Do native species require special attention?
No, these plant species are already adapted to the area. Some wildflowers self-seed, and they are often more resilient and require less maintenance than exotics. • Why are non-native plants a problem? Exotics, or non-natives, affect the vital characteristics of an ecosystem, and threaten bio-diversity as they often displace native species at rapid rates. Since they are not adapted to the area, they also require high costs for resources and upkeep. • How do non-native plants come to an area? The growth of trade, travel and migration has accelerated the spread of exotics. Non-native seeds may come to a region through the ballast of a ship, a sack of birdseed, a grain shipment or the sole of a shoe. But most were put there. • Where do I get native plant seeds? Native plant seeds can be found at local nurseries or landscaping services. They can also be ordered from seed catalogues or off the Internet. • What is going on to protect native species? There are grassroots and legislative effort
