Did you know that flowers that are native to your area require less water than most non-natives once they are established? They are also better at resisting native pests and diseases than non-native flowers, and they need less fertilizer. Last, but most important, they are part of the natural ecosystem of birds, bees, moths, and more, and they are a natural food source for them. It is a smart move to grow more native flowers—they require less care, place less stress on our resources, and are desired by your local pollinators.
What defines a native plant? Answers are elusive, because people have been moving plants around for thousands of years. That said, native plants are those that occur naturally in a region in which they evolved. They are the ecological basis of life in their area. Without these plants, and the insects that coevolved with them, local birds cannot survive.
More natives in the flower garden is the way to go. They are low maintenance, offer beautiful flowers, produce colorful fruits and seeds, and naturally express the life cycle of a garden as the seasons progress. They conserve water, provide erosion control, and are a source of nectar for pollinators, including hummingbirds, native bees, and butterflies.
The key to success when growing native flowers is to match the right plants to your site. For example, a backyard with at least six hours of full sun in USDA hardiness zones 5–7 can be filled with purple coneflower, blazing star, New England aster, baptisia, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, and goldenrod. The soil conditions are important, too. Therefore, do not plant swamp milkweed or blue lobelia on a dry site; likewise, plants suited to dry shade should not be planted in a wetland area.
A comprehensive resource for learning more about native plants is the PLANTS Database website (plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java), published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).