Bateman Bill Establishing ‘Jersey Native Plants Program’ Signed by Governor Governor Murphy today signed Senator Kip Bateman’s legislation launching the Jersey Native Plants Program to promote the sale of native vegetation at local garden centers. “Shopping local is a great way to support the farms that make New Jersey the Garden State, but we also[.]
Do you have enough Jersey-native plants in your yard?
Does your garden have enough native plants?
Hubert Ling, president of The New Jersey Native Plant Society, said it s important that local garden centers to sell native plants and for residents to plant them in their yards because the animal population in New Jersey depends on them.
One example: Native plants feed native insects, especially caterpillars, which birds rely on for food.
Ling said more than 90% of the birds in New Jersey require a caterpillar to feed their young. Caterpillars do poorly, if they survive at all, on some of the non-native plants.