The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) successfully concluded its native plant sale held at the University of Missouri's Bradford Research Center. The event drew significant interest from local residents eager to cultivate their gardens, with various vendors offering a wide array of native Missouri plants, including wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, and vines.

Sisters Laura Whitacre and Lydia Whitacre, embarking on their first endeavor into native plant gardening, expressed their excitement for the event, stating, "We've been dreaming of filling our home gardens with native plants for a long time." Lydia, who recently purchased a home, and Laura, a resident for a year, mentioned they gathered information about native plant gardens through social media (SNS) and planned to acquire related resources and purchase plants at the event.

"My goal is to completely fill the front yard with native plants," said Lydia. "First of all, I don't want to mow the lawn, and I've read a lot about how planting native plants instead of grass in the yard is much better for the overall environmental ecosystem."

The Missouri Prairie Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and promotion of the role of native grasslands in prairie habitat protection, wildlife conservation, carbon storage, and energy security. According to the foundation's website, it owns and manages over 5,000 acres of land and supports biodiversity protection and restoration through conservation education and marketing via its 'Grow Native!' program.

Emily Gustafson, MPF and Grow Native! Operations Director, explained, "The foundation works to protect Missouri prairies, which are rich ecosystems comprised of hundreds of species of plants and insects." She emphasized the urgency of native plant conservation, noting, "Missouri once had 15 million acres of tallgrass prairie, but now less than 45,000 acres remain."

Some individuals are even establishing native plant lawns to help restore these ecosystems. Gustafson pointed out, "While there may be various reasons for preferring a conventional lawn, it does not provide the same ecosystem benefits as a native plant landscape."

She elaborated that the most significant difference between conventional and native plant lawns lies beneath the ground. While typical turfgrass generally has a shallow root system, native grasses possess far more extensive root systems that can extend several meters deep into the soil. This deep root system is effective in storing more carbon in the soil, preventing rainwater runoff, helping water penetrate deeper into the ground, and preventing soil erosion.

Various native plant vendors participated in the event, including Gaylena’s Garden, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, Ozark Soul Native Plants, Hawthorn Chapter of MONPS, and Grindstone Wildflowers (SunRise Gardens).

Those seeking more information on native plant gardening can find valuable resources in the learning guides on the Grow Native! website or through the diverse webinars on the Missouri Prairie Foundation's YouTube channel.

Importance and Benefits of Native Plant Gardens

Native plant gardens offer more than just aesthetic beauty; they provide a range of ecological benefits:

Enhancing Biodiversity: Native plants provide essential food and habitat for local insects, birds, and other wildlife, contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity. In particular, certain insects rely solely on specific native plants, making the decline of native plants a potential cause of insect population decline.
Ease of Maintenance: Adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, native plants are resilient, resistant to pests and diseases, and tolerant to drought. This reduces the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides compared to typical garden plants, making maintenance easier.
Improving Soil Health: The deep and extensive root systems of native plants improve soil structure, aid in the absorption and storage of water and nutrients, prevent soil erosion, and enhance carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation.
Reducing Water Pollution: Native plants efficiently absorb and purify rainwater, helping to reduce soil erosion and water pollution caused by rainwater runoff.
Aesthetic Value and Educational Effect: The seasonal changes in the beauty of native plants diversify gardens and provide an educational effect by increasing understanding of local ecosystems.
The Missouri Prairie Foundation's event is considered a significant contribution to raising awareness about the importance of native plants and increasing local residents' interest in native plant gardens. It is hoped that more people will create native plant gardens and actively participate in the conservation of local ecosystems in the future.