United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio, Wisconsin
vvEPA
FACT
SHEET
The Benefits to Nature
March 1997
Aren't grass and trees enough to benefit nature and wildlife?
Every plant species provides different benefits for the Also, in a natural setting, plants reach maturity and seed at
environment, Sorhe plants take up nutrients in
the soil, others deposit nutrients in the soil,
and all offer different types of habitat and
food sources. There are specific birds, insects,
and wildlife that depend upon specific plants
(or vice versa, such as bees and butterflies that
pollinate flowers). On the other hand, the use
of nonnative (exotic) plant species, coupled
with high doses of pesticides and fertilizers,
makes the modern lawn a biological near
desert. The three primary Eurasian grass
species that make up most lawns are of little
use to most beneficial insects and animals.
The relationship between plants and wildlife,
or the food web, is destroyed or nonexistent
when we use nonnative grasses, trees, and shrubbery that do not
produce nutrients required by many species.
different times of the year. For wildlife, that means
that seeds and fruits are available the entire year.
Unfortunately, with some lawns, seeds and fruits are
available only during the summer growing season.
Native plant species can also offer a greater variety of
habitat and shelter for wildlife. Based on these factors,
it is clear that to improve our environment and to
enhance backyard habitats, manicured lawns should
gradually be replaced with beneficial landscaping.
More important, with close to 500 native plant species
on the verge of extinction in North America,
beneficial landscaping offers most of us a chance to
do our part. If every one of the more than 30 million
U.S. homeowners planted native species on just one-
tenth an acre, almost 4 million acres of native plants
would be restored. The influence on preservation efforts for
plants, birds, and insects, would be spectacular.
Is landscaping with native plants economical and affordable?
Landscaping with native plants is a very economical choice for
several reasons. Native plants suited for this climate tend to do
better and require less water and less upkeep. And mowing is not
required. Thus, economic benefits include lower water bills and
lower maintenance. You don't have to buy as much gasoline for
the mower and you save money by not buying fertilizers/
herbicides. The esthetic benefit is a beautiful, thriving landscape.
In addition, with the proper placement of plants your landscape
can conserve energy and save on heating and cooling costs for
your home. By placing conifers—such as white spruce, black
hills spruce, and eastern white pine—on the north and \vest sides
of your home, you reduce the cooling effect of harsh w inter
winds; by placing hardwoods— such as oaks, basswood, green
ash, white ash, sugar maple, soft maple, or hackberry—on the
south side of your home, you save on cooling costs Because they
provide shade in summer. An added environmsntal ber^nt is tiv.u
these trees also provide shelter for birds in winter and nesting end
cover in summer. Finally, don't forget the potential incrsase in
property value when an area is beautifully landscaped!
How affordable is beneficial landscaping and what are the easiest plants to purchase to get started?
If you would like to try a few plants to get started, try the 12
mentioned in the Chicago Wilderness "Nitty-gritty Details and
Planting Instructions for a Dozen Basic Wildflowers and
Grasses." They are: boneset(Eupatoriumperfoliatium),
bottlebrush grass {Hystrix patula), butterfly weed (Asclepias
tuberosa), Culver's root {Veronicastrum virginicum), little
bluestern (Andropogon scoparius), mountain mint (Pycnantheum
virginianum)\, nodding wild onion (Allium cernmim), prairie
blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya), spotted joe pye weed
(Eupatorium maculatum), sweet black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia
subtomentosa), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosd), and yellow
coneflower (Ratibida pinnata).
Native plants may appear to be more expensive at first. However,
in general, fewer seeds are necessary to cover an area, so it is
important to look at the seed dispersal ratio for the specific area to
be planted. (For rates, see your local nursery).
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Won't increasing wildlife in a backyard increase the number of pests as well?
Not really. In fact, you could attract particular wildlife that feeds single bat can eat 3,000 to 7,000 insects per night! This might
on the pests in your yard. For instance, if you have a lot of
mosquitoes or grasshoppers, you may want to attract purple
martins, tree swallows, bluebirds, bats, frogs, or dragonflies
which will feed on these insects. And don't let the idea of bats
scare you. Bats are actually very good to have around because a
beat out your Bug Zapper by a long shot and save on electricity
and on the cost of potentially harmful pesticides. To attract bats,
put up a few bat houses that can be bought at nature stores, or
make your own.
What particular plants attract butterflies and wildlife?
There are several species of plants that will attract particular
insects and wildlife, so it is best to pick up a more specific
resource or talk with your local nursery to get the best match for
your yard. However, here are a few ideas: For song birds, plant
sunflowers (all species), blazing star (all species), white prairie
clover, compass plant, prairie dock, big bluestem, little bluestem,
sideoats grama, switch grass, prairie dropseed, downy service
berry, hackberry, dogwood (all species), juniper (all species),
elderberry, highbush cranberry, and hawthorn (all species).
For hummingbirds, try pale purple coneflower, spotted
jewelweed, wild lupine, bergamot-bee balm, foxglove,
beardtongue, phlox (all species), false dragonhead, Ohio buckeye,
gooseberry (all species), and trumpet honeysuckle.
To attract butterflies, try wild garlic, nodding onion, lead plant,
common milkweed, white aster, pale purple coneflower,
rattlesnake master, blazing star, bergamot-bee balm, white prairie
clover, prairie phlox, mountain mint, black-eyed Susan, compass
plant, prairie dock, spiderwort, prairie violet, little bluestem,
sideoats grama, and switch grass. (This is just a beginning; it is
not an inclusive list.)
What kinds of questions should be asked about native plants?
A good question to ask is: "Are the plants local or shipped in?" if the plants do well in your soil type and lawn area (sunny,
This question is important because it is best to get plants locally shady, moist, dry, etc.).
grown —those that are best-suited for your conditions. Also, ask
What should be considered in deciding what to plant where?
To get the best results, follow some principles based on the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources handbook,
Landscaping for Wildlife. The basic needs of wildlife include:
1 Function. Plants have to be more than
just pretty; they must provide nesting
cover, edible fruits, butterfly nectar,
grains, nuts, acorns, or something else
beneficial to wildlife.
• Diversity. This will attract not only a
greater variety of species, but also protect
against one species doing poorly and
against your whole landscape declining.
While in some years one or two plants
don't do so well, the others may thrive
and provide beauty and wildlife benefits.
Seasonality. Wildlife requires that the basic needs be
supplied all year. Therefore, plant a combination, such as
Black Hills spruce and white spruce for winter cover and
summer nesting sites; Nanking cherry and American
elderberry for summer fruits; red osier dogwood and
mountain ash for fall fruits; and red splendor crabapple
and American highbush cranberry for winter and
spring fruits.
« Layout. Habitat must be considered for optimal
use. This means that food plots and water should
be near cover, or wildlife will be exposed to harsh
weather or preyed upon while going for food and
water. The prevailing winds, snow drifts, and soil
erosion control should be considered as well. For
example, prairie grasses provide excellent soil
erosion control and nesting cover..
Cup plant used by permission of
artist. s Henrietta H. Tweedie
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