Native Trees for Sale

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How To Choose Native Trees Native trees and native shrubs are integral to maintaining the functional status of our landscape. Native species provide food, nesting, security, and ecological functions that our birds, pollinators, insects, mammals, and watersheds depend on. Indeed it is what they have adapted to thrive on. Native trees provide an advantage for the homeowner as well. They are already adapted to your local growing conditions. Native species require less maintenance. They are more resilient to local pests and require less watering and fertilizer. Native trees will be cold hardy in your location, heat tolerant, and adapted to your length of daylight and growing season. In short, native trees are easier to care for, and you are more likely to establish them successfully. However, the concept can get a bit too generalized. Sequoias are native trees in the US, but not native in Florida. To successfully choose and plant native species, especially native trees, you need to drill down a little. Let’s take a look. What Makes a Tree “Native”? The idea of a native tree seems pretty obvious at first blush, but ask questions, and you’ll find differing answers. Was it here before European colonization? Does it grow here without being planted, i.e., naturally reproducing? Is it native to the United States or only native to North Carolina? We can define a native tree as one that is: Adapted to and typically found in your local area . Found in similar conditions to the site you are considering. Not a human- introduced species. If you live in Florida or much of the American Southeast, the Southern live oak is a native tree. Longleaf Pine can be a good native choice for those in the southern coastal plain. If you live in Appalachia, river birch , sugar maples, or beech may be native trees for you. It varies with your location. Naturalized vs. Invasive – What’s the Difference? Some confusion may arise in the difference between invasive and naturalized species. Both were bro