Agenda - Council - 06/14/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Importance of Using Native Plants Diversity and unique vegetation are defining characteristics of Minnesota's landscape. A key reason for using native plants in landscape design is to develop a strong sense of regional identity and endow urban and residential settings with the beauty of the natural landscape. Also, native plantings are hardy and long-lasting, reducing the amount of maintenance required. And, they nurture natural processes that promote a healthy environment. For example, native plants cleanse the water and air, generate oxygen, add nutrients to the soil and reduce soil erosion, fostering diverse healthy plant communities. They are an important part of what are commonly called Best Management Practices or BMP's. These are strategies such as rain gardens, buffer strips, vegetated swales, detention basins and shoreline plantings that are designed to improve environmental quality. Moreover, native plants are vitally important to local wildlife species that depend on local plants for food and shelter. The more abundant native plants are in a particular landscape, the more birds, animals and insects they can support. The Audubon Society has reported that almost 30 percent of bird populations in North America face "significant decline" and much of this decline is believed to stem from habitat loss. Native planting projects restore lost habitat and also help buffer natural areas. These buffers provide additional wildlife habitat and can minimize the impact of non-native, invasive species. Using Native Plants in Design There is no better way to learn how to design with native plants than to spend time in natural settings, particularly in healthy plant communities. Field visits help landscape designers understand the environmental conditions that specific _ Prairie Flowers - - photo by Jeff Shaw native plants require, what other species share that environment, and how weeds and invasive species affect the well-being of plant communities. Visiting sites with someone experienced in plant identification and ecology can speed the learning process. The more species you know, the better chance you have of creating successful designs. There are roughly 2,400 species of native plants in Minnesota. Although native species have not been bred for specific foliage characteristics, long bloom times or predictable growth forms, the wide variety of commercially available species gives designers viable options for almost any design situation. 9