Native Plants

What are native plants?

Can you spot the great blue heron resting at our Marsh in
the Gardens?

At the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens we refer to native plants as those species that existed in the Acadian Forest Region before European settlement. Native plants have evolved slowly over time in response to biotic and physical processes unique to our region. The pollinators that these plants require for fertility are present and they have adapted to local climatic conditions and environmental factors as well as the soils and habitats of the Acadian Forest Region.

As human beings continue to take over natural plant habitats through development, the plantings of native plants grow ever more important for wildlife. The plantings at the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens are all native species to our region. This green space on the campus of Acadia University attracts butterflies and birds to the area and provides shelter and habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species.