In Praise of Native Plants
By Ania Wiatr
We are now on full speed with the spring-blooming show here in Tulsa. With some early blooming plants already done for the season, like magnolias and redbuds, and other mid-to-late-spring blooming plants putting on a show as we speak, spring in this part of the world seems like a refreshingly long season. This excites me a lot, as I compare it to what I know from Kansas City, where I lived for five years prior to moving here. Spring in Missouri seems rushed and is often a too-short window of fair weather sandwiched in between the longer winter and summer seasons.
As I enjoy my first spring in Oklahoma, out of all the explosion of blooms I see around me, I look out for the ones that belong to the plants that interest me the most — native plants. Other than the a few exuberant species like flowering dogwoods and redbuds, it is sometimes not easy for a native plant to capture one’s attention. They have hard competition from non-native, showy plants that put on a display all year round. We definitely see azaleas that are native to Asia, colorful tulips, pansies, and other flowering shrubs and trees that wow us with their bold colors. Most native plants are not really set for a showy display. They usually have a more subtle color palette aimed at attracting native pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
As a gardener, I appreciate the aesthetic value that many colorful non-native plants bring to my life, especially after winter. But more so than aesthetics, I appreciate plants with a higher purpose. Native plants fulfill that need perfectly, especially when combined with my preference for understated colors.
But what do I mean by a higher purpose?
Sustainability
Over millennia, native plants have been thriving in this soil and have evolved to adapt perfectly to the local environment. Once established in a spot that is suitable for their needs (shade/sun; dry/wet soil etc.), they are able to survive harsh climatic conditions. More and more now, throughout the globe, we are experiencing drastic weather events, and during those prolonged times of drought or extreme spells of cold or heat, native plants have a better chance to survive without our help.
Because native plants are adapted to local climatic conditions, they are not prone to disease. And by providing a habitat to native wildlife, natives nurture natural predators that perform excellent natural pest management. Because of these qualities, native plants don’t require chemicals to keep them healthy.
Providing habitat to native wildlife
With the progress of the modern world — the growing population, land development and aggressive agricultural practices, we are facing more and more natural habitat loss. A side effect of this is that many species that are an irreplaceable part of our ecosystem are being destroyed. As an example, last year a study by Cornell University and the American Bird Conservancy showed that North America had lost 29% of its population of birds in the last 49 years — 2.9 billion birds, to be exact. There are many things we can do to stop or slow down this process, and one of them is to plant more natives.
As I mentioned before, native plants provide a habitat for native wildlife. Beyond providing food for pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds in the form of pollen, nectar, or seeds, they also provide shelter for species that overwinter in our region. Some species like monarchs migrate to Mexico for the winter, but other native butterflies and bees stay and hibernate during the winter. For instance, red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) build their winter nests in the dry hollow stems of bee balm (Monarda spp.) and native grasses. Because many species use dead plant material as a refuge during the colder months, delaying dead-heading, pruning, and general garden clean up until the spring is very beneficial to wildlife.
The Horticulture Team at Philbrook is excited about sharing the importance of native plants, so stay tuned for future articles, photos, and videos on this topic.
Ania Wiatr is a Senior Horticulturist at Philbrook Museum of Art.
