- Why Should You Use Native Plants? -

Pollination occurs when pollinators land on flowers to feed on nectar, with the pollen in the flower's center rubbing off onto the pollinator, being deposited onto the next flower that the pollinator chooses to feed on. 

With this information in mind, it is easy to see that pollinators are beneficial for the environment, helping plants to create seeds through this cross-pollination. This process allows for flowers to "reproduce" and for you garden to grow! 

But how does pollination benefit the pollinators themselves? It's simple: the flowers provide nectar, a food source for the pollinators. In fact, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and some small mammals all rely on nectar as a main food source during warm months. 

For more information and resources, visit this link to see what Michigan State University extension offices have to offer.

Invasive plants are a major threat to ecosystems across the country. Having been introduced both accidentally and intentionally in the past, their aggressive natures have caused native plant populations to dwindle. Consequently, the environment as a whole has suffered as soil conditions deteriorate, pollinator abundances decline, and chemical use in the form of herbicides and pesticides has increased. 

This is why native plants are a necessary resource in terms of environmental protection, fighting against invasive species while benefiting the soil, pollinators, and ecosystems as a whole.

 For more information on invasive species, make sure to check out the "Other Materials" tab! You can learn more about rain gardens, solar, and community gardens as well!

(Pictured above is Canada Thistle, a rapidly spreading invasive species found across the United States. A singular patch can grow by 10-12 feet in a single growing season, quickly outcompeting all other nearby plant communities.)

 Local soil conditions will undoubtedly improve with the beneficial root systems that accompany native plant installations. This is important in communities that heavily support the agriculture industry, where soil conditions can be severely impacted by erosion and nutrient loss. Native plants not only serve to stabilize topsoil and deeper soil horizons, but increased soil nutrient cycling can promote overall soil health and increased outputs. 

It is amazing to think that what you plant in your garden or flowerbeds, can have such an overarching impact on local soil conditions!

For more information and to view a helpful chart comparing native and non-native root systems, visit this link (this chart relates to non-natives commonly found in the Kansas City region, but the overall information applies to all areas). 

As mentioned before, native plants are beneficial for not only individual components of the environment, but for ecosystems overall as well. For instance, because native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions, they require less water. Not only does this save time and money on your end, it also helps to conserve the most valuable resource of all: water. 

Further, native plants can even help to combat climate change, a current major threat to the Earth. This is done primarily through the reduction of pollutants in the air, as less lawn mower exhaust is emitted and more native, long-living trees store carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. 

Finally, it is understood that humans are also part of ecosystems, meaning that native plants have a positive impact on our own lives as well. Besides experiencing the inherent beauty of native plants, the reduced need for harmful chemicals (often in the form of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer) can help you to stay healthy. This is in addition to the cleaner air and water that native plants provide. 

Overall, ecosystems, which are comprised of plants, animals, and humans alike, are positively impacted by the many services that native plants provide.