Local Expert Highlights Importance of Native Plants for Spring and Summer

Native plants like oak trees, butterfly weed, and black-eyed Susans are crucial for supporting wildlife and the local ecosystem.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:20am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single black-eyed Susan flower repeated in a grid pattern, capturing the importance of native plants for local ecosystems.Native plants like black-eyed Susans and oak trees are vital for supporting local insect and bird populations, which have seen steep declines in recent decades.Kansas City Today

As the weather warms up, a local expert from the Kansas State Extension Office is emphasizing the importance of native plants for supporting insects, birds, and other wildlife during the spring and summer months. The expert, Jeff Roberts, explains that native plants provide essential habitats and food sources that are disappearing due to factors like pesticide use, lawn maintenance, and habitat loss.

Why it matters

The decline in native plant populations has led to a 45% drop in insect populations and a 30% decline in bird populations across North America over the past several decades. Restoring native plants is crucial for reversing these trends and maintaining a healthy local ecosystem.

The details

Roberts recommends that homeowners consider planting native species like oak trees, butterfly weed, and black-eyed Susans, which provide food and shelter for insects, caterpillars, and birds. He notes that while some insects may eat parts of these plants, they won't destroy the entire plant. Additionally, native plants can attract beneficial insects like wasps that help control pests in vegetable gardens without the need for harmful pesticides.

  • As the weather warms up in spring and summer, the importance of native plants becomes more apparent.

The players

Jeff Roberts

A Kansas State Extension Office Master Naturalist who specializes in the importance of native plants for supporting local wildlife and ecosystems.

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What they’re saying

“What's happening now is we're getting rid of a lot of these plants with sprays, and with lawns, and with habitat loss, with buildings, we're getting rid of all these native plants, which is not allowing these caterpillars to have a home, to survive.”

— Jeff Roberts, Kansas State Extension Office Master Naturalist

“The population of birds in North America is down by 30% that's three billion birds in the last 50 years because their food source is going away and their habitats are going away.”

— Jeff Roberts, Kansas State Extension Office Master Naturalist

“If you have a lot of natives that's going to bring in these adult wasps that are going to get the pollen they need, but they will also collect insects that are eating your vegetables to feed to their young, and so we don't use any sprays on our vegetable garden, we let these beneficial bugs take care of them for us.”

— Jeff Roberts, Kansas State Extension Office Master Naturalist

The takeaway

As the weather warms up, homeowners should consider planting more native species in their yards and gardens to support the local ecosystem and reverse the alarming declines in insect and bird populations. Native plants provide essential habitats and food sources that are disappearing, and they can also attract beneficial insects that help control pests naturally without the need for harmful pesticides.