One way to beat the winter gloom is to start brainstorming your vibrant spring garden plans! There are thousands of plants to choose from, all sorts of colors, flower shapes, heights, etc. How do you choose which ones you’ll plant around your home? Do you consider drought tolerance, sunlight requirements, or scent? In northeast PA, deer resistance is on the mind of many gardeners. Another important factor to consider, though, is the plant’s native range.

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) defines a native plant as “one which occurred within this region before colonization by Europeans.” Native plants have many ecological, financial, and time-saving benefits. Opting for PA natives doesn’t limit your choices: there are about 2,100 plants native to Pennsylvania!

Because native plants have adapted to grow in Pennsylvania’s natural conditions and climate for hundreds of years, they are likely to thrive in Pike County landscapes with little intervention. These plants are adapted to the composition of soil commonly found in PA, which means they’ll require little if any additional fertilizer. Limiting or eliminating fertilizer use not only saves money by taking that item off your shopping list, but it also reduces excess nutrients polluting our waterways. Both chemical and “natural” fertilizers, like manure, supply plants with the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) they need to grow when their substrate lacks these. However, excess nutrients carried by stormwater from the garden to nearby streams and lakes can cause excessive algae growth or other harmful aquatic plant overgrowth. Prioritizing native plants that don’t require fertilizer application can therefore minimize this source of water pollution.

In addition to our soil, native plants are also accustomed to PA’s precipitation patterns. Naturally occurring rainfall is generally sufficient to sustain these plants, removing the need for sprinklers or hauling heavy watering cans around. They are also accustomed to common pests in our area and require fewer chemical pesticides.

While pesticides and fertilizers are two of the more widely recognized pollutants that can end up in our waterways, native plants also help to control a lesser-known pollutant – sediment! Sediment, or soil, is the #1 pollutant found in Pennsylvania’s waters, often turning crisp streams into what looks like spilled chocolate milk. Fortunately, many native plants in PA have deeper roots than non-native alternatives. These vast root systems help to hold onto the soil where they’re planted and prevent it from being washed away with heavy rains. Soil is much more beneficial providing all those necessary nutrients for our garden plants than clouding up our rivers!

Overall, native plants can help reduce your gardening workload while also supporting the health of the natural ecosystems around our county. As the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) states, “A native plant is a plant that is part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem.” We hope you consider utilizing native plants in your garden as we “grow” closer to the planting season.

 

Check out the below resources from PA DCNR and Penn State Extension to explore native plants, their bloom times and other details, and locations that sell native plants.

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/conservation/wild-plants/landscaping-with-native-plants.html

https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-native-plants-for-the-perennial-garden