Why Landscape with Native Plants?

Gardeners have a unique opportunity to address the biodiversity crisis. By adding even a few native plants to the landscape we:

• add to the resources that support wildlife
• build landscape corridors in our communities to counter habitat fragmentation
• help stormwater percolate safely into the soil rather than running superheated into rivers and streams
• garden more sustainably, with less watering and fertilizing
• create gardens that honor Indiana’s rich natural heritage
• make gardening easier, because native plants are not finicky

The Hatcher garden in suburban Indianapolis

Native plants do require some maintenance until they are well established, but as native plant purveyor Neil Diboll points out, “weeding can induce a meditative state.” Steve Hartman attests to a veritable weeding addiction in this CBS Evening News clip: