Native Plants: How Going Local While Landscaping Can Cut Your Costs and Attract Buyers

Landscaping is a bit like fashion—trends go in and out of style. Rose gardens dominated the 1930s, while the 1960s brought us the classic suburban look of manicured lawns flanked by juniper bushes. If you've owned your home for a while, your property may have lots of design choices, features, and plants that are holdovers from trends gone by, including those that involve non-native flora.

Those outdated design choices aren't just aesthetically behind the times, they might also be costing you. Traditional landscaping can drain your wallet through high water bills, constant maintenance, and frequent plant replacements. But there's a smarter approach gaining momentum: native plants.

Native plants—those that naturally grow in your region—can slash your water bills and cut maintenance costs, while potentially boosting your home's curb appeal and value. Unlike high-maintenance exotic plants that struggle in your local climate, native species are perfectly adapted to your area's weather patterns, soil, and ecosystem. They deliver both savings and sustainability, suggesting this trend has more staying power than those meticulously trimmed hedges of the past. 

If you're looking to reduce landscaping costs, boost your property's appeal to buyers, and create a yard that practically takes care of itself, here's why native gardening might be the smartest investment you can make in your home's exterior.

The financial case for going native

Native landscaping, especially if you’re starting from scratch, can save you money from the start: Installing native plants and grasses costs $2,000 to $4,000 per acre, compared with upward of $12,000 for traditional turfgrass. 

Maintenance is also easier and less expensive: Native plants can reduce water usage by 60% to 80% compared with traditional landscaping plants, which translates to real savings on monthly utility bills. The reason is simple biology: These plants evolved to thrive in your conditions.

“Native plants are successful because they have not adapted to another place other than where they come from in the first place, so they need less water, less fertilizer, and less pesticides,” says Jacob Naig, a licensed real estate agent in Des Moines, IA. “I’ve witnessed homeowners slash their summer water bills to nearly half the amount it used to be after converting a section of their yard to native plantings.”

A natural look often boosts curb appeal

Smart landscaping pays dividends when it's time to sell. Studies have shown that quality landscaping can increase home values by 5.5% to 14%, with some sophisticated designs adding 15% to 20% to resale value. For a $300,000 home, that could mean an extra $16,500 to $42,000 at closing.

Native landscaping is especially well-positioned to capture these gains. Today's buyers are increasingly eco-conscious and value sustainability features. Native landscaping signals lower long-term maintenance costs and environmental responsibility, creating higher demand that can drive up sale prices.

“When a yard looks healthy and self-supporting, buyers perceive that as an attractive yet economical choice,” says Naig. “I once sold a property in West Des Moines that the homeowners had seeded in native grasses and which rippled in the breeze. Buyers called it ‘relaxing’ and ‘out of the cookie cutter lawns,’ and the home had multiple offers above asking.” 

The opposite can also be true. Some people might love a particular flower, plant, or grass type—but using non-native plants, especially if you don't have the time and resources to take care of them, can backfire with buyers who notice struggling landscapes.

“I have walked properties where a basic patch of bluegrass turns brown every summer while someone next door with native grasses is healthy green, even in August,” says Andrew Fortune, a real estate agent in Colorado Springs, CO. “More buyers want low-water landscapes for savings, but also to keep fines away if drought restrictions hit.”

Indeed, native gardens offer reliable year-round performance—which means no more explaining to potential buyers why half of your plants died during an unexpected cold snap or drought.

Benefits include: a more beautiful and resilient ecosystem

While the financial benefits are compelling, native plants offer advantages that go beyond your wallet. A higher percentage of native plants means more support for birds, butterflies, native bees, and other wildlife, creating a thriving ecosystem in your backyard. These plants provide food sources through nectar, pollen, berries, and seeds that support local fauna throughout the seasons.

Native landscaping also helps your community become more resilient. Native plants with deep root systems prevent soil erosion, reduce flooding, and filter harmful pollutants before they reach waterways. They also protect your property by managing water better than turf, preventing water from pooling around foundations and protecting hardscape features. When entire neighborhoods adopt water-wise landscaping, the collective impact helps preserve local water supplies and creates more sustainable communities.

“Some buyers like the healthier ecosystem, especially those with kids or pets,” says Fortune. “For homeowners, skipping chemical fertilizers and gasoline mowers feels good. It keeps runoff out of creeks. It’s not just cheaper, it’s a lot less worry all year.”

A native plant game plan

Getting started with native landscaping doesn't require ripping out your entire yard overnight. Begin by identifying problem areas—maybe that corner where grass never thrives or the slope that's hard to mow. The National Wildlife Federation suggests striving for 70% native plants as a starting point. 

Research plants native to your specific region through your local extension office or native plant society, as the best choices vary significantly by climate zone and soil conditions. Online resources like native plant databases can help you search by ZIP code to learn which species will thrive in your area's unique conditions.

Consider starting with a pilot project like replacing a section of lawn with native groundcovers or creating a pollinator garden with native wildflowers. Many communities and water providers offer rebates for lawn replacement projects, which can offset initial costs. As these areas establish and prove their worth, you can gradually expand your native plantings, transforming your landscape one section at a time into a beautiful, low-maintenance, and financially savvy investment.