If you’ve spent any time in a garden center or scrolling GardenTok lately, you’ve probably heard “go native” more than once. But what does that actually mean?
The Basic Definition
A native plant is one that grows naturally in a specific region or ecosystem without any help from humans introducing it there. These are plants that have grown in an area for thousands of years, long enough to become acclimated to the soil, climate, and pollinators.
Most experts consider plants to be native if they were present in a region before colonization. The USDA Forest Service defines a native species as one that “evolved and occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat.”
Many people don’t realize that native is based on regions, meaning a plant native to Oklahoma isn’t automatically native to Oregon. Native status is tied to ecoregions, not state lines or the country’s borders as a whole. That’s why you’ll often see native plants described as native “to the Southern Plains” or “to the tallgrass prairie region” rather than just “native to America.”
Native vs. Naturalized vs. Invasive
These three terms get mixed up constantly, so it’s worth separating them:
- Native: Grows naturally in a region, without human introduction, and has co-evolved with the local wildlife over a very long time.
- Naturalized: A plant introduced by humans, often centuries ago, that has since adapted to the local landscape and now grows and spreads on its own.
- Invasive: A non-native plant that spreads aggressively and crowds out native species, often because it has no natural predators or competition.
A plant can grow abundantly and still be invasive. This is why native gardening takes some research rather than just picking whatever thrives.
Why the Co-Evolution Part Matters
The most important component of native plants is about it’s relationships with the environment. Native plants developed alongside the insects, birds, and other wildlife in their region over thousands of years, which means they developed a mutually beneficial relationship with local species.
For example, research by entomologist Doug Tallamy found that native oak trees support several hundred species of caterpillars, while a commonly planted non-native tree like crepe myrtle, a landscaping staple across Oklahoma yards, hosts almost none. Since caterpillars are one of the primary food sources for nesting songbirds, that difference has a real ripple effect through the local food web.
This is the piece that separates “native plant gardening” from just “low-maintenance gardening.” A drought-tolerant plant from another continent might save you water, but it likely won’t feed a single native caterpillar or support the pollinators your region depends on.
Why This Matters for Your Garden
Once you understand what actually makes a plant native, the appeal makes a lot more sense. These plants aren’t native because TikTok decided they were trendy. They’re native because they’ve spent thousands of years figuring out exactly how to handle your region’s soil, rainfall, temperature swifts, and local wildlife, with zero help from you.
Curious what that looks like in practice? Check out my list of the 13 Best Native Plants for Tulsa Gardens for species that fit right into Green Country’s clay soil and climate.
Krystal Dunham is a gardener and award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist based in Tulsa. A former NCAA Division II soccer player for Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Go Dawgs!), Krystal’s journey in nutrition has been both dynamic and impactful. She earned her Master’s in Nutrition and Food Science from The University of Central Oklahoma while completing her Dietetic Internship. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Krystal brings a global perspective to her practice.