Here's Why Smart Homeowners Love Native Landscaping

Native plants protect against soil erosion, provide natural habitats and nutrients for pollinators, and provide sustainable landscaping solutions that save homeowners money on fertilizer, pesticides and new plant purchases.

We interviewed Dr. Lauren Errickson, Director of Rutgers Gardens at Rutgers University. Dr. Errickson is an expert in horticulture, ecology and health. She provided valuable insight into finding and establishing the best indigenous plants for your landscaping and garden design.

Native landscaping is an increasingly popular trend among homeowners due to the 5 core benefits it provides homeowners. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

• Native landscaping creates a sustainable ecosystem in your yard. Native plants and animals work together to stabilize your soil and pollinate your plants.
• Hardiness is only the first step of plant selection. Check your plant's compatibility with your yard's soil, wind direction and microclimate.
• Birds and pollinators love native garden and tree areas. These native plants support the entire life cycle of local birds, bees and butterflies.
• Local nurseries and educational gardens are excellent resources. Source local native species from a nursery expert. Visit university-managed spaces like Rutgers Gardens for native gardening and landscaping design inspiration.

How to Choose the Right Native Landscaping Plants

You’ve decided to incorporate some native gardening elements into your landscaping. But how do you get started?

Many homeowners know to look up their USDA Hardiness Zone — but did you know that’s only giving you part of the story about a plant’s temperature tolerance?

Dr. Errickson laid out a 3-step process for choosing the “right plant, right place” for your natural landscaping.

Step 1: Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone

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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone map breaks down the USA into zones, based on average winter temperatures. Use this map to determine if the plants you want can survive the winter where you live.

“The USDA hardiness zone is step one,” Dr. Errickson says. “What that’s going to tell you is — will this tree survive the winter? The hardiness zones are based on average temperature, and certain things are not going to be able to live below that minimum temperature.”

So why is the USDA Hardiness Zone only part of your research into native plants? 

Every plant has a minimum temperature it can survive. But it also has a maximum temperature threshold, and you need to know that as well.

Step 2: Determine Your Plant’s Heat Tolerance

“We talk about this aspect less, but [plants] also have an upper temperature limit,” Dr. Errickson continues. 

“Some plants won't thrive in areas where it's too warm for them year-round.”

Look into the heat tolerance of the plants and trees you plan to incorporate into your landscape design. For example, Texas sage and red yucca flourish in the heat of Texas and Arizona — where Northeastern perennials like phlox and milkweed won’t last.

Step 3: “Right Plant, Right Place”

Ultimately, Dr. Errickson defines the plant selection process as “right plant, right place”.

“Right plant, right place means we're looking not just at the hardiness, but the finer details of the ecoregion.”

What does that mean for you? Consider these 5 attributes of your local ecosystem when planning your native landscaping:

1. Soil type. “Whether that's sand, clay, or loam — it's usually some sort of mix of the three,” Dr. Errickson says. Check the nutrient values of your soil as well.
2. Moisture. This isn’t just a matter of rain and snow. How damp is your soil? Do you live near marsh or protected wetlands?
3. Sun vs. shade. Don’t just look at sun or shade — how do conditions change throughout the day? Do you have full sun all day, or just in the morning or afternoon?
4. Wind. “What's the wind direction?” Dr. Errickson asks. “Because wind exposure can influence temperatures.”
5. Microclimates. These are areas of your property that differ from other spaces for various reasons. For example, it may be hotter and drier near your driveway than other parts of your yard.

Why Is Native Landscaping So Effective?

Native landscaping is the practice of using native plants and trees within a local ecosystem to create a sustainable landscape design. 

This use of native species helps collect and disperse rainwater, prevent soil erosion and provide familiar feeding and nesting areas for native pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

You may also see native landscaping called “natural landscaping” or “native gardening”.

Native Plants Evolved to Love Your Backyard

Think of native landscaping in terms of local ecosystems, not large regions. This approach actually increases your optionality and chances for long-term landscaping success, by focusing on the particular species that naturally evolved to thrive in your backyard’s soil.

“There's this intricate interwoven connection between all of these things from a homeowner’s perspective,” Dr. Errickson continues. “The plants and the other organisms that are here have evolved together for hundreds of thousands of years, maybe more.”

This coevolution leads to naturally occurring partnerships between the plants, trees and animals that live in your yard. And these partnerships have huge benefits for your lawn and garden.

5 Benefits of Native Landscaping for Homeowners

Native landscaping provides 5 key benefits for homeowners:

1. Creates sustainable, budget-friendly landscaping
2. Attracts native pollinator animals
3. Provides familiar nesting and habitat for birds
4. Stabilizes soil and prevents erosion
5. Offers maximum shade and cooling benefits

Did you know: using native plants in your pollinator garden can save almost $1,000 per decade on landscaping costs? Read more in our guide to pollinator garden design.

Native Landscaping Costs Less Long-Term

Plants that recognize your soil type, climate conditions and weather patterns are more likely to thrive in your yard. This native landscaping strategy leads to longer-lasting plants and trees — and less spending on new plants each year.

You’ll also save money on annual fertilizer and pesticide costs. Native species are equipped to benefit from the nutrients in your soil, and more naturally resistant to local garden pests.

Native plants are also appealing to local animals for their nectar. This leads to direct and indirect distribution of pollen and seeds — another way to save money long-term.

Native Plants are Great for Pollinators

Native trees and plants evolved alongside local pollinator animals like butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. The pollinators in your area instinctively desire these plants as food sources, shelter and nesting areas. They’re also attuned to emerge from nesting areas when local plants are in bloom.

It’s also important to recognize native trees as a place for caterpillars to grow and mature. 

“Keystone tree species that support caterpillars… These caterpillars are some of the organisms that are going to turn into butterflies and moths that we want as pollinators,” Dr. Errickson notes. 

Birds Love Native Trees

Birds look to familiar native tree species to support every stage of their life cycle.

“One of the things I've gotten excited about being a new homeowner is bird feeders, right?” Dr. Errickson says. “We think about feeding the birds and so we put up bird feeders… but what we're not doing with our bird feeders is taking care of the baby birds.”

These tree species provide a native habitat and nesting area for these baby birds to grow, fledge and survive into adulthood. Then, many of these adult birds return to your yard to help pollinate the same trees that supported their growth.

Native Plants Prevent Soil Erosion

The root systems of native plant species have evolved to protect soil erosion in your area. Plant native species on slopes and graded areas, and you’ll see less soil attrition over time.

“If you're looking at a home that's on a slope, vegetation is going to keep that soil on the slope where it belongs,” Dr. Errickson says. “As opposed to losing that soil to erosion, and having it end up downhill in your neighbor;s yard or in a stream or creek.”

Native Trees Provide Shade and Cooling Benefits

Dr. Errickson explains that “native trees in particular are likely to provide shade in a cooling effect.” 

These shade benefits aren’t just for humans and animals — they’re also crucial to helping low-growth natives survive.

“[These] trees are shading some of the understory plants, whether they're shrubs or perennials. That can also help those other plants survive and thrive.”

FAQs About Native Landscaping

Here are some of our readers’ most frequently asked questions about native plant selection, sustainable landscaping, and the difference between non-native and invasive species.

Where should I buy my native plants or native trees?

Dr. Errickson suggests visiting a local nursery as the first step in your native plant buying journey.

“A local nursery is highly likely to have been built by people who know trees… who are from the area and who have been here, watching these weather patterns and watching what doesn't go well. And they're going to be the best equipped to help homeowners make the decisions for what trees will really thrive on their property.”

Dr. Errickson also notes that if your local nursery doesn’t have the precise native species you want, they’re likely able to source it for you.

What’s the difference between non-native and invasive plants?

Non-native plant species are plants that aren’t naturally occurring in an area, but are not currently deemed to pose a threat to that ecosystem. 

Invasive plant species are non-native plant species that do pose a threat to the ecosystem. 

How do I know if non native plants are invasive species?

Many states and municipalities publish a Do Not Plant list online. These lists display names and photos of invasive plant species that damage the local ecosystem.

Here are 5 state Do Not Plant lists to reference:

• California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife: Don’t Plant Me
• Florida Invasive Plant Directory
• New Jersey DEP Invasive Species List: Plants
• New York DEC Prohibited Invasive Plants
• Texas Dept. of Agriculture: Invasive Plant Species List

What if I really want a non-native tree in my yard?

Sometimes, a particular plant or tree species holds significant value in a person’s life. Perhaps you’re a Georgia native who loves peach trees or pecan trees, but now lives in another state. 

If you really want that heritage tree on your property, be sure to check a local Do Not Plant list first. 

Dr. Errickson suggests that homeowners pivot towards a native alternative that looks and feels similar to the plant or tree they love.

“I would suggest trying to find a native alternative that is similar enough to meet those aesthetic goals and supports [local] ecological function,” she explains. 

For example, the red maple is a wonderful alternative for Northeast homeowners, where the Norway maple has become invasive.

Where can I learn more about native landscaping?

The best place to start learning about native landscaping and garden design is by visiting an educational garden run and maintained by a university.

Here are 5 of the best educational gardens run by American universities:

• Rutgers Gardens at Rutgers University
• The Gardens at Texas A&M University
• Morris Arboretum and Gardens at the University of Pennsylvania
• University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
• The Crosby Arboretum at Mississippi State University

Dr. Errickson believes in the importance of using garden and landscape architecture to educate local residents about the importance of native plant use in multiple forms.

“I like to think of Rutgers Gardens as having something for everyone,” she asserts. “[It] gives people examples for what's possible, and then people can go to their homes and replicate some of the things that resonate with them.”

“Being able to teach about multitudes of different plant species and garden styles is inherent to our mission.”

Conclusion

Native shrubs, trees and flowering plants are the backbone of a smart, sustainable home landscape design. Use these indigenous plants to attract birds and pollinators, maintain stable, nutrient-rich soil, and decrease garden maintenance costs.

Visit a local nursery for expert advice on the right native plants for your garden and landscape architecture. Then, support your local educational garden — take a tour, ask questions, and draw inspiration from the plants they use.