Benefits of Native Plants
Native Plants Can Save YOU Money and Time While Benefitting the Environment
Arguably one of the best benefits of native plants is that a native garden requires approximately 75% less maintenance than a garden containing non-native plants.1 Because these plants are native to the area they are growing, they naturally require less upkeep and perform well in their natural environment. They are naturally hardier than other plants, meaning they are more resistant to environmental stressors and require less upkeep to make them grow successfully. They don’t need pesticides or fertilizers, and they require less water than non-natives. They also are longer-lasting due to deep, strong root systems which serve the dual purpose of increased ability to permeate groundwater and store carbon from the atmosphere. By implementing native plants into their property, property owners can also “Leave the Leaves”, reducing maintenance time needed to rake or blow leaves, and will naturally mulch and provide habitat for pollinators. There are so many ways that native plants reduce your maintenance time!
Allergies are something that affects almost everyone we know, and for some, allergies can be quite serious. One of the most common causes of hay fever is Bermuda Grass lawns.2 What can also perpetuate the symptoms of allergies is having immense amounts of pollen floating around in the air. Native plant species can help with that! They produce less pollen than invasive species3 and produce larger-granule pollen that is not as easily wind-dispersed2. This means that less pollen is floating around in the air, getting into your respiratory system, and giving you those awful allergies. Also prioritizing a variety of different native species can help even more by diversifying the different kinds of pollen present.
As aforementioned, native species are native to their environment meaning they are naturally hardier than non-natives and are adapted to native pests. They promote the proliferation of beneficial insect populations which help to combat certain pests, fungus, and other disease/illnesses. “Millions of pounds of pesticides are used every year to maintain lawns and ornamental plants.” 4 Pesticides and fertilizers contain harmful chemicals that kill beneficial insects like pollinators, and that leach into our soil and groundwater, which can cause numerous health problems to ourselves, our families, and our pets. Additionally, it has been estimated that “maintaining a native landscape costs only one-third as much as maintaining turf grass.”5
Montclair’s Native Landscapes project was first formulated out of the pushback from recently enacted ordinance O-23-31 which bans gas powered leaf blowers. “Mowers, weed trimmers and other gas-powered equipment emit both volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) — the pollutants that form ground-level ozone. Emissions also include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and air toxins such as benzene. Gasoline spilled while refueling lawn and garden equipment also contributes a substantial amount of VOC pollution.”5
All plants utilize the process of photosynthesis to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their roots, stems, leaves, and their surrounding soil. However, native plants are much more effective at removing and storing carbon dioxide than non-natives because of their extensive root systems. Aside from the impact carbon alone has on global warming, all these harmful emissions are not only harmful to our environment, but to our own health as well. GHGs and VOCs are extremely harmful to human health, perpetuating health issues like respiratory problems and cancer. Native plants can absorb many of these harmful emissions and process, filter and/or store them to keep them out of our atmosphere and the air we breathe.
In urban areas, lawn irrigation uses as much as 30% of the water consumption on the East Coast.” 4 Above we discussed the extensive root systems that native plants have, which help groundwater permeate deeper into the soil and not pool on the surface. Native plants require approximately 85% less water than non-natives1 because of this. Native landscapes absorb more water and thus can help reduce flooding and require less water than traditional turf lawns. Stormwater runoff and flooding are prevalent issues in Montclair as seen in the map to the left above. Montclair has several flood zones that are further impacted by leaves being swept/blown into the streets by residents which clog storm drains. Native plants can provide numerous avenues for abating the impacts of flooding within our community. Property owners can also “Leave the Leaves” on their lawns, which keeps them from clogging storm drains, reduces maintenance time required for raking or blowing leaves, and will also naturally mulch and provide habitat for pollinators. If flooding is a common problem on your property, the best solution is to install a rain garden with native plants and consider additional grey infrastructure. This approach is more effective at reducing flooding than simply planting native plants in a regular garden.
Visit our Resources tab to find more information about rain gardens and how to create one.
Pollinators such as butterflies, insects, and birds all rely on native plants to provide food and shelter. Native plants attract and support this wildlife to continue to perpetuate a balanced, healthy, and diverse ecosystem. Native plants also rely on pollinators to help redistribute pollen and pollinate other plants. Because native plants tend to create larger pollen granules which are less like to be wind-dispersed, pollinators are the main way that native plants pollinate and grow.
This cute little pollinator is called a Black-Capped Chickadee, a species of bird that is native to New Jersey. They may be hard to spot though because Chickadees need “70% native plants in their territory to successfully raise their young. The over 30 million acres of lawns in the U.S., on the other hand, support almost no wildlife.” 4
New Jersey boasts a diverse array of native plants that can perfectly suit the unique needs of your property and personal interests. You'll discover a variety of shrubs, vines, trees, and stunning flowering plants, all offering the numerous benefits of native species. Flowering native plants in particular are vibrant and incredibly advantageous for pollinators. By designing a native landscape for your property, you have the freedom to select the exact types of plants you desire, determine the color scheme, and focus on aspects that matter most to you. Whether it's creating a sensory garden for your children, establishing a rain garden to mitigate flooding, designing a garden that deters deer, or crafting a garden that will be the envy of your neighbors, the possibilities are truly endless!
Incorporating native plants into our landscapes benefits both our community and the environment. Native plants positively impact all aspects of our natural ecosystems: soil, water, air, and wildlife. They excel at filtering harmful emissions, capturing and absorbing groundwater to reduce flooding, and promoting biodiversity by supporting beneficial wildlife like pollinators. Additionally, native plants are well-adapted to our local conditions, requiring less maintenance, water, fertilizers, pesticides, and no leaf removal. They help mitigate environmental pollution while creating beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy.
For more information about NJ natives, visit our Resource Database tab, or email our Office of Sustainability at mcunliffe@montclairnjusa.org.
Sources:
- https://www.ballonafriends.org/grow-native
- https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2007/Allergy-Friendly-Gardening
- https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.15935#:~:text=We%20found%20that%20invasive%20populations,Introduction
- https://emswcd.org/native-plants/native-plant-benefits/
- https://airqkc.org/pdf/native-plants-flyer.pdf