1. ES native plants are survivors! They held an important place in the shore’s local ecology prior to John Smith’s landing and are well adapted to the Shore’s soils and climate.
2. ES natives generally require less watering and fertilizing than non-natives, and are less susceptible to drought.
3. ES natives are often more resistant to insects and disease and less likely to need pesticides.
4. ES natives can be resistant to occasional salt- water stress.
5. ES natives help preserve the diversity, beauty, and function of our natural ecosystems.

These benefits save time, money and the Shore’s Unique Environment! 

    Download 'Plant ES Natives" Benefits Fact Sheet

Plant Natives for the Birds!

The Shore is one of only a few rest stops for songbirds traveling thousands of miles each spring and fall. That’s quite a long trip for birds that can weigh as little as half an ounce! Native trees and shrubs provide shelter and the berries and insects that songbirds eat to fuel their long journeys.  Even the smallest lot can provide critical migratory “stopover habitat” for a few migrants. Research by the Center of Conservation Biology at William and Mary has shown that a 50% increase in the density of under story vegetation results in a 50% increase in the number of migrant birds supported. Help make the Shore a generous and safe rest stop.

Plant Natives for the Butterflies!

Adult butterflies are attracted to the showy flowers and nutritious nectar of native wildflowers. Many must lay their eggs on specific species of native plants which provide essential food for their caterpillars. The Monarch butterfly, which also migrates through the Shore, needs to lay its eggs on milkweed. There are two milkweeds native the Shore - Swamp Milkweed and Common Milkweed. Using native plants in your garden or landscape will not only help ensure the survival of our butterflies, but will attract an abundance of these colorful visitors to your garden.

Plant Natives to Save Time and Money!

Adapted to the Shore’s environment, native species are drought and disease resistant, requiring less water, fertilizers and pesticides. Native plants are extremely well suited to “low maintenance” gardening and landscaping.

Plant Natives to Help Save the Clams!

Landscaped areas of native trees, shrubs and groundcover can result in 50% less runoff than grass lawns, significantly reducing non-point source pollution. This protects water quality in the Shore’s creeks and inlets, as well as the Shore’s shellfish and underwater grasses. The Shore is the largest source of aquaculture grown hard clams on the East Coast. In 2004, according to a Virginia Sea Grant Study, the total economic impact of hard clam aquaculture was almost 50 million dollars!

Plant Natives to Save Water!

Groundwater is the Shore’s only source of drinking water. An increase in native vegetation helps slow the speed of water and sediment running off the land, allowing water to infiltrate the ground, where it is filtered by the vegetation’s roots and then recharges the groundwater supply.

Economic Benefits of Protecting Native Trees and Shrubs

With careful and creative planning, these general recommendations will not only be simple to accomplish, but might save you time and money, as well as increase the value of your property.

As you plan a new development or improvements on your land, consider integrating these Economic Benefits of Protecting Native Trees and Shrubs:

• Saves money normally used on fertilizers and pesticide. Native plants are best adapted and don't require them.
• Saves maintenance time. Less lawn = less mowing.
• Reduces the risk of flooding.
• Increases protection from wind and storm damage.
• Increases energy efficiency by moderating the climate around buildings.
• Enhances property values.
• Reduces development costs of storm water retention, site preparation, and landscaping.
• Promotes clean air.

Water Quality Benefits of Protecting Native Trees and Shrubs

• Prevents erosion and adds more stability to shorelines. Root systems hold shoreline in place.
• Prevents sedimentation of creeks and marshes. Root systems trap sediments in run-off from heavy rains.
• Protects groundwater quality and helps maintain high water levels. Root systems take up nitrogen and phosphorous.
• Saves water (up to one-third) used to maintain landscapes.

Aesthetic Benefits of Protecting Trees and Shrubs

• Increases privacy.
• Creates a noise buffer.
• Enhances the visual and scenic character of your neighborhood, locality and the Commonwealth!
• Set aside undisturbed areas as wildlife habitat when planning any significant changes on your properly.
• Considering wildlife habitat during the planning phase of a construction or development project is the most effective means of maintaining habitat.
• Use native plants for landscaping.

On the Delmarva Peninsula plant natives with an especially high value to migratory birds. Native plants typically provide the best habitat and food for migrant birds and other wildlife. These plants are also best adapted to the local climate and easier to maintain.

• Connect habitats on your property with those on surrounding lands.

How habitats are connected has an influence on how animals move and how many may be supported within a local area. You can maximize your land's usefulness for birds by creating vegetated "corridors" between existing vegetation patches.

• Consider the distribution of habitats on surrounding lands when planning significant changes on your property.

Plan your lot so that "set asides" or landscape features adjoin those of your neighbor. This provides more cover for songbirds so that they can escape from predators.

If you Own Forested or Open Lands...

Forested Lands

• Prior to construction, conserve native plants.
• Plan your homesite to protect at least 60% of the existing vegetation on your property.
• When removing trees and shrubs from the construction area transplant the most valuable native plants to undisturbed areas of the same habitat type to enhance the value of "set aside" areas for wildlife such as migrating birds.
• Leave dead trees standing, if safety considerations permit. Dead trees area a component of healthy forest habitats.
• Design viewing areas and access paths in ways that preserve understory vegetation.
• Construct brush piles to provide protective cover for migratory efficiency by songbirds.
• Replace removed trees and shrubs with native plants valuable to migratory birds.
• Clump plantings to create tree/shrub islands. Islands of dense vegetation will provide more cover than evenly spaced, isolated trees and shrubs.

Open Lands

• Maintain some fallow land as wildlife habitat.
• Plant winter cover crops beneficial to wildlife.
• Use integrated pest management programs (IPM) that reduce chemical inputs (and costs!) when possible.
• Maintain or establish hedgerows.

Migratory Birds on the Eastern Shore

Migratory Birds of the Lower Delmarva - A Landowners Guide (PDF)
This guide was produced by the Virginia Coastal Program and the Department of Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary. The guide provides guidelines for restoring and enhancing migratory songbird habitat.

Virginia Hospitality (PDF)
This full color publication was produced by the Virginia Coastal Program and the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary. It tells the story of the fall migration of thousands of birds along the Virginia Eastern Shore. The publication offers many wonderful photos of migratory bird species and describes how these species rely on the area's vegetation during their migration.

Center for Conservation Biology - College of William and Mary - habitat assessment project underway

Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory - Protecting wildlife and habitats in coastal Virginia through field research, education, and land conservation.

For comments or questions concerning this program's web pages, contact Virginia Witmer.

This website is provided by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program through a federal Coastal Zone Management Act grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce.