What are Native Plants and Why are they Important?
A. Facts About Native Plants
DC Native plants are becoming more popular with property owners as they become more aware of their benefits. Native plants occur naturally in a specific region or ecosystem. Over time, these plants have adapted and evolved to survive in the local climate, soil, and conditions.
B. DC Native Plants in the Areas Landscapes
Preservation of Biodiversity
We encourage the use of native plants in our designs because they support local ecosystems and provide wildlife habitat. If society wants a healthy and resilient environment, then biodiversity must be obtained.
Ecological Balance
Native plants play a part in regulating insect populations and providing microenvironments for beneficial organisms. The presence of adequate amounts of native plantings aids the balance of predator-prey relationships.
Conservation of Water Resources
Natives reduce property owners’ rarely needing additional watering once a newly installed plant establishes itself. They’re adapted to the local rainfall patterns, and sustainable landscape practices necessitate water conservation practices.
Soil Health and Stability
With their deep root systems, native plants prevent soil erosion and promote soilhealth. They also prevent degradation and contribute to the local ecosystems.
Adaptation to Local Climate
Because of their adaptability to local climates, native plants are resilient to extreme weather events. The DC area is hot, sticky, and humid in the summer, and plants must be able to withstand the pests and diseases that flourish in such conditions.
Cultural and Aesthetic Value
Indigenous communities often express the cultural significance of native plants. Most of these communities have discovered multiple uses for the region’s plants, and they are part of their daily lives.
Native plants in shades of green are part of the living tapestry that contributes to a region’s character.
Reduction of Invasive Species Threats
Planting native species can help counter the onslaught of invasive species that may outcompete local plant species. A long list of invasive plants will fill bare ground almost instantly. By installing natives, we can do our part to promote the health of the native ecosystem by increasing their numbers.
NATIVE PLANTS IN WASHINGTON, DC AREA
A. Overview of Common Native Plant Species in the Region
There are hundreds of plants indigenous to the area; these are a few favorites for native plant design:
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Redbud is a small deciduous understory tree that flowers in shades of pink and lavender in the early spring. They stand out early then because the giant trees are more defoliated, and you can see them along wood lines.
Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica)
The blue, bell-shaped flowers and deep green foliage can create a dense carpet under shade trees in the spring. They do best in moist, full shade and are native to the eastern quarter of the US.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
You can’t miss the distinctive, smooth gray bark of the American Beech when walking through the woods. They prefer well drained soil that is not compacted. It can be challenging to grow a lawn under an established tree.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
You can’t miss the vibrant red of the Cardinal Flower’s pedals. This riparian plant can handle short-term flood conditions and drought, and it grows on stream banks and bogs.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
This is one of the more common and well-known native perennials. Black-eyed Susan is an excellent pollinator and has flowers with yellow petals and a dark center. It is common in open fields.
B. DC Landscape Design Challenge: Plant Adaptability
Humid Continental Climate
During hot, humid summer days, the DC environment can sometimes only be described as swampy by its residents. The native plants cannot only tolerate the humid continental climate but also take the cold winters.
PROS OF USING NATIVE PLANTS
A. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Support the Preservation of Local Wildlife Habitats
Ecosystem Integration:
DC Native plants form the backbone of natural habitats by contributing to the structure and composition of local ecosystems. By preserving these plants, we can support a diverse range of wildlife through the shelter, food, and breeding grounds they provide.
Habitat Complexity:
The varying heights, textures, and microenvironments of native plant communities create complex habitats. A complex array of species, wildlife from ground-dwelling insects to nesting birds, benefit from the diverse environment that native plants create.
Wildlife Connectivity:
Interconnected groupings of native plant habitats provide ease of movement for wildlife, like ‘green highways’ for critters. The connectivity is critical for species that need large areas or have seasonal migration routes.
Symbiotic Relationships:
Local pollinators and native plants evolved together over time in a symbiotic relationship. When we plant native flowers, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators benefit from the nectar and pollen they provide.
Attracting Beneficial Insects:
Predatory bees and wasps are attracted to native plants. These insects prey on plant-damaging insects like aphids and Japanese Beetles, reducing the need for harsh chemicals that could damage the environment.
Supporting the Food Web:
Insect pollination services aid many species of native plants, which form the foundation of the food web. Plants support herbivores, which are preyed upon by predators, creating a balanced and sustainable ecosystem.
Conservation of Specialist Species:
Some native pollinators have evolved to depend on certain types of native plants. Homeowners can contribute to these specialized relationships by planting native plants in their gardens. This practice will ensure the survival of both the pollinator and the plant.
B. Water Conservation
Drought Tolerance and Reduced Water Requirements
Native plants evolved in their local climate, adapted to survive wet seasons and drought, and developed deep root systems to tap into water sources below ground.
Water-Storage Adaptations
Many native plants have specialized adaptations to store water for dry periods. When droughty periods arrive, they can tap into their reserves, reducing the need for supplemental watering.
Preservation of Water Resources
Landscape practices can greatly contribute to water conservation by selecting drought-tolerant native plant species. This selection process is critical in regions out west with water scarcity issues.
Mitigation of Stormwater Runoff
Native plants play a significant role in controlling stormwater through absorption, which prevents excessive runoff and soil erosion.
Through a natural filtration process, native plants screen and trap pollutants. This reduces runoff pollutants and improves the water quality of local bodies of water.
Native plant roots enhance soil structure by promoting pathways for water infiltration. This supplies groundwater recharge reserves and sustains local aquifers.
Native vegetation helps mitigate the urban heat island effect. This is caused by the lack of vegetation and impervious surfaces, which leads to increased temperatures and polluted runoff.
C. Low Maintenance
Adaptation to Local Conditions Reduces Care Needs
Native plants need fewer fertilizers and irrigation because they are well adapted to an area’s specific soil, climate, and environmental conditions. They also need less maintenance, such as chemical sprays and pruning. These are the facts about native plants and their benefits.
D. Aesthetic Appeal
Seasonal Variation in Foliage and Blooms
Several of our native plant species have fragrance, showy blooms, fruit, and seasonal color. The seasonal variation offers visual interest and an ever-evolving aesthetic throughout the year.
RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CONS OF USING NATIVE PLANTS
A. Limited Ornamental Variety
Some May Find a Lack of Exotic or Showy Plants
The lack of a floral show is the residential landscape architect’s dilemma. Our clients want landscapes with lots of intense colors, which I haven’t been able to achieve with my 100% native plant landscape designs.
Most natives are a bit timid compared to exotic or introduced plant varieties. Horticulturalists and hobbyists have tinkered with those plants for centuries to develop certain favorable traits, whereas native plants haven’t had that advantage.
Limited Options for Specific Colors or Flower Types
Compared to non-native plants, native plants have a restricted range of colors. For example, it’s easy to get excited about a new hybrid hydrangea variety in bloom, but not so much for a native hydrangea.
My Metro DC landscape design clients generally want to do what’s best for the environment. Still, they also wish to have seasonal interest. I give them the best of both worlds by specifying the majority of the plants as native, and in areas where color or interest is needed, a non-native that’s also non-invasive is used.
B. Establishment Period
Slower Growth During the Initial Stages
Because native plants are often slow growers, sometimes more maintenance needs to be performed for a more extended period, especially for ground covers. More weeding is required for ground cover areas because the plants are smaller and have a more challenging time competing against weeds in newly planted areas. It could take longer to get a lush, dense look with native plantings.
Patience Required for the Development of a Mature Landscape
It’s tough to get the immediate visual impact using native plants. People looking for instant gratification will need help with an all-native landscape. They need more time to reach their full visual potential.
C. Specific Site Requirements
Some Native Plants May Have Specific Soil or Light Needs
Certain plants have specific soil and light needs, but this also holds for non-native plants. You don’t want to install a plant that needs good drainage in a boggy area, just like you wouldn’t want to plant that needs full sun in the shade of a dense forest canopy.
Some natives can be more particular than others about their location, but there are a few with soil and light needs.
D. Perception Challenges
Public Perception May Favor Non-Native Plants
Non-native plants have the upper hand regarding cultural preferences and aesthetic trends. They are seldom featured in gardening magazines or pushed with marketing campaigns like new nursery plant introductions.
Then there’s people who want landscapes without trees, shrubs, or perennials and want large lawn areas. Some these suburban areas are as void of wildlife as some cities.
Education and Awareness Needed to Promote the Benefits
Educational efforts to highlight the ecological benefits of native plants are needed to change their negative perceptions. Only by raising awareness can we change public attitudes about using native plant landscape design.
CONCLUSION
Using DC native plants should be our focus as commercial and residential landscape architects and property owners. We are the ones who can have the most significant impact on making our built environments more hospitable to wildlife. There’s room for compromise. We can find beautiful, low-maintenance, non-native plants that aren’t invasive, along with most native plantings.
For a list of Metro DC Native and Invasive Pollinator Plants from DC DOEE click HERE.
To learn more about our firm and our approach to sustainable landscape architecture with the use of native plants. Click HERE!