Why are native plants better for wildlife?

Indigenous plants provide niche food sources and cover to support the health of ecosystems and wildlife. This wildlife has evolved over millennia to utilize the same indigenous plants as dependent species. For example, caterpillars eat only specific leaves from native plants, and birds nest and roost in specific branch structures indigenous to the area. Your yard will become a life-supporting refuge for all species!

Pollinators are fully reliant on native flora throughout the process of co-evolved relationships. Bees only harvest pollen from specific native flowers that they have recognized. Butterflies only lay eggs on a particular host plant, such as milkweed. I've noted 15 bee species from a single patch of goldenrod. Your garden becomes a supermarket for pollinators to forage for pollen.

Birds find that critical nutrition is found in native plants, which could never be produced by exotic species. Young birds require caterpillars that are high in protein, which are only found on native trees. My Oak is constantly filled with warblers feeding young. Ginkgo trees are exotic, and to my knowledge, the only insect life near my Ginkgo trees is aphids that leave the birds starving.

This season, start creating your wildlife sanctuary with a foundation of keystone native plants. Select native plant species that are specific to your region and engage in specialized ecological relationships. Include host plants for butterflies and berry-producing plants for birds. Your tiny garden fosters a sense of belonging to a fundamental ecological connection within your neighborhood.

Read the full article: 10 Essential Benefits of Native Plants