A native plant garden and the natural landscape are similar in that they both utilize plants native to a region, but they differ in several key ways.
A native plant garden is designed to replicate and enhance the natural landscape of a specific region, but with intentional planning and selection of plants to suit a variety of garden needs. Here’s how it differs from the natural landscape.
1. Human Created Design vs. Wild Growth
- Native Plant Garden: It is thoughtfully designed to support local ecosystems, attract pollinators, and offer beauty, while providing structure, pathways, and organization. It may include certain plants placed strategically for aesthetic purposes and to attract certain wildlife.
- Natural Landscape: The natural landscape, on the other hand, is shaped by environmental factors and processes without (or little) human intervention. It evolves organically, with plants naturally growing in specific habitats based on local climate, soil, and other factors.
2. A Curated Plant Selection
- Native Plant Garden: While the designer of a native plant garden will focus on utilizing native species, the plant selection is carefully curated to match specific needs like sun exposure, soil type, plant characteristics, wildlife value, and seasonal interest. It might include a variety of plants from local ecosystems, selected for their compatibility in the given garden environment.
- Natural Landscape: In the wild, plants grow where they thrive based on natural processes. A long time ago before European settlers arrived in North America, the landscape would have consisted of native plants. But now with the introduction of exotic, and invasive species, our landscape now consistently contains these non-native plant species.
3. Maintenance and Control
- Native Plant Garden: The garden itself is often more managed and maintained by gardeners. The space is designed to be accessible and functional, offering paths, seating, or garden features for people to enjoy.
- Natural Landscape: A natural landscape is less controlled and may not have the structured design that a garden offers. It is left to grow freely, with plants competing for space and resources, and might not be as accessible for human use.
4. Integration with Local Wildlife
- Native Plant Garden: A well-planned native garden often aims to attract specific wildlife like pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. It can be designed to encourage biodiversity, support local food webs, and enhance ecosystem services such as water filtration and pest control.
- Natural Landscape: The natural landscape already plays a crucial role in supporting local wildlife, providing natural habitats, food sources, and shelter. However, it may not be tailored to meet specific wildlife needs in the same way a designed garden can. This is largely due to invasive species now taking over areas, which offers little to no food for wildlife.
5. A Purposeful Designed Aesthetic
- Native Plant Garden: A native plant garden may incorporate wild-looking plants but typically has a more organized and refined aesthetic, with clear boundaries and intentional design. The garden may also focus on providing year-round beauty and visual interest, blending form and function.
- Natural Landscape: While beautiful in its own right, the natural landscape may lack the intentional design of a garden, resulting in a more “wild” look where plants grow without human direction.
6. Accessibility
- Native Plant Garden: These gardens are often designed to be more accessible and enjoyable for people. They may have paths, seating areas, and well-maintained spaces for people to walk through and experience nature in a curated way.
- Natural Landscape: The natural landscape may not always be easily accessible to humans, especially if it’s a wilderness area. It may be rugged, remote, or untamed, with less focus on human interaction.
A native plant garden is a human-designed space that incorporates native plants for specific purposes, such as beauty, wildlife support, or sustainability. It’s curated for human interaction and designed with particular goals in mind.
In contrast, the natural landscape is a complex, self-sustaining ecosystem that develops without human planning or influence, shaped solely by natural processes. Even though this is now not the case since humans have influenced all aspects of land, including introducing non-native and invasive plant species, insects, and diseases.