Why Plant Native?

Many of the wonderful plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region are virtually unknown to the average gardener. And with so many well-known exotic garden perennials like Astilbe, foxglove, or Helleborus readily available to gardeners today, one might wonder why anyone would plant native. There are, in fact, a number of good reasons why a gardener should consider natives. First, natives offer food and protection to wildlife that many common ornamentals do not. Second, native plants do not pose an environmental threat while many ornamentals can turn invasive. And lastly, native plants have evolved to live in our local climate, making them much easier to grow than many fickle exotics.

Natives offer services to wildlife

The Mid-Atlantic region is home to thousands of specialist insect species requiring very specific native plants to feed. The larvae of the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, for example, only feed on the leaves of the native spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and a species of long-horned bee, Melissodes fimbriatus, only feeds on the flowers of the evening primrose (Oenothera). Planting a non-native would offer nothing to any of these specialist insects. Also, many exotic plants are sterile, meaning they produce no seeds that would be a great source of food for songbirds. Exotic ornamentals offer no food for many of our specialist insects and songbirds, taking up space in gardens that a beneficial native plant could otherwise occupy.

Natives are non-invasive

Many popular exotic plants, like Euonymus, English ivy, and Japanese barberry have no natural predators present in the Mid-Atlantic. This allows them to grow unchecked, taking over large areas of forest and displacing native plants. This leaves specialist insects without sources of food, driving many of them close to extinction and decreasing local species diversity, which has a devastating effect on our ecosystem.

Natives are well-suited to our climate

Native plants, having millions of years to evolve and adapt to our local conditions, are naturally better suited to our climate than non-natives. This makes natives more resistant to drought, pests, and diseases that commonly afflict and often kill exotics. For example, milkweed (Asclepias) has developed toxins in its leaves and sap that make it unpalatable to deer, while many common garden plants like Hosta are as good as deer salad. Our native cactus, Opuntia humifusa, is highly drought tolerant and will grow in sunny, sandy locations where most ornamentals might wither and die.

Next time you go to buy plants for your garden, consider a native, or two. If deer and drought resistance aren’t good enough reasons to plant natives on their own, then consider the benefits you can provide to our native wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole by planting natives.

Below is a summary of three native perennial plants with spring interest, some of their appeal to pollinators, and their garden cultures.

Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)

Jacob’s ladder is a beautiful spring ephemeral in the Phlox family, bearing panicles of pale blue flowers atop a mound of feathery foliage in the early spring. It is a great choice for woodland or shade gardens and needs rich, consistently moist soil to thrive. Jacob’s ladder provides nectar and pollen for a wide variety of native bees, in addition to butterflies and moths.

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

Creeping phlox is a sprawling semi-evergreen perennial that covers the ground with a sea of pink flowers for a few weeks each spring. Creeping phlox is perfect for rock gardens and requires full sun and good drainage to thrive, but it still needs a good amount of moisture to stay healthy. Creeping phlox provides ample nectar for bumblebees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Virginia bluebells are an amazing spring ephemeral in the Borage family, that can spread to form large colonies in wooded areas. The plant bears racemes of nodding, trumpet-shaped flowers, which are frequented by butterflies in early spring. Virginia bluebells will thrive in full shade and need moist soil to thrive. Once the weather starts to get hot, however, Virginia bluebells will lose their leaves and enter dormancy, remaining hidden underground until the following spring.