Planting for More Than Yourself

The Importance of Native Plants & Wildlife

Some specifics of this page are targeted mainly to those living in the United States, however the basic ideas mentioned here apply to anyone in any region.

One of the great joys of gardening is sharing your garden.  It’s so rewarding to have other people come and enjoy the beautiful place you’ve created.  Just as rewarding, or perhaps more so, is sharing your garden with wildlife. As gardeners, we have the incredible opportunity to make our little piece of the earth even better than it was when we got there.

One of my very favorite activities in life is meandering through my garden and seeing the lizards, bumblebees (and other native bees), frogs, butterflies, and various little insects traveling the thoroughfares of my garden.  I love that my garden is a sanctuary of life.  I love sitting in my dining room and watching birds flit about and huge dragonflies swooping and diving through the air, hunting mosquitos and other flying insects.  Instead of being a still and lifeless museum of plants, my garden is a true oasis of life, filled with movement, sound, and happiness.

And as more and more of our native bird, insect, and reptile species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, we have the power to help them survive.  By planting things that are native to your area, you provide food, shelter, and cover for your native species.

Native Plants

You don’t have to have your entire garden filled with native plants –though that’s a wonderful type of garden to create—but if you dedicate 25 to 50 percent of your space to native plants and trees, you can make a real difference.

So many of our native plants are fabulous in the garden, and many of the staples of American gardens are actually natives anyway.

It’s easy to find natives for your area.  Simply type “native plants for _____(your state)” into a search engine and you’ll find plenty of lists.  Also try “native flowers” or “native trees,” being more specific for the application you’re looking to fill.  I also have a few websites listed on my Products & Resources page which have native plant lists and sources.

Just for now, though, here is a VERY short list of some of our lovely native flowers for the US.

Milkweed is the only species of plant Monarch butterflies use to raise their young.  Planting your local variety of milkweed can make a difference to this endangered species!

Butterflies, bees, moths, and wasps

Most people understand the importance of having flowers to provide nectar for butterflies and bees.  What people often don’t consider is other types of pollinators and other needs of pollinators.

Firstly, moths and wasps are just as important in the ecosystem and for pollination as the pretty butterflies we love so much. Without all of them, our natural system would collapse.  Not only do they pollinate, but they themselves are food for countless other living things.

Secondly, native bees (not honeybees, which are imported from Europe) are declining all over North America with some species on the verge of extinction.  Most of the loss is due to loss of habitat which provides both food (nectar) and shelter.

After the immediate need for food, all pollinators’ primary need is reproduction.

A Butterfly or moth needs plenty of nectar plants, but she also needs host plants for her caterpillars to feed on, otherwise that butterfly or moth will die without having created the next generation.  Planting caterpillar host plants is one important way we can help.  And even more important than that is not spraying pesticides.  Even natural pesticides like neem oil kill pollinators as well as other, less desirable insects. 

Yes, it can be a bummer to see one of your plants chewed up and skeletal after being gobbled by caterpillars, but those plants evolved to handle this and they will grow new leaves.  The unsightliness is temporary, but if it bothers you, you can plant these host plants in less visible parts of the garden so they aren’t as noticeable.

Bees need safe and appropriate nesting places to lay eggs.  Old rotting wood, bare ground (without mulch), and dead plant stems all house native bee nests for eggs and for overwintering.  You can also drill various size holes into a felled tree log for their use.  If they use your fence or decking, don’t worry -their holes are too small and insignificant to harm your structure.

Wasps mostly need to be left alone unless their nest is sited too close to humans or animals that can be harmed by wasp aunties protecting their nest.  Wasps are fantastic caterpillar eaters, so I urge you to let them and their nests be anywhere that it’s not a problem to you and your family.  I leave wasp nests up high on my house or in trees, or anywhere people won’t be traversing.

Everything else~

In addition to pollinators, there are many other animals that make our gardens (and the world) a beautiful place.

Birds grace our skies with movement and fill our ears with song.

Lizards and frogs help with pest control and themselves are food for larger things.

Earthworms are critical to soil health and provide food for others.

Snakes eat rodents, cockroaches, and other things (and the majority of them are not venomous or harmful – get to know your local snakes so you can tell the difference).

Deer are cute and…well, they eat everything and are overpopulated in most locations due to the loss of large predators, so we’ll just do our best to keep them out of our gardens.

There is lots of information out there on how to build and maintain gardens for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.  I have a couple of websites listed on my Products & Resources page that can get you started.

May your garden be teeming with life and may your heart be teeming with the joy it brings you and others.