Plant Natives for a Resilient Future

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

— Audrey Hepburn

April was declared Native Plant Month in the State of New York by Governor Hochul, recognizing the vital role native plants play in nurturing our environment and fostering sustainable ecosystems. It is the culmination of a concerted effort by garden clubs and environmental organizations to promote a vital change in both tree and plant choices. This effort is not limited to one month a year!

In a world where maintaining biodiversity is a paramount objective, the choice between native and nonnative plants holds significant consequences. A native plant is one that has existed in our local Long Island area for hundreds if not thousands of years. They have co-evolved with the local insect population. Insects lay their eggs to hatch on native plants providing our declining bird population with a steady diet of insects, especially caterpillars, to eat. One pair of chickadees were observed feeding their babies 350 to 370 caterpillars every day — that’s 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars to raise one family of baby birds.

Native plants are well-suited to our climate and growing conditions, requiring less water, no chemical fertilizers, are often deer resistant and have natural pest control. Once established, their deep root systems make them effective tools in combating erosion and can be planted in rain gardens to mitigate flooding.

Nonnative plants have been imported from foreign countries or different areas of the United States. We plant them for their exotic blooms and leaves that remain unblemished by insects. But the downside is that these nonnative plants often fail to provide essential sustenance for our local birds and insects.

Native plants not only offer only high-quality food and shelter for declining bird species but also serve as crucial sources of nectar and pollen for our native bees, moths, butterflies and hummingbirds. To get started with native plant gardening, think about integrating them into existing gardens. A local organization Two Thirds for the Birds (234birds.org) advocates for a reasonable yet impactful solution for all of us: Plant two native plants for every one nonnative. The members have found that birds need at least 70 percent (two-thirds) native plants within foraging range to maintain healthy population levels.

Try adding some taller varieties to your garden, such as sun loving Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium purpureum), a favorite of native bees, or common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), which provides vital support for the survival of monarch butterflies, into the back of borders. You can replace a failing shrub with the native summer sweet (Clethra alnifolia), a fragrant flowering shrub beloved by pollinators.

To create a new garden, consider this planting list provided by landscape architect Abby Lawless of Farm Design. She has combined native grasses with perennial native pollinator flowering plants, best suited for a sunny location with good drainage: little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium), prairie dropseed grass (Sporobolus heterolepis) switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), hyssops (Agastache) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum), Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata), pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), sweet Joe-Pye-weed (Eupatorium purpureum) and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. pulchra).

Sustainable garden practices protect the plants and safeguard the insects and birds that rely on them. The Perfect Earth Project (perfectearthproject.org) provides a manual for homeowners and professionals, promoting nature based, toxic-free land care. Their website is a valuable resource for planting natives, maintaining the health of the plants, people, their pets and the planet.

Professional gardens that are open to the public such as Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton, Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack, Bridge Gardens in Bridgehampton and Landcraft Garden Foundation on the North Fork in Mattituck, all offer inspiration and examples of native plant choices, combinations, design and an opportunity to see the excitement you can create with pollinators in action foraging for food.

Planting natives is a tangible way to contribute positively to our community and protect the biodiversity that sustains us all. It’s a way that we can practice our belief in a better tomorrow, to nurture our wildlife and to cultivate a greener, healthier, more resilient future.

Ruth Ann Rosenthal is a member of the Westhampton Garden Club Conservation Committee.