Native plants
What you want to know about native plants, trees and shrubs
When we talk about 'Native Plants', we are talking about our wild plants - the species that, without human intervention, have been growing in the Netherlands for centuries. IVN Natuureducatie explains why this is important for your garden.
Why native plants?
Native plants adapted to the environment
When plants grow in a particular climate for a long time, they adapt. Our native plants are tough and optimally adapted to our soil, our animals and our climate. A pleasant consequence is that they also die less quickly in the garden and require less care. Provided they are in the right place, of course.
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Native plants are ready for the future
You have probably already noticed that higher temperatures in recent summers make it harder to keep the garden green. Or that puddles of water remain for long periods of time precisely because of heavy rainfall. Native plants are stronger and adapt more easily to changing climate conditions. As a result, drought, cold or, on the contrary, lots of wetness no longer pose a problem. So native plants also adapt to a changing climate!
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Native plants work together with our animals
Over time, our plants and animals have become attuned to each other. The bumblebee knows exactly when the tastiest flowers are in bloom. There are even insects that only fly on one specific flower! In recent years, it has become painfully clear that many insects are doing very badly. All the more reason to fill gardens with plants they need for food and reproduction.
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Restoring 'wild' nature
Native nature is our wild nature. This makes our local plants and animals as special as the species in the Brazilian rainforest or on the African Savannah. They are worth protecting. And we need to, because only 3% of our native trees, for example, are left. If you plant local native plants in your garden, you will help restore Dutch biodiversity.
Are exotic plants wrong?
No. And it's not like you have to remove all non-native plants from your garden now. Some species have been bred far into existence and have little value to nature anymore. Think, for instance, of the popular hydrangea, which has hardly any nectar and pollen for bees. But there are also species that do have added value for insects. They are just less attuned to local nature. This may mean that these exotic plants need more care in the Dutch climate, or attract fewer insects than native species. Most gardens contain mostly exotics. It is precisely the native species that could use a helping hand.
Native plants in your garden!
If you are going to put new plants in your garden, be sure to choose native plants. There are many beautiful species among them and nature will be very grateful! There are several ways to get these native plants:
- Use the free IVN Bloeikalender, which allows you to put plants in your garden that succeed each other in flowering. That way you have flowers all year round. The calendar shows which species are indigenous. Nice for you and good for the insects.
- Together with organic garden plants webshop Sprinklr, we developed the Tuiny Bloeipakket to give every garden a boost of biodiversity. The Tuiny Flowering Package contains 13 native and organic plants that provide a long flowering arc from spring to autumn.
This article was written by IVN Natuureducatie.