Go Native
Keep Pinellas Beautiful strives to protect and conserve our natural environment through our community improvement efforts within Pinellas County. One of the ways we do this is by incorporating native plants and gardens into our county’s green spaces. Not only are native plants beautiful, but they also provide a variety of environmental and economic benefits to your home and business landscapes.
What are native plants?
According to the County Extension Office, the term “Native” refers to a plant species that has naturally existed in an area prior to human contact.
Currently, many native species are declining due to the increase and spread of invasive species. Invasive species do not belong in the ecosystem and disrupt the natural environment by competing for resources with native species.
Attractive additions to your landscape
Many of our lawns mainly consist of turf grass. It’s boring and requires constant attention in terms of mowing, fertilizing, and watering. Consider adding natives to your yard instead as an attractive and low maintenance option.
Native ground covers and grasses such as Sunshine Mimosa or Love Grass are an excellent alternative to turf grass. There is also a tremendous variety of flowering plants and trees that can add a pop of color to your yard. If you are looking to add variety and texture to your landscape, try incorporating shrubs like Coffee or American Beautyberry. Do you have a pond, lake, creek, or even a wet, boggy area? Consider adding native aquatic plants to help maintain water quality while adding to your property’s curb appeal. Check out the Florida Native Plant Society for native plants that will thrive in your yard.
Benefits of native plants
Native species are critical to their ecosystem. By creating a Florida native landscape, you will help to create a healthier, more diverse environment that will provide habitat and food for pollinators and wildlife.
Native plants are accustomed to our heat, soil, and droughts. They do not require harmful pesticides or fertilizers to survive which helps protect our water quality. Since they are adapted to our climate, they also require less water.
Although native plants tend to cost more than other plants, they will last longer because they naturally grow in our environment. You won’t be constantly running back to the garden center to replace plants. Think of all the time, money, and energy you will save with native plants!
How to get started
Take a look at your current yard. Take notes. Make drawings. Talk to an expert or professional about what you want to accomplish and the look you are going for with native plants. If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, make sure to work with the association as you implement your new landscape. The Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN) is a great resource for finding nurseries, landscapers, or designers in your area.
Get even more involved by volunteering with environmental organizations like Keep Pinellas Beautiful to remove invasive vegetation and restore native areas in Pinellas County. Check out our Upcoming Events to see what kind of habitat restoration activities we have coming up!
Do you have a favorite Florida native plant? If yes, share it with us!