The case for native landscaping in Florida
A Lee County homeowner could unwittingly invest thousands in a beautiful lawn that harms the ecosystem. How? Exotic plants.
By Samantha Elliott
A Lee County homeowner could unwittingly invest thousands in a beautiful lawn that harms the ecosystem. How?
Exotic plants. Homeowners commonly use them for landscaping, and 6% of them are invasive, according to the Florida Pest Plant Council.
Non-native landscaping dysregulates Florida’s natural system, according to Ryan Scofield, president of the Lee County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Scofield said that they disturb wildlife and their food cycle.
“This area has evolved for thousands and thousands of years with the same plants and the same animals. Then all of a sudden, we’re coming in and trying to make it look pretty first. We’re disrupting that old system,” Scofield said.
The Australian Pineand Brazilian Pepper Tree are two invasive species commonly found in Florida yards. During hurricane season, the Australian Pine can be hazardous in regards to erosion if uprooted. The pine can block flowing water and trap stormwater runoff.
Native plants provide the proper food and habitat for wildlife, such as birds and butterflies. When the right host plant is not present for butterflies or moths to lay eggs on, he said, there’s a problem.
Many exotic plants do not adapt well to Florida’s natural soil because it is unlike their own. To keep these plants alive, the homeowner must use large amounts of fertilizer, pesticide and water.
Lawn fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus. A high level of nitrogen can harm local bodies of water by causing an overgrowth in algae. According to Ginny Stibolt, author of “Climate-Wise Landscaping” and a Florida native, the negative impacts travel farther than our own backyards.
“Fertilizers are poisoning not only our own soil but also the nearby waterways. We’re poisoning the fish and we’re turning our water red and green,” Stibolt said.
Lee County’s soil is more alkaline, said John Griffis, a Florida Gulf Coast University professor and chair for horticultural education and research. Griffis explained that seashells and coral are the main contributors to the salty soil, and Florida native plants are able to thrive with the soil’s pH levels, he said.
“The plants are acclimated to the soil. They are adapted to most of the watering patterns. We only have to water a little bit and we would only have to fertilize a small amount. The natural system will just function,” Griffis said.
There are hundreds of native options for landscaping. Beautyberry is a native shrub alternative that requires little irrigation. The plant produces flowers in the summer that form into berries. Beautyberry attracts birds and various pollinators that help a yard flourish naturally.
An alternative for those who live closer to the coast is the Beach Sunflower. This native plant blooms year round, enticing butterflies to the flowers. The sunflower is acclimated to dry conditions, allowing it to survive in drought conditions.
Plantrealflorida.org, a site created to increase awareness of native plants, provides tools and resources for Floridians. Viewers can search by county for plants that will flourish in their backyards.
“The biggest impact we as homeowners can make is to have more sustainable lawn care,” Stibolt said.
