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Western North Carolina is home to a fantastic variety of wildlife—birds, bears, turtles and cool bugs. But all of these animals rely on one essential thing: plants. And not just any plants—native plants. 

So, what exactly is a native plant? It’s a plant that naturally grows in a specific region, without being brought there by people. It has adapted over thousands of years to the local environment—things like the weather, soil, and other plants and animals around it. Because of this, native plants support wildlife, and wildlife supports native plants. Let’s see how.

Take the box turtle whose favorite food is the fruit of the mayapple, which are in bloom right now. Something in the box turtle’s digestive system helps the mayapple seeds germinate more easily, which helps the mayapple spread. So they help each other, which is super cool!

Purple Coneflower is a tall, purple flower with a spiky center. It’s beautiful, but also useful. Bees and butterflies drink its nectar, and birds eat the seeds later in the season. It supports wildlife while adding color to your garden and the birds help the plant by dispersing their seeds. 

Milkweed is another essential native plant. Monarch butterflies depend on it to survive. Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed, and when the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the leaves. Without milkweed, monarch butterflies wouldn’t have a place to reproduce. The butterflies, in turn, help pollinate the plant.

And keep an eye out for monarchs as we just saw one passing through our yard in Tryon last week. And guess what it was looking for? Milkweed!

While box turtles spread mayapple seeds, ants help spread trilliums, one of our beautiful early spring native wildflowers. They are drawn to a small, tasty part of the seed called the elaiosome. The ants carry the whole seed back to their nest. There, they eat the elaiosome and throw the rest of the seed away in a safe, rich spot in the nest where it can grow into a new plant. The ants get fed and the trilliums spread. 

One of my favorites this time of year is coral honeysuckle, a native vine that will grow on a fence or trellis. We have three hummingbirds that have been visiting our coral honeysuckle nonstop since arriving a couple of weeks ago. Talk about a plant bringing joy. 

Another favorite is the serviceberry, a small, native tree that blooms with white flowers in spring and produces berries in summer. Robins and waxwings love the berries, as do our squirrels, and early-season pollinators visit the flowers for nectar. It’s an excellent choice for supporting wildlife throughout the year.

Even native grasses are important. Little Bluestem and Switchgrass have deep roots that prevent erosion, and their seeds provide food for birds during the winter. Their thick stems also provide shelter to insects and one of my favorites, bunny rabbits. In turn, wildlife disperses their seeds and provides fertilizer to the grasses through their droppings. 

As you can see, native plants truly do matter. They’re specifically designed for this region and can better withstand local weather, soil, and pests than non-native plants. They typically require less water, fewer or no chemicals, and less maintenance. Unlike invasive species, think kudzu and English ivy, they don’t take over habitats that wildlife depends on. By seeing the connection between wildlife and native plants, we come to realize the importance each has on the other’s survival.

The good news? You can make a difference. By planting native flowers, shrubs, or trees in your yard or garden, you help create habitats for birds, butterflies, and other animals. Even a small space or a couple of pots filled with native plants can support local wildlife and bring nature closer to home. Let’s all do our part to help our wildlife that’s under so much pressure now from the recent wildfires, floods and hurricane winds.

Loti Woods is a founder of Champions for Wildlife, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and empower kids using art and education. To learn more, visit championsforwildlife.org or email loti@championsforwildlife.org.