Why Native Plants?
When making the decision of what plants to add to your garden, here’s a few reasons choosing plants native to Ontario is the way to go.
Native Plants are the foundations of all ecosystems.
Plants are native to an area if they were present before colonization. It is where they have evolved over thousands of years without human intervention.
“Plant it and they will come.”
Because of this natural evolution, native plants have created to a symbiotic relationship with pollinators and other wildlife. They provide shelter and habitat for this wildlife as well as improve air, water and soil quality, prevent soil erosion and provide better storm water management helping to reduce flooding.
When we introduce exotic and foreign plants from other regions or more importantly from other countries around the world, we disrupt that naturally evolved ecosystem.
Sometimes the plants stay where they are put and just don’t serve a useful function in our ecosystem. This is is often referred to as an Introduced Species. Examples of these plants include: Hosta’s, Tulips, Daffodils, Hydrangea, Boxwood and Peonies.
Sometimes these plants do spread. They now seed freely, but have managed to work within our ecosystem and found a balance. They don’t really serve our native wildlife, but they don’t necessarily harm it either. These are called Naturalized Species. Examples of Naturalized species include: Dandelions, Queen Annes Lace, Chickory Root, Oxeye Daisy and Clovers.
But, sometimes, they end up escaping into the wild and spread uncontrolled. These plants will actively inhibit the growth of our native flora, or just grow so quick and dense they smother out the life around it. These plants are called Invasive Species. Some of our biggest offenders here in Ontario include: Dog Strangling Vine (DVS), Phragmites, Garlic Mustard, European Buckthorn, Lily of the Valley, Periwinkle, Spotted Dead Nettle, Wild Parsnip, Purple Loostrife, Himalayan Balsam, Manitoba Maple, Norway Maple, Black Locust, Japanese Knotweed and Goutweed.
Each time you make the choice to plant our native flora in your garden, you are creating an echo that will support our local fauna thereby giving way to an ecosystem that will grow and flourish around you.
2. Native Plants are Easy to Maintain.
Native plants don’t need to be covered or protected from our harsh winter temperatures.
Our native plants evolved to this specific climate. Many of our plants die back for the winter with their root system remaining insulated under the soil for protection.
No need to water after your plant has established and no need to fertilize or add costly soil amendments like fertilizers or compost.
Choose your plant based on:
sun exposure (full, partial or shade),
soil moisture (wet, average or dry) and
soil composition (sand, loam, clay, etc.)
and you will have chosen a plant that knows how to take care of itself and is happy to thrive in its new home.
No need to spray insecticides or pesticides either!
Remember that symbiotic relationship that native plants have spent thousands of years developing? These plants have evolved to be food for our native insects - these plants are meant to be eaten. Sometimes they may look a bit rough; sometimes you barely notice. Either way if you are patient you will be rewarded with a healthy plant that will bounce right back and with beautiful butterflies fluttering about and pollinators buzzing from flower to flower.
Grow a wide variety of plants, and you’ll hardly notice if anything nibbles on those plants anyways! Have pesky insects you don’t want like mosquitoes? These native plants will bring other wildlife like song birds and woodpeckers that like to eat those other insects.
3. Native Plants are Unique & Beautiful.
Choosing plants native to Ontario is sure to wow and catch the eyes of passers-by.
Non-native plants (those most often chosen to be sold in garden centers) are such a common, mainstream option for gardens, most people have never seen or heard of many of our native plants.
Making native plants an addition in your garden will give you a wonderfully unique garden that will be teaming with life.
Native plants come in so many sizes, textures and colours - a wonderful garden can be designed and created for just about any gardening style. They pack a beautiful punch that is sure to wow season after season, year after year.
For too many years plants brought from far away have been marketed as superior. Even our non-native grass lawns (which take up large swaths of land) are still common place from a time when tidy grass was a symbol of status and wealth.
As a result, it seems when many people hear ‘native plant’ they think of weeds. Those horrid things that take over their manicured gardens and lawns. They imagine messy, roadside weeds.
But the truth is we don’t need huge monocrops of grass that just take time and resources to maintain. We can embrace what nature has given us here. I guarantee if you choose plants native to Ontario, you’ll also find joy in how our own native plants are so beautiful.
You’ll be amazed with the echo of life that emerges within your garden.
Great!
We are open by appointment only this season. Click the button down there to schedule a visit and shop our wide selection of native plants in person!
