Consider Keystone Species When Planning Your Landscaping
Keystone plants are native species that support the caterpillars and native bees that are necessary for a healthy ecosystem. The Dallas County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA) has an article on its website asking people to consider keystone species when planning their landscaping.
The DCMGA article states that research from Dr. Doug Tammany shows that only 14 percent of native plants support 90 percent of butterfly and moth species, forming the backbone of local food webs. This is important because 96 percent of terrestrial songbirds rely on caterpillars to raise their young and many native bees are pollen specialists that depend on specific native plant genera.
To make your landscape more beneficial for local species, consider the following advice from the DCMGA.
How to Use Keystone Plants in a North Texas Garden
- Anchor your landscape with a keystone tree such as an oak, plum or willow.
- Add keystone perennials including goldenrods, asters and native sunflowers.
- Include milkweeds for monarch support.
- Maintain soft landing zones under trees with leaf litter and shrubs to allow caterpillars to pupate.
- Use regionally appropriate species by consulting Dallas County Master Gardeners, Native Plant Society of Texas, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildflower Center database.
Learn more at https://dallascountymastergardeners.org/keystone-plants-for-north-texas/
