Whatever you call it, incorporating native plants into your landscape design is essential if we want to help support natural systems. I've recently found some inspirational resources that are pushing me even farther towards native plant landscaping than I was previously inclined to. And that's after working in a National Park for 22 years, including at a native plant nursery, and being an avid hiker and flower-watcher. So if it's easy for me to be swayed by those showy blooms from other parts of the world, I can imagine that native plants aren't even on many people's radars! Calscape.org is a fantastic website that allows you to search by zip code in California and then narrow plant lists by sun, shade, water use, etc. The page for each plant gives you information about using that plant in landscaping! It's a game-changer.
The California Native Plant Society's "East Bay Bringing Back the Natives tours" last spring were virtual, as was the keynote speech by Doug Tallamy. I encourage you to watch it. While Doug teaches and researches out of the University of Delaware, the talk was targeted toward California ecosystems. He recommends aiming for 70% native plants in your landscape and since 78% of land is privately owned, we all need to contribute toward supporting food webs. Each plant should be chosen for its ecosystem services, and even among natives, some are involved in more plant-animal interactions than others. These are the keystone species. Doug is an entomologist and his research looks at caterpillars' use of plants. Why? Birds eat TONS of caterpillars! If we want birds, we need to ensure the plants that grow their food are in the landscape. Also, learn which plants support specialist bees and plant for them (i.e. Sunflowers support 13 species of bees)
Doug's suggestions:
- reduce by half the land covered by lawns
- remove invasive (non-native plants that displace native plant communities)
- use keystone plants
- build a layered landscape
- if you need outdoor night lighting, use motion-sensing lights (ideally yellow LED)
- preserve leaf litter
- oppose mosquito spraying
- reduce pesticide use
- join your HOA and work to change rules that don't support native plants and animals
https://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/douglas-tallamy-resources
I've started making a list of native plants that support bees and butterflies and am working them into my landscape designs. Since I plan to grow so much food, I probably won't reach the 70% native goal, but I have visions of sunny wildflower meadows in my front garden. I have my eye on Salvias, sunflowers, and blue-eyed grass. We'll see what else gets added to my garden wish list! What are you putting on yours?
Places to look for (and buy) native plants in the Bay Area (I will add to the lists as I learn about more nurseries):
