why native trees?
Photo: Serviceberry, Barbara Ryan
Wait…What are native trees?
According to Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy, a native plant is “a plant...that has evolved in a given place over a period of time sufficient to develop complex and essential relationships with the physical environment and other organisms in a given ecological community.”
-Rick Darke & Doug Tallamy, “The Living Landscape”
Photo: Eastern Bluebird and Downy Woodpecker in trees, Barbara Ryan
Native plants play a critical role in the health of our ecosystem by supporting biodiversity and wildlife. Native species are adapted to our local environment and are best suited to our native wildlife. A native landscape is a living landscape with a wide assortment of beneficial insects, birds, and pollinators that create a balanced system.
Why plant a native tree?
Social benefits of trees:
Trees are an essential component of natural green spaces, which have been shown to reduce stress and boost our mental and physical health
Streets that are lined with trees have a traffic calming effect
Trees can be used to provide privacy and screen unwanted views
Economic benefits of trees:
Trees can increase the value of a home by making it more attractive and reducing energy costs
Environmental benefits of trees:
Trees provide shade, cooling the air in summer, and reducing energy costs
Trees provide food, protection, habitat for many birds and mammals
Trees absorb stormwater runoff, reducing flooding and erosion, while protecting the Chesapeake Bay
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air, thus reducing the greenhouse gases that cause climate change
Trees clean the air by removing dangerous dust and pollutants from the air
Does it matter what sort of native tree I plant?
All native trees, understory or canopy, will provide these benefits. However, some native trees are powerhouses when it comes to functionality and habitat value. Research has revealed that Oaks, by far, provide the most ecological benefits of all native trees.
“There is much going on in your yard that would not be going on if you did not have one or more oak trees gracing your piece of planet earth.”
– Doug Tallamy,“The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees.”
Photo: Hans via Pixabay
more native plant Resources
There is a wealth of information available online about native trees and plants. Here are two of our favorite local resources to help you locate the information that is most helpful to understanding our specific local ecosystem and the role that native trees play in it, and how you can find, plant and care for native trees and plants in our area.
A grassroots effort to spread the word about the importance of planting native plant species. This site is a comprehensive resource for exploring native species, understanding the interconnectedness of native plant, insects and animals, and for learning which combinations of plantings are right for your own site conditions, whether you live on acres of land or you have an apartment balcony. This is also a great resource for finding and purchasing native plants and seeds locally.
A recent extension of Plant NoVA Natives, this website focuses specifically on native Virginia trees and shrubs, with an emphasis on plant communities. This is an excellent resource for learning about how to select, plant and care for trees, and about why native trees are especially important.