Why Native Plants?

If the term "native plants" is brand new to you, don't worry, I've got you covered. The idea behind native plants is simple: they're plants that grew and evolved in harmony alongside the rest of the species in their ecosystem.

Sometimes when I talk about this with folks I can practically hear them thinking "Oh, the 'boring' plants". But the idea that native plants are less interesting because they’re not exotic or genetically modified couldn’t be further from the truth.

A monarch caterpillar feeds on showy milkweed on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS

Consider the Caterpillar

Yes, the lowly caterpillar. For such a miniature insect, it certainly has an outsized impact on its surrounding habitat. Its life begins by hatching from an egg, and eating its way through whatever plants it can get its tiny hands on. These almost microscopic attacks on plants lead many of them to release chemical signals which deter other herbivores in the area, keeping the plant-eating populations in check. As they grow older, some caterpillars find themselves prey of parasitoids like wasps or flies, and serve as a necessary part of their diet. Those parasitoids in turn are a critical part of the diet of other insects and birds, and so on it goes.

If a caterpillar should live long enough to wrap itself in a coccoon of its own making, it will emerge transcendent; literally metamorphosized into a butterfly or a moth, which of course are an essential part of the pollination cycle on this planet. No pollinators means no berries, no flowers, and thus no bees, no birds, no rabbits, no foxes, no deer, etc. And in fact, a 22-year study conducted in Costa Rica found that a 40% drop in caterpillar populace directly led to a drop in parasitoid and bird populations, and a decrease in the biodiversity of the habitat overall.

Plants Are Friends, Not Just Food

To bring this back to native plants, it's really impossible to overstate the importance they have on the rest of the habitat. When non-native plants displace native ones, they often fail to provide the nutrients or habitats that local wildlife needs. And in many cases, non-native plants are completely inhospitable to the insects that form the foundation of the ecosystem's food chain.

A perfect example of this is the butterfly bush. I don’t know how many times I’ve come across pollinator garden plans online that feature butterfly bushes. True to their name, they offer rich and plentiful nectar for butterflies to feast on as they travel from yard to yard or plant to plant; but perhaps it should be better known as the "butterfly-only" bush, because it is certainly not a friend to the eggs that many butterflies leave behind. Caterpillars that are hatched from those eggs often starve because the plants nutrients are not sufficient for their dietary needs.

Multiple butterflies flit around a garden in Southwest USA

A Symbiont Circle

The coolest part of learning about native plants, is that the more you look, the more you see that each one has its set of 'superpowers' it offers to the rest of the ecosystem. The Sweetbay Magnolia of the East Coast USA has roots that suck up excess nitrogen and phosphorus, filtering the water in wetlands and decreasing the likelihood of algae blooms. The Fire Poppy seeds of California require intense heat and ash to germinate, meaning after a wildfire there is often a sea of bright orange flowers in the space cleared by flames, helping to stabilize the soil for other vegetation to follow. The Bullhorn Acacia of Central America has a fascinating symbiotic relationship with ants where it provides food and in turn the ants defend the tree against more aggressive herbivores and help to clear out its local competition.

These are just a few examples of the ways that native plants serve as a cornerstone of the natural world, in really cool ways. To sum it up, I would probably just say planning a garden with native plants can transform your environment in ways you might not expect. Just wait until you catch your first glimpse of a hummingbird darting between flowers, hear the contented buzz of a bee at work, or spot a butterfly mid-migration. Native plants aren’t just beautiful—they’re essential. When you choose them, you’re not just planting a garden. You’re supporting an entire web of life.