Plant Native

In our ever changing landscape, it is important to cater to our native wildlife species. Many exotic plant species do not provide the food that our native wildlife need to survive.

According to the National Park Service,
​
Native plant species provide the keystone elements for ecosystem restoration. Native plants help to increase the local population of native plant species, providing numerous benefits. There are specific associations of mycorrhizae with plants, invertebrates with woody debris, pollinators with flowers, and birds with structural habitat that can only be rebuilt by planting native plants.
Advantages of native plants:

• add beauty to the landscape and preserve our natural heritage
• provide food and habitat for native wildlife
• serve as an important genetic resource for future food crops or other plant-derived products
• help slow down the spread of fire by staying greener longer
• decrease the amount of water needed for landscape maintenance
• require very little long-term maintenance if they are properly planted and established
• produce long root systems to hold soil in place
• protect water quality by controlling soil erosion and moderating floods and droughts

A prime example of a wildlife species that depends on native plants is the Monarch Butterfly. 
​

Resources
Why Native Plants Matter - Audubon
​Butterfly Gardens Fact Sheet- CT DEEP
​Bringing Nature Home
Connecticut Botanical Society

For a full list of native butterfly plants, click on the NRCS website link here.