How Native Plants Impact Your Health

By Carissa Donahoo, Public/Mental Health Organizer

As the California Native Plant Society puts it — plants are the foundation of our ecosystems.

At TreePeople, we know that native plants save water, are low-maintenance, do not have to be treated with pesticides, and attract more native wildlife — let’s take a look at how each of these can affect your health.

Saving Water

Water is necessary for the vast majority of life on Earth, and it is not a limitless resource. By conserving water, we are ensuring there is enough to go around and preventing drought. And, you’re not only saving water, but saving money as well — money that could be used on healthier habits.

Low-Maintenance

Native plants are extremely low-maintenance, which can end up being good for your mental health. Some non-native plants can cause plant-parents to become overwhelmed due to their high-maintenance. This stress is not always beneficial to our mental health, especially when there are other things going on in our lives. By staying low-maintenance, you are still able to reap the benefits of being around plants, but avoiding the maintenance of non-natives.

Pesticides

If your garden is full of native plants, you’ve probably found that they save you water, they’re lower maintenance, and you get to see more wildlife in your garden. AND with native plants, you don’t have to use pesticides. This means less exposure to negative health effects — for example, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says that some pesticides may be carcinogens, while others might affect the hormone or endocrine system within the body.

More Native Wildlife

More native plants mean more native wildlife, which means more of an ecosystem right in your own community. By having more natural areas, researchers have found people with attention deficits are able to concentrate better.

Los Angeles-based TreePeople is the region’s largest environmental movement, whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment. Visit us at treepeople.org and learn how you can join our cause.