Reasons to Landscape with Kansas Native Plants
If you live in Kansas, you should really be using plants native to Kansas in your landscape. Here are some reasons why this is desirable.
Beauty & Interest
Many native plants add interest to the landscape. They are attractive, with showy flowers. And they are different from the typical plants that most people landscape with.
Hardiness
Most native species are very hardy. They have to be hardy to have survived in this area for thousands of years.They have adapted to local climate conditions. As long as their soil, moisture and sun requirements are satisfied, they will thrive.
Site Requirements
Each plant has specific site requirements. Some like well-drained soil. Some like moist soil. Some like full sun. Some like part sun.. For example Swamp Milkweed likes moist soil and full sun. It won't survive in dry soil. It also won't survive in heavy shade.
No Watering Needed
If planted in a site that matches their moisture requirements, they only really need watering, when first being established. You do NOT need to water native plants once they are established. This is a huge savings in time and money.
No Fertilizing Needed
Native plants do not need fertilizers to survive and flourish. Fertilizing them may make them grow too large. Many are well adapted to poor soils and even thrive in poor soil.
No Insecticides Needed
Native plants attract all kinds of native insects. By planting native plants you will create a mini-ecosystem with beneficial insects and birds that will help control any pest species. Butterflies require native plants to reproduce. In comparison, turf grasses sometimes succumb to pest species. A lawn is such an artificial "ecosystem" that it needs lots of inputs such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive.
Reduce Herbicide Use
Some exotic invasive species will still need to be controlled, but maintenance time is greatly reduced when landscaping with natives. Once established the native plants will keep most weed species from growing. Unfortunately we have introduced species of plants that are very invasive. You will always need to keep on them. An example of this is Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera mackii). The birds will bring in the seeds and they will germinate and quickly over take a garden.
Improve your Soil
Many native plants will improve your soil. Their roots are able to penetrate deeply into the soil. One reason the Prairie Region has such rich soil is because the prairie plants helped to build the soil.
Improve Water Quality
Native plants that replace turf grass will improve water quality by filtering the water and allowing less of it to run off.
Improve Air Quality
Native plants make our air cleaner by reducing the need to mow and by taking carbon out of the atmosphere.
Beneficial to our native wildlife
All native insects evolved with native plants. They need them to survive. When you see a butterfly, the only reason it exists is because it fed on a specific native plant that it is adapted to. All of our native insects feed our native birds. Without native plants, our native wildlife suffers.
Not Invasive
By using natives instead of introduced species, there is no worry of your garden plants escaping into the wild and eliminating habitat. Many non-natives have already done this. Bush honeysuckle has crowded out many native plants in our woodlands.
Cultural Uses
Native plants can be used for food, medicine, dye, and fiber
Help Educate others
By using them in our gardens we can educate people about their importance.
Increase their Populations
Their natural populations have declined because of people altering the landscape.
- Because of fire suppression, trees have invaded the prairie. Prairie wildflowers cannot survive in the shade of trees.
- Developments have replaced the native prairie with fescue lawns and other exotic species.
- Agriculture has eliminated native vegetation to grow crops.
- Livestock has greatly reduced many species from intensively grazed pastures.
- Indiscriminate use of herbicides have eliminated many populations of wildflowers.
- Exotic invasive species have replaced our native plants in many areas..