What are the advantages of using native plants in my landscape?
A. Landscaping with native plants, or naturescaping, has many benefits for the homeowner and local environment. Native, or indigenous, plants are those species that existed locally before the arrival of European settlers. Since these plants thrived locally long before the arrival of garden hose, fertilizer, herbicide and sprinkler systems, they are eminently suited to the local climate and environment. From a landscaping perspective, perhaps the greatest benefit of native plants is that they are naturally drought tolerant and thus do not require supplemental watering throughout the summer – this conserves water and saves money. Native plants also do not require fertilizer or pesticides to maintain, which means that less chemicals are released into the environment. Finally, native plants provide food and habitat for native birds, insects, and small mammals. Check out Naturescaping for Clean Rivers and WSU Extension Master Gardeners for more information.
