Plants and Trees

Landscaping with native plants and trees relies on two principles. First, native vegetation requires less input from a landscaper or homeowner because the vegetation has already acclimated to the soil composition, water constituents, and climate. Second, diverse plant life provides a more stable environment than landscaping with a limited variety of plants. A diverse mixture of native plants and trees fosters a diverse mix of insects, birds, and predators, or in other words, a balanced ecosystem. The ecosystem’s animal life reduces pests, spreads seeds, pollinates, trims bark, thins out foliage, and recycles nutrients. Variety in vegetation therefore helps maintain animal diversity, which in turn promotes more plant diversity.

Despite the advantages of native trees and plants, people often prefer a manicured look to their property because they have become accustomed to trimmed and lush lawns with neat shrubbery. For this reason, eco- landscapers sometimes blend native vegetation with ornamental plants. For instance, large properties of more than two acres can accommodate both a natural section growing native vegetation and a more manicured section that mixes native trees and plants with ornamental varieties. Part of the property retains its wild appearance, and the other part contains trimmed clearings and periodic removal of underbrush.

Edible landscaping involves planting of
fruiting and vegetable plants in place of
lawn. The plants enrich the soil, reduce
erosion, and provide a sustainable use
of the landscape. By growing food at
home, gardeners decrease the fuel used
to drive to a market, and, in a small way,
home gardening decreases the energy
needed for transporting food around the
world. (iVillageGardenWeb)

Homeowners may also choose to take a step toward sustainability by creating an edible landscape, meaning a property containing native fruiting and vegetable plants. The Associated Press writers John Seewer and Doug Whiteman reported in 2008, “The idea goes back centuries, to times when people sustained themselves with food they grew on their own and filled every corner of their land with edible plants. But with the mass production of food, the practice gave way to manicured lawns.” There are more than 20,000 edible plants in the world comprised of seeds, stalks, petals, pollen, and roots in addition to familiar fruits and vegetables. The table on page 144 lists some of the most common types that can be used in their native environment as part of an edible landscape.

Edible landscapes can also make use of edible flowers that give color and aesthetic appeal to a yard. The following list summarizes the most common edible flowers used in landscaping today: alliums (leeks, chives, etc.), angelica, anise, arugula, borage, chamomile, chicory, chrysanthemum, clover, dandelion, hibiscus, jasmine, lavender, marigold, pansy, peony, rose, and violet. When growing any edible flower, landscapers should not use chemical pesticides, and they should choose native plants that contribute to the local habitat.