Top 5 Reasons to Go Native in the Garden

Buttonbush has showy white flowers

that attract butterflies, humming-birds

and other pollinators. The nut-like

seeds provide food for waterfowl and

other birds in August.

This article is republished by permission from our latest content sharing partner, ecoRI.com. Visit ecoRI.com and sign up for their email updates to get more well-written news about environmental issues and causes in Rhode Island.


By VANESSA VENTURINI/special to ecoRI News

You’re a good Rhode Islander. Your fridge is stocked with farmers’ market goodies, you drink Rhody Fresh Milk and your go-to date night spot is Local 121 or Matunuck Oyster Bar — pronounced “Oy-stah Bahh.”

But I would like to share with you the latest addition to what’s local in Rhode Island: Rhody Native plants.

The Rhody Native initiative works with local nurseries to increase the supply of locally sourced native plants. A Rhody Native logo lets consumers know the plant was grown at a local nursery and is a species native to the Ocean State.

This new initiative also encourages gardeners to create sustainable landscapes that reflect the local flora, and supplies habitat restoration projects with locally adapted plants.


The Rhode Island Natural History Survey and the University of Rhode Island started the project to promote biodiversity and provide business opportunities for local nurseries.

Eastern red columbine is a
humming-bird magnet.

This year, a number of plant species will be available for sale in local garden centers, with more available next year. Nursery growers will be invited to participate in a fall/winter training program to learn the process of native plant propagation, from seed collection in Rhode Island’s wild places to sales and marketing.

I recently asked our Rhody Native facebook fans why they chose to go native. One of my favorite comments came from Becky Brooke, a URI Master Gardener from Pawtucket, who wrote, “For wildlife, insect life, efficient use of water, they fit here and because I love underappreciated plants. ‘What's that, I’ve never seen it before?’ is a great conversation starter.”

Here are five reasons to go native in the garden:

The nectar of seaside goldenrod
helps fuel the migration of a
 Monarch butterfly along Rhode
Island’s south coast.

Attract wildlife. Native plants are essential for native wildlife. They are the basis of the food web, providing food and habitat for insects, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles all the way up the food chain. Native plants attract pollinators and beneficial insects to a garden. As the second-most densely populated state, with much of the land devoted to residential development, it’s important to think of our backyards as an extension of the larger ecosystem. Also, many insects, such as caterpillars — the major food source for baby birds — can only eat the native plants they evolved with.

Impress your friends. Native plants are beautiful. Think of them as a source of inspiration — a collection of richly hued foliage, flowers and berries to add color and interest to your backyard throughout the seasons. A crimson string of winterberries (Ilex verticillata) clinging to their snow-covered branch, a sprig of lacy white flowers of the arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) to greet you in the spring, or a dusty rose Joe pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) flower, swaying gracefully on its stem at the end of the growing season.

Highbush blueberry is a familiar and
well-rounded native shrub with
tasty berries in the summer, great
fall color and reddish stems in
winter. It makes a good nesting
site for birds, provides nectar
for pollinators and serves as a
host site for several species of
butterfly larvae.

Enjoy the beach. Stormwater pollution that runs off from backyard harms underwater creatures, pollutes drinking water supplies and creates a car full of unhappy campers on beach closure days. Native plants have adapted with the local climate, soils and insects. By selecting natives that are adapted to the environmental conditions in your yard, you will create a garden that once established, will flourish without fertilizers and pesticides that end up polluting our watersheds. Plant a few natives this summer, then dig your feet in the sand as you take in the ocean breeze, confident that you helped preserve water quality in the Ocean State.

Less yard work. Native plants are low maintenance. They evolved to survive in Rhode Island’s unpredictable conditions. They are programmed to survive the rainiest spring and driest of Augusts. If you spot a few holes in the leaves, no need to rush to add pesticides. Once established, your native pollinator garden will be fine on its own, without any help from us — or cash spent on yard-care products at a big-box store.

Show your Rhody pride. Native plants create a sense of place, reflecting our natural plant communities and ecosystems. Whether growing in a forest in Hope Valley or a mansion garden in Newport, they belong here. Many landscapes across the United States repeat the same few plants from Asia and Europe, creating a monotonous landscape that’s devoid of local character. Many of these non-native garden plants have escaped the backyard and become invasive pests in our ecosystems. Native plants take away the worry of whether a plant will become invasive, especially as our climate changes and new invasive problems sprout up.

Next time you’re in the market for plants, consider the diversity of species that make Rhode Island such a beautiful place to live and visit. While you’re at it, support your local nursery grower by picking up a Rhody Native.

For more on Rhody Native and upcoming native gardening classes, send an e-mail to vanessa@uri.edu. For general gardening tips, visit the URI Outreach Center website or call the Master Gardener Hotline, open Monday through Thursday, at 1-800-448-1011.

Vanessa Venturini is the environmental education coordinator for the URI Learning Landscape Program.

Connect to the Rhody Native initiative on Facebook.
The original article can be viewed here.