The importance of local native species
Native plants are just native plants, right?
If only it was that simple.
After three-hundred years or so of horticulture, collecting, selective / deliberate breeding (traits, forms, species, types …), research, discovery, study and so forth, there’s now a smorgasbord of native plants that the home gardener, landscapers, revegetation practitioners and everything in between can choose from.
So, let’s just wind it back a little.
Within the Australian context, native plants originate from Australia or have something in their basic heritage that originates from Australia.
But this is a big country, with many differing local climates, varying geology and geography that ranges from alpine to coastal, mangrove, desert and more.
A plant that is native to far north Queensland, for example, won’t be native to Kellerberrin in the WA wheatbelt.
Similarly, a cultivar native with genetics suited to Victoria might have a difficult time surviving in hotter conditions with minimal rainfall.
And this is why local native species are important.
i.e those plants that are found naturally in a particular location or region.
Here’s a few reasons why local native plants matter.
Adaptability.
Local natives are adapted to local soil and climate conditions.
Rock hard clay or granite in searing 40-degree plus temps, local native plants are genetically and physically suited to such conditions.
These are the species which don’t need soil improvement, fertiliser etc.
Local plant species are also best suited to changing local conditions (read climate change).
They are ‘keyed in’ to local conditions and more able to adapt as rainfall decreases, temperatures increase and so forth.
Ecology.
Local native plants have an intrinsic relationship with local native fauna species, particularly insects but also birds, mammals and reptiles.
This relationship has been developed and refined over immeasurable generations.
In many instances, the timing of flowering and seed availability will be matched to the life cycle of a particular fauna species – and vice versa.
And this relationship between native fauna and local native plant species isn’t just limited to pollination.
Habitat / shelter, food, somewhere to breed and raise young, predation life cycles of associated species and more are involved.
This is why local native species and their ecological relationships are a biodiversity engine.
Biodiversity & Human Services
As any school-kid will tell us, biodiversity provides multiple benefits to humans and human society.
Clean air and water, enhanced pollination, nutrient re-cycling, even economic benefits can result from good biodiversity on a personal (home garden) to regional (agriculture) scale.
And in many rural areas of Australian, local native species provide resilience in both the natural and man-made landscape in assisting with both erosion and water table control.
Tourism
Local native plant species also provide an expression of identity and a sense of place that enhances belonging and pride in community through symbolic, aesthetic, cultural and even spiritual representation (Kronenberg et al. 2017).
Tourism potential around natural resources that encompass not only local nature reserves, but geological and landscape features is proven.
And of course, local First Nations culture can play a huge role in tourism too.
So, while native plants are always going to be a good option for your garden or reveg’ project, take a moment to think about where your native plants are actually coming from and perhaps give more consideration to genuine local species.