Native plants

While non-native plants may provide some of the same ecosystem services as natives, in many cases, native species can provide additional benefits that non-native species cannot. For example, monarch butterflies rely on a few species of native milkweeds as their sole host plants. In addition, plants native to a region are pre-adapted to its soils and climate allowing them to thrive without added fertilizer, water, or winter protection.

While both native and non-native plants can attract wildlife, some non-native species provide lower quality food and nesting habitat than native species. For example, one study showed American robins nesting in exotic bush honeysuckle and common buckthorn experienced higher rates of nest predation than robins nesting in native hawthorns or Viburnum shrubs. Finally, some non-native plants become invasive or harbor non-native pests and diseases. Purchasing locally grown native plant material helps prevent movement of pests, and reduces risk of new non-natives entering the United States through international plant trade.

The above issues are worsened by the extent to which non-native plants now dominate our landscapes. For example, the turf grass species most commonly used for lawns are not native to many of the areas where they are planted. Most of our common weeds in agriculture are not native to North America. Moreover, the majority of the species used for landscaping are also non-natives. Reincorporating native species into our landscape can support the native biodiversity that remains. Starting to incorporate native plants in small areas can lead to a patchwork of habitat that supports native biodiversity. In this way even adding a few native plants in a suburban yard can be part of restoring imperiled organisms and habitats.

See our plant facts for specific information on many native plants.