Falling in love with native plants has been a process for me. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a long, slow love affair.
Marshallia mohrii
It might have been beauty that attracted me first. A bright orange flower on the roadside was intriguing and colorful. I also admired how hardy it was – how it could stand up to harsh conditions on the side of the busy roads. That was the beginning and the plant was butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa.
I learned more. I learned about both individual plants and the role that native plants play in the local ecosystem. There is so much to learn. Every plant and every fact made it all seem so … right.
You see, there is no single reason to love and appreciate these plants. Let me count the ways:
They are beautiful. Native flowers can be every bit of beautiful as non-native ones. It’s fun to show someone a gorgeous flower and then tell them that it’s native. “Oh, it’s too pretty!”, they say.
Hymenocallis caroliniana
They are versatile. There are plants that will thrive in your wet spots and your dry spots. Need something for hot sun or full shade? There’s a native plant for that. Whatever your conditions, there was a plant that used to live there and thrive in those conditions.
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower) loves wet feet.
They are beneficial to wildlife. They have what it takes to satisfy all the native bugs, beetles, birds and butterflies in your yard. They grew up together … native plants know what those guys like.
Eastern swallowtail butterfly nectars on mountain mint.
They are hardy and perfectly adapted to your area, the seasons and the conditions. They love Georgia clay, for example, and they know about wet spring rains and hot dry summers.
Butterflyweed loves hot roadsides with red clay
They are natural and appropriate for the local ecosystem, especially when you select plants native to your state and your county.
They are unique and unlike any others with special adaptations that help them thrive.
As you discover native plants and the many reasons to love and appreciate them, remember that these are no “flash in the pan” heart-throbs. These guys are for keeps.
© 2013, Ellen Honeycutt. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Ellen Honeycutt
I’m in LOVE! with the barbara’s buttons in the heart picture and with this article. Well done, Ellen!
Loret T. Setters recently posted..Freshwater seafood?
“As you discover native plants and the many reasons to love and appreciate them, remember that these are no “flash in the pan” heart-throbs. These guys are for keeps…” and isn’t that nice to know! Thanks for sharing all these lovelies~
Kathy Vilim recently posted..Living with the Monarchs in Winter~
It is a love Ellen….I am so smitten I am working on a huge plan to overhaul more areas of the garden…
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Simply the Best Herbs-February
It was fascinating and encouraging reading all the comments regarding native plants. I have been in the business of growing and selling native plants since 2000 and it never ceases to amaze me how native plants can help balance our ecosystem as well as provide a never ending amount of wildlife diversity whether it be vertebrates,or invertebrates. Thanks to all those people who share my interest and love of native plants. Our natural world is surely benefitting from it all.
As with all love, everyone has different experiences. Although you fell in love with native plants through a long, slow love affair…my experience was love at first sight! Doesn’t matter how we got there…we are in love with native plants.
Thanks for writing your blog and taking such lovely pictures!