Reason
In general, I prefer to use native plants in my garden and landscape designs. I am not suggesting that I only recommend using native plants. I also enjoy using some non-invasive exotic plants. I would never recommend the use of a invasive plant such as Norway Maple or multiflora rose. These plants are so prolific that they out compete native vegetation and eventually create a monoculture. This can have detrimental effects on the wildlife that inhabit the area and are dependent on the native vegetation for survival. "Natives plants" in this case are plants that are native to the area in which they are being used as opposed to "Exotics" and "Ornamentals" which have been introduced to the location. The native plants I recommend are native to the northeastern United States and would therefore not be appropriate for other areas of the U.S. such as the west coast.
I have an appreciation for all plants regardless of their origin. My undergraduate studies in Ornamental Horticulture exposed me to a vast variety of plant species mostly without particular regard to their specific origin.
As I went on to do personal research I came to realize that the origin of the plant species was of paramount importance to how that plant [species] reacted to and with the environment it was placed in. I followed up with readings, specifically those by Ian McHarg, Carol Franklin, Leslie Sauer, and Sara Stein. These authors impressed upon me an even greater appreciation for natural landscapes than the already strong one I possessed [I feel] somewhat naturally.
I saw the importance for using native vegetation in our landscape. I understood the reasons why I must pursue the philosophy of a natural landscape.
A few reasons for planting native:
- Natural beauty: Many native plants provide year round interest in the landscape. For example, if I am given a choice between a groomed lawn and a meadow, I'll take the meadow. Why? The grasses and wildflowers of a meadow offer a variety of colors and textures that changes throughout the year.
- Already adapted: For the most part, a plant that is native to an area will integrate into the landscape without any detrimental effects on the environment. Exotic plants can and often do have negative impacts on their surroundings and may alter or destroy a delicate [or even strong] ecosystem. When using native plants the key is to make sure the plant is planted in a place that provides the right conditions for it to survive. For example, you would not want to plant a native wetland plant such as buttonbush in an area where the soils are dry.
- Less demanding: Generally, native plant species will require less water than ornamentals or exotics. With the ever-increasing importance of water management in our world, this trait's importance cannot be underestimated. This is of course not the case with species that require periodic or constant inundation like wetland species.
- Good for wildlife: Many native plants provide habitat, food, and shelter for the fauna of the area. The native animals have evolved to interact with and make use of the plants that have been in their landscape for hundreds of years. Some exotics and ornamentals may provide the animals with something useful at the very least (i.e.; fruit) or actually harm the animals or their environment at the worst. Again one of the reasons for using native plants is for the diversity of habitat they provide wildlife. Exotic invasives when planted will often result in a monoculture of plants and negatively impact wildlife by reducing the variety of food and habitat types.
- Usually less maintenance: Because native plant species have evolved in their home environment, they generally need very little help from humans to survive. As long as they are used in situations to which they are accustomed, they will flourish. For example, in wet areas such as wetlands native plants adapted to wet soils should be used.
I concluded that while all plants are worthwhile knowing, I would put a significant portion of my efforts towards promoting the use of native plant species in [Landscape Architecture] designs and creating natural landscapes in harmony with their surroundings.
-ANNALISA