LOCAL LEAVES
How using native plants benefits landscaping
With spring just around the corner, many homeowners are looking to plant fresh shrubs, flowers and succulents in their gardens to add a splash of color and make their homes look amazing.
One way many local homeowners are landscaping that has a number of benefits is to use plants that are native to Arkansas. Rebecca Loftis, a Master Gardener with the Cleburne County Cooperative Extension Service, recently upgraded the landscaping of the Mary I. Wold Cleburne County Library in Heber Springs with native plants at the request of the library’s director, Zac Cothern. The Master Gardeners worked with the Arkansas Native Plant Society to select appropriate plants for the project. Loftis said she learned a lot about the native plants of the state and shared some of the benefits of landscaping with the plants.
RUGGED ROOTS
The main benefit of using native plants is that they have already been adapted to the weather conditions in Arkansas. The plants are able to endure a variety of situations, including rocky or dense soil and the humidity, and can survive each season in the state. This means plants are more likely to survive from year to year, which means less replanting each spring.
“[Native plants] don’t have to adapt like some of the other plants because they’re already here,” she said. “They grow naturally.”
RAINBOW RESULTS
One misconception about native plants is that there isn’t a wide variety of colors available, Loftis said. To the contrary, Loftis said that plants native to Arkansas have flowers or berries in a wide spectrum of colors. The showy beardtongue, for example, has bright purple petals, while the cream wild indigo displays warm yellow buds.
BUG BUDDIES
Native plants can also be beneficial to local wildlife, Loftis said. A variety of area insects such as bees and migratory insects such as butterflies are better equipped to identify native plant species, which means the insects can find food easier. In the process, plant pollen can be spread, which benefits the proliferation of the plants. Loftis said that each year, she sees monarch butterflies stop to feed on the plants on her property.
IN CHECK
Another big benefit of using native plants is that these species are already part of the local environment, which means there is no chance the plant can become invasive. Native plants have their place in the ecosystem and won’t become a problem like plants such as the Bradford pear tree or kudzu. Invasive plant species can have a big impact by creating too much shade and taking all the nutrients in the soil.
RESISTANCE ISN’T FUTILE
Not only are native plants beneficial to area wildlife; they are also more resistant to pests, which means the plants don’t need as much pesticides or extra care.
HELPING HANDS
One doesn’t have to be a Master Gardener like Loftis to get great results from native plants. There are many local nurseries in the area that specialize in native plants and can help customers pick out the perfect plants for their plots.