Gold Dew Gardens

SERVICES

California Native Bird and Pollinator Friendly Gardens

(Compiled from California Native Plant Society articles and other Sources)

What are California Native Plants?

Native plants grew in California prior to European contact and have co-evolved over the centuries with our local soil, microbes and animals to form a complex network of relationships. The term ‘native’ means that the plant has been part of an intricate and complex web of animals, plants, pathogens, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms for a very long time – one in which the rules of coexistence have been thoroughly worked out. Such communities are stable, orderly and diverse.

Why are native plants important?

Plants are a cornerstone of biological diversity, and native plants are the foundation of our native ecosystem. They do the best job of providing food and shelter for native insects, birds and animals.

Benefits of California Native Plants

  • Save Water – once established, many native plants need minimal irrigation during the dry season.
  • Lower Maintenance – native plants do best with some attention and care in a garden setting, but require little to no soil amendments, fertilizers, or pesticides.
  • Diversity – native plants are highly diverse and offer species for any garden site or situation. Natives are not restricted to a single watering regime, kind of soil, or areas of limited or special microclimates. Natives run the gamut from wet, foggy, coastal bluffs to arid, hot deserts (Middlebrook & Keator).
  • Beauty – natives are aesthetically beautiful. Some of the longest-blooming, showiest flowers are produced by native species. Some of the best foundation shrubs and trees are native. And some of the most beautiful foliage plants for texture, color, and fragrance come from native species (Middlebrook & Keator).
  • Habitat for birds and pollinators – native plants, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are “made for each other” – native wildlife prefers native plants, which provides great opportunities for wildlife viewing.
  • Support local ecology – as development replaces natural habitats, planting gardens, parks, and roadsides with California native plants can help provide an important “bridge” to nearby remaining wildlands.

To summarize, California native plants are perfectly suited to our climate, soil, and wildlife, and can help us create gardens of beauty that give a sense of place and extend native habitats into urban settings. They provide aesthetic and habitat value, serve functional and conservation needs, and can add an ethical or spiritual dimension to gardening (Borstein, Fross, O’Brien).

Sources