why native plants?

Ozark-native plants graced the prairies, savannas, and forests of our region long before European settlers arrived. They are naturally adapted to the Ozark climate and soils, and they co-evolved and developed an interdependent relationship with the native wildlife here over thousands of years.

Native plants are the foundation of the food web that sustains wildlife, and their decline can have far-reaching consequences. They provide food and habitat for birds and insects, promoting biodiversity. By using Ozark native plants in your landscape, you support local wildlife which play a crucial role in our ecosystem.

The deep, fibrous root systems of many Ozark native plants prevent erosion, improve soil structure, and increase the amount of rain that can infiltrate soil and recharge the water table. They reduce stormwater runoff and slow down flooding, improving overall watershed health. They are much better than non-natives at sequestering carbon (absorbing CO2).

Native plants offer much more than visual beauty in your landscape. They are a powerful tool for reversing ecosystem degradation and habitat loss. Using native plants brings your landscape to life and connects it with the natural world around you. You don’t have to be a green-thumb or even a land-owner to start being a steward of the land. Whether you’re ready to start small or go all in, our local-ecotype native plugs can help you create a landscape that reflects the rugged beauty of the Ozark region.

supporting ecological interdependence

< Carolina Chickadees feed their nestlings almost exclusively caterpillars, which are  soft enough to shove down their throats safely and high in carotenoids essential to young birds’ growth.  Their eggs hatch in late spring, and both mom and dad forage for caterpillars from 6am to 8pm, every day for about two weeks. They work together to bring their babies about 500 caterpillars a day, and about 7,000 caterpillars total in the nestlings’ first two weeks after hatching! They have been observed bringing as many as 17 different species of caterpillars to their nestlings in a single day, often with three or four caterpillars in their beak at a time, and all done within a 150 foot radius of their nest.

With such a large appetite and such a diverse menu, it becomes clear that Carolina Chickadees will choose to build a nest and lay eggs where there is a good supply of food for its young, and that means a large number and diverse selection of native plants hosting many different species of caterpillars. Research has shown that native plants support 15x as many caterpillars as non-natives. Native keystone trees such as Oaks and Hickories host the highest number of species of caterpillars, but planting keystone shrubs, forbs, and grasses in your yard will also help attract more songbirds, native bees, and butterflies.

< A Monarch caterpillar eating the leaves of Butterfly Weed.

The milky sap of most Milkweed species not only contains chemicals toxic to most insects, it also gums the mouth of many insects shut. Monarch caterpillars co-evolved with the Milkweed genus and developed adaptations that allow them to eat Milkweed leaves without worry. If Milkweed disappears, so will Monarchs.  

Adult Monarchs will come to your yard if you plant native Milkweeds along with their favorite nectar plants, like Rough Blazing Star, Swamp Marigold, Showy Goldenrod, and New England Aster.  Our Monarch Madness Garden Kit has three species of Milkweeds and six species of nectar plants, 38 plugs total.