Native Species

Native species are the species of plants, animals, and insects that have inhabited a given area or region prior to human disturbance. These original inhabitants are adapted to the specific environmental conditions of their area. They make up the various interdependent parts of the food chain and are an integral part of the regional web of life. Most species have a resident natural predator within the food web that keeps populations of native species in check.

Native species have received a lot of attention in the last decade in two main interest areas: (1) landscaping in an increasingly energy- and water-restricted world; and (2) nonnative invasions. Conventional landscaping traditionally uses exotic plants to enhance an area with colors and shapes from a standard toolkit of vegetative ...