Native plants are vital to a
diverse and healthy ecosystem

What are native plants?

A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived in North America as the species native to the eastern United States. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.

Because native plants are adapted to the growing conditions where you live, they are often easier to grow, require less maintenance such as watering, and are less susceptible to challenging conditions than non-native plants.  Many Non-native plants are also invasive, and threaten to crowd out our native plant species.  Incorporating native plants in your home landscape will encourage birds, pollinators, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

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Features and benefits

Native plants have many features and benefits over non-natives including:

• They typically have deep and varied root systems that provide erosion control and help the plants tolerate drought.
  
• They provide life sustaining food and shelter for wildlife.
• They are adapted to our climates, conditions, and diseases.
• They contribute to biodiversity, ensuring successful
  ecosystems for the future.

For a list of native plants in our habitat visit our Plant Directory.  For more information about native plants visit panativeplantsociety.org, or our resources section.