Native Plants support local food webs, providing insects, birds, and other wildlife with what they depend on for survival. Insects native to our region co-evolved over thousands of years with native plants. They cannot eat non-native plants (and some, such as the larvae of certain species of butterflies, for example, can eat only particular species of native plants). In recent years, as gardeners have favored non-native plants, insects have struggled to find food. Our native birds depend almost entirely on insects to feed their young. Loss of insect populations due to fewer native plants is contributing to the loss of songbird populations. Increasing the number of native plants in our gardens increases food sources for insects, enables songbirds to better feed their young, and supports the diversity of native species of insects such as butterflies and other native pollinators.
Insects around the world are in serious decline and that decline impacts what we eat and more. According to the Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, "The breadth of ecosystem services provided by insects corresponds with an estimated annual economic value of $57 billion. Insect pollinators (e.g. bees, flower-flies, and butterflies) pollinate over 85% of wild flowering plants and over 75% of agricultural crop species. The loss of partial or whole insect communities can have disastrous effects for food webs and reduce an area’s ability to recover after disturbances. Many dragonfly species can be biological controls for disease-carrying mosquitoes, and lacewings can control agricultural pests like aphids and mites. Finally, beetles can be highly important for the removal of waste products from the environment, and the introduction of dung beetles onto farms has been shown to promote disease resistance against foodborne pathogens."
Title: Sustainable Gardening with Native Plants
Author/Source: The Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College
Description: Located at the college’s campus in Valhalla, NY, The Native Plant Center offers many opportunities to learn about native plants, including through classes and demonstration gardens.
Title: Homegrown National Park
Author/Source: Douglas Tallamy
Description: Inspiring and colorful website from author of Bringing Nature Home. Includes why native plants are important, ways to get started and easy steps for beginners. Check out Tallamy's Hub, and Signature Posts under the Get Started Tab.
Title: Why Native Plants Matter
Author/Source: National Audubon Society
Description: Benefits of native plants to birds and other animals.
Title: Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East, Chapter 1
Author: Carolyn Summers
Publisher: Rutgers University Press, 2010
Description: Complete and practical guide to landscape gardening with native plants
Title: The Native Link
Author/Source: Pennsylvania Native Plant Society
Description: Simple graphic showing the importance of native plants to the food web, with starter plant list.