Why Should You Care About Native Plants?

What are native plants?

Native plants are naturally occurring in a region where they originally evolved. These plants are indigenous to an area and have evolved without human assistance or introduction.

So, why are they so important?

Native plants are extremely important to wildlife and pollination. They provide food for native pollinators, such as birds, butterflies, and bees. They also provide shelter for native wildlife, creating a flourishing symbiotic relationship. They are also more sustainable, as native plants thrive in the weather patterns and environmental conditions they evolved in. With natives, there is a lesser water requirement, along with chemical requirements, as they do not need excess water and chemicals to stay alive. They also help to reduce air pollution, as they are able to grow naturally without mowing or other alterations. All of these advantages in comparison to non-native plants not only make them easy to care for at home, they also help promote biodiversity!

How can you support native plant life?

You can support native plant life in many ways, starting with gardening! If you’re a plant lover, gardening is probably something you accomplish every year. As spring is underway, it’s the perfect time to head out and pick up some native plants for your backyard. Native gardening is a great way to help the local wildlife thrive, while making maintenance easier on yourself.

LandHealth’s Native Plant Nursery

Our plants are locally and ethically sourced, and further grown in our non-profit native plant nursery located in West Philadelphia. We work with the local community (such as participants from SpARC, an organization for people with disabilities) along with volunteers and our wonderful staff in order to nurture and care for our native plants. Some of the common plants we have to offer include Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), New England Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) and many more which you can find on our website!