Nursery Professionals Play a Vital Role in Promoting Healthy, Resilient Landscapes
With biodiversity under pressure from many stressors, greater use of native plants is crucial to creating healthy, resilient landscapes. Research comparing the performance of native to non-native plants in developed landscapes shows that native plants support significantly higher wildlife abundance and diversity than non-natives. Over 90% of Maryland’s land is privately owned, making current and future restoration heavily dependent on the nursery supply chain. Historically, native plant sales account for only a small fraction of total plant sales in the US (10% in 2018), meaning that they're underrepresented in residential and commercial landscapes. However, the market is changing. Per the 2024 National Gardening Survey, 17% of consumers purchased native plants and 28% bought plants to support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
