Did you know that Ohio is the first state to have a law recognizing the importance of native plants for an entire month? That is pretty special!

The Ohio Native Plant Month Website defines a native plant as “one that has evolved over thousands of years in a specific geographic region, alongside local flora and fauna, without human intervention”. Native plants include trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses.

The Columbus Park of Roses has recognized the importance of native plants for several years. We have many native trees, shrubs and perennials throughout the park. They are identified with the Ohio Native Plant Month logo stickers on plant labels such as seen here.

To help the environment as well as educate visitors, the Northview Buckeye Garden Club, responsible for maintaining the Perennial Garden, developed the two beds on the west side of the shelter house as demonstration beds for native plants. New signage and information about the plants on the west side of the shelter house is being added this year. Central Ohio sources to purchase native plants is also included in the information.

The attention given to the importance of native plants is important because in the last century, landscaping practices have contributed to a loss of native habitat by an obsession with lawns and non-native plants. Many of these plants have become invasive, such as the Callery Pear tree which can no longer be sold in Ohio. The result of the loss of native habitat has resulted a great decrease in insects and birds, among other species.

Landscapes which incorporate native plants support the ecosystem in many ways. They sequester carbon, control runoff of water, provide food and shelter for wildlife, are easier to grow, need less water, and support our ecosystem. While many people see insects in a garden as undesirable, they are the foundation for a healthy ecosystem. Insects are essential for feeding baby birds. North America has lost 2.9 billion breeding adult birds since 1970 (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). We encourage you to use native plants in your home landscape to help offset this loss.