LUCAS SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
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The Importance of Native Plants

Adding native plants is an easy way to improve the environment -- they benefit our soil, water, and wildlife not to mention the aesthetic beauty they provide to the landscape! Many are container-friendly too! 

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Wild Geranium (photo: J.Grisier)
If you are wondering what makes a plant “native”, continue reading as I explain the benefits and critical role they play in our world. Simply put, native plants are those that have existed in an area for a long enough time to have evolved in harmony with the soil, climate, and other plants and animals surrounding them. Because of this co-evolution, animals and insects like bees, butterflies, and birds seek out native plants as sources of food and shelter throughout their life cycle.
List of Ohio Native Plants
Container-Friendly Natives
Where to Buy Locally
Sample Native Garden Design
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Close-up Common Milkweed
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Common Milkweed
PictureMonarch Butterfly newly hatched
For example, Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a native plant that can be found growing along roadsides or edges of farm fields. But did you know that this humble, yet resilient, plant is the sole source of food for Monarch butterfly caterpillars? The incredible and improbable life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly is a story worthy of an article all to itself. But as they relate to native plants, the Monarch simply would not exist without Milkweed.

Ohio has approximately 1,900 native plants, all of which serve a purpose and support countless species of wildlife. Above ground, their blooms provide nectar for pollinators and their leaves are food for caterpillars, both of which are a food source for our feathered friends. Underground, native plants' root systems are much longer than non-native counterparts and so they are therefore better able to stabilize soil, retain more water, and bring nutrients out of the soil.


For some of you, the next point may be the most persuasive advantage to planting native – because these plants have adapted to the existing soil and climate conditions, they do not require much watering (once established) or fertilization to see success, which puts money back into your pocket, time back into your day, and keeps potentially unnecessary nutrients off the land.

Furthermore, the benefits of native plants don’t stop when the plants die off. If left on, the seed heads provide food for birds through fall and winter. Not only that, cavity nesting bees and other beneficial insects will use the hollow stems of the plants to either lay eggs or overwinter and then reemerge in the spring. Same can be said for the leaf litter and debris from the plants – insects will overwinter underneath!

If you are ready to join the native plant movement and add some to your garden, patio (yes, some are container-friendly!), or back-40, the next step is selecting and buying your plants. Every May, several local agencies including Lucas SWCD, Wild Ones, and Wood County Park District have Native Plant Sales to offer citizens an opportunity to buy locally-grown native plants to add to the landscape. You can also explore WildToledo.org throughout the year for what plants the Toledo Zoo has available. If you are still looking for plants, give our office a call -- odds are we can point you in the direction of a local source!

Once you choose the right native plant(s) for your landscape based on sun, moisture, and soil requirements and plant them, it is important to treat your new plants like the babies that they are. Water them consistently. Doing so allows them to send their roots deep down into the soil so that one day, you will not need to water them – the long roots can reach water that is stored down in the soil profile. You can also add mulch around the base of your plant to retain moisture. At the end of the growing cycle for your new plants, leave the seed heads and stems up until temperatures are above 50 degrees consistently both day and night – the pollinators overwintering there will thank you!​

Every native plant that is added back to the landscape has a purpose and a benefit to all living creatures and the environment. It is up to us to make the decision each spring to choose plants that have not only survived, but thrived here in northwest Ohio for thousands of years – that choice supports wildlife, the soil, our waterways, and ultimately our future on this planet. 

Questions?? Contact our office: (419) 893-1966 or [email protected]. 
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Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts

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Office Hours:
​ Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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3350 Hill Ave., Suite K,
​Toledo OH 43607
419-893-1966
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  • Home
  • About
    • History & Funding
    • Support the SWCD >
      • Affiliate Members
    • Board & Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Volunteer
  • Programs & Services
    • Ag Resources & Programs >
      • H2Ohio
      • H2Ohio - Working Lands Buffer Program
      • Ag Best Management Practices
      • Cooperator of the Year & CREP Awards
      • Farmland Preservation
      • Pond Management
    • Education Services >
      • Education Programs >
        • Classroom / Youth Programs
        • Adult Programming
      • Newsletters >
        • Educational Articles
        • Conservation in the Classroom
      • Outdoor Student Learning Opportunities >
        • Blue Creek Conservation Field Trips
        • Envirothon
      • Contests >
        • Poster Contest
        • Caring For Our Watersheds
      • Educator Resources >
        • Grants of Interest
        • Professional Development Opportunities
        • Lesson Plan Resources
      • Educator of the Year
    • Residential Resources >
      • Urban Agriculture & Gardening
      • Stormwater
      • Eco-Landscaping
      • Penny's Ponderings
    • Drainage Program >
      • Ditch Maintenance
    • Current Grant Projects >
      • Headwaters Tenmile Creek Project
      • Shull Tenmile Creek Project
  • Events
    • Make & Take Rain Barrel Workshop 6/25
    • Toledo-area Urban Farmer Networking Meetings
  • Shop Online
    • Refund Policy
  • Additional Resources
    • Public Information Requests
    • Report Pollution
  • Blog
  • Videos