Native Plant Demonstration Garden

Printable Garden Map

Pine Jog has created a demonstration garden to educate homeowners and commercial nursery people about the benefits of utilizing native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife as well as reducing costs associated with care and maintenance.

Each phase of the garden represents either an ecosystem or special interest. They consist of a coastal dune and coastal hammock (Eastern Palm Beach County), butterfly garden, formal garden, and upland (Western Palm Beach County). The formal garden will demonstrate even the most manicured garden can incorporate natives and provide ecological and sustainable benefits.

What are Native Plants

Native plants are species that were present before European settlement in North America. These plants have evolved to live in their specific region, and therefore are better suited to weather and soil conditions, and require less water and fewer fertilizers. Native plants provide habitat to wildlife and pollinators, supporting local biodiversity.

WHY PLANT NATIVE

“With the ever increasing development of natural areas in our country, there is no place left for wildlife but in the landscapes and gardens we ourselves create. And…unless we restore native plants to our suburban ecosystems, the future of our plant and animal biodiversity in the United States is dim.”

- Douglas Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home

Native plants have adapted to our climate and their environment, therefore:
- Require less water and if placed in the right location, once established, can live off of rainfall alone.
- Do not need supplemental fertilization
- Can tolerate insect attack and disease caused by microorganisms without use of pesticides
- Ultimately they save resources and save us money
- They support populations of native fauna
They help to develop a sense of place
Non- native plants may be or become invasive and threaten natives in your yard or in natural areas. To find out which non-native plants have already been determined to be threatening natural areas and should be avoided in the landscape, visit http://www.fleppc.org/ .