NATIVE PLANTS: The Sustainable Choice By Scott LaFleur, New England Wild Flower Society Director of Horticulture, and Tom Smarr, former Director of Horticulture

 
  A sustainable landscape preserves and protects nature’s balance. To develop a sustainable landscape requires a well-planned design that addresses all aspects of environmental processes. All facets that involve the livability of a community such as energy, materials, buildings, water, air, and site must be incorporated into a holistic planning approach. Plants are an integral part of the sustainable landscape as long as the species used are well-suited to the existing light, moisture, and soil conditions. Such plant choices require low input of labor, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to thrive.
 

  We feel strongly that a successful sustainable landscape incorporates native plants into the design. “Native” is broadly defined as a plant having occurred before European settlement in North America. To gain full sustainable benefit of using natives in the landscape one should choose plants found regionally. There are many distinct habitats and climatic environments found throughout this country. By understanding the endemic plants in these communities, we can better understand how best to place them in the different growing conditions of designed landscapes. 

  Some species will tolerate a range of landscape conditions, while others are more specific. In New England, we enjoy the adaptability of the native highbush blueberry shrub (Vaccinium corymbosum) that grows in wetland-like conditions, but will also tolerate average garden soils. One can also choose the lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) for mountainous or drier conditions. American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a champion of versatility, growing well from wet to semi-dry, sunny to half-shade.

  Native plants are essential to sustainable landscapes, but need not be exclusive. Plants that are exotic or not native to a local region may complete a process or need (such as food crops), but often offer nothing in the way of food or habitat for key wildlife species. Any plants chosen for a specific site need to be evaluated for overall impact on the immediate and surrounding landscape. Although a plant may perform wonderfully in a specific garden, it may seed excessively or spread vegetatively and cause havoc in surrounding gardens and natural areas. The actions taken to battle the spread of invasive plants cost billions of dollars in resources, labor, and loss of economically valuable native plants. By limiting biodiversity and creating dysfunction in ecosystems, invasive plants cause even greater ecological losses. 

  The hand that we extend in creating sustainable landscapes right outside our door will create that connection with the living environment that is so quickly being lost to the virtual reality that our urban and suburban lives have become. Although we can not solve all of the environmental damage being done, we do have the power to make holistic decisions in our landscape. Selecting regional plants will keep the unique character of your particular cultural place alive and vibrant, as well as answering the needs of local wildlife. Encouraging diversity promotes a balanced and healthy environment for us and our wildlife neighbors. Preserving healthy soil maintains natural protections against pests and diseases. 

All of these actions can be accomplished while never compromising on the style, mood, and feeling we are trying to convey in our garden. To sustain ourselves we must sustain our habitats. To sustain our habitats we must work within the environment and live to become a part of the ecosystem, not an impediment.

  For the full text of this article, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.newenglandwild.org/publications-and-media/articles/horticulture/going-native-the-sustainable-choice.html/" http://www.newenglandwild.org/publications-and-media/articles/horticulture/going-native-the-sustainable-choice.html/

Photo Credits:
American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Highbush blueberry shrub (Vaccinium corymbosum): New England Wildflower Society.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Kate Wallen

Vaccinium corymbosuum, 1061, John Lynch