Native Plants

Irrigation of lawns and landscaping in Florida represents the single largest use of water from our municipal water supplies. This water use has seriously impacted the aquifer, which is the source of our drinking water and water that supports Florida’s magical springs and other ecosystems.  In addition, fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns are major sources of pollution in our lakes, rivers, and bays.

Non-native plants such as potato vine, kudzu, water hyacinth and pampas grass, in their native habitats grow under certain constraints: soil composition and nutrients, wind,  rainfall,  temperature, sun or shade, humidity. Removed from those constraints, the plant may thrive beyond all expectations or desires.

Invasive non-native plants are among the greatest threats to existing ecosystems. They can wipe out native plants and destroy wildlife habitat. They can diminish the light, water, nutrients and space available to native species, alter hydrological patterns, soil chemistry, moisture-holding capacity, and erodibility and change fire regimes.