Local nonprofit, plant nursery to host event dedicated to Utah native plants

PARK CITY, Utah — Save Our Canyons has partnered with Park City Gardens to host an event dedicated to Utah native plants. 

Boost Biodiversity: Native Plants will feature live music, presentations by local nonprofits, and a native plant sale. Park City Gardens will host the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 18. 

“We’ll have presentations from some Save Our Canyons experts [and] staff about Utah’s native plants [and] plants native to the Wasatch mountains and you can learn a little bit more all about save our canyons and what we do on the day to day,” said Spencer Shaver, the executive director of Save Our Canyons. 

Additionally, Shaver said representatives from Swaner Nature Preserve, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and the Park City Community Foundation will present tables at the event. 

According to the Instagram post, proceeds from the plant sale will go to Save Our Canyons, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Utah’s canyons. 

Important for biodiversity

“Native plants are critical to restoring Utah’s biodiversity, especially in the Wasatch mountains,” said Shaver. 

According to The Nature Conservancy, gardening with native plants can help support your local ecosystem. Incorporating native plants into your yard’s landscaping can provide a home and energy source for local insects, birds, and pollinators to thrive. 

Shaver said that animals rely on native plants. Additionally, the plants rely on each other. 

The U.S. Forest Service said that native plants are more self-sufficient than their non-native counterparts. They’ve adapted to the local climate, meaning they require less water. 

Additionally, landscaping with native plants contributes to the conservation of local nature. Some non-native plants can become invasive species. As they expand outside of gardens, they out-compete native plants. Invasive plant species can lead to less biodiversity and cause harm to native animal species. 

Utah native plants

“Join us at this Sunday’s event and you can see some native plants that you can purchase and incorporate in your own on your property and help to preserve Utah’s native plant biodiversity,” said Shaver. 

Can’t make it to Sunday’s plant sale? Utah State University’s Extension provided some suggestions for landscaping with native plants. 

According to USU, several species of buckwheat are adapted to the Utahn climate. Additionally, the website listed pinyon pine, Utah holly, and globemallows as options. 

When you begin landscaping, it is recommended that you research which Utah native plants are best for your area. The Utah Native Plant Society website includes a list of native plants suitable for Salt Lake County. 

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