborhood. Our son lived in a relatively new housing area in the Dallas metroplex where each home had the exact same tree in the front yard. Without diversity, a fungus, beetle, or virus could easily wipe out all the trees in the area in a relatively short time. With each yard essentially the same, the lack of biodiversity meant that many animals lacked food and shelter that native plants provide.

Native plants are usually easier to grow and hardier than plants you might find at a typical home improvement store. Because they are well adapted to the region, they use less water, fertilizer, and pesticides, and are well suited to the local soil. Once established in your garden, these plants require a minimum of care, saving you both time and money.

Some of the most beautiful plants that catch our eye are actually invasive, and most have been imported from other countries. An area I bike through has a few trees almost completely covered in beautiful flowering vines each spring. While eye-catching, the vines are harmful to the tree since they can cover up leaves, essentially starving the tree of sunlight.

What are the advantages of using Native Plants? They generally support the local pollinators (bees, moths, and birds) and other animals as a source of food and/or habitat. Exotic plants may offer a nectar source for wildlife, but in many cases their leaves, fruits, pollen and nectar are not the preferred food of our vital native insects and wildlife.

What should you consider if you decide to add Native Plants to your garden? Is there a particular spot in your garden where the current plants are struggling? Think about the soil, moisture, and amount of sunlight that area receives. Do you want an accent plant, or a background plant? Also, be sure to consider the mature size of any plant you add to your garden.

The addition of Native Plants to your garden will bring delight to you, increase the biodiversity of your space, and nurture and sustain birds and other animals.