Native plants are one of the Virginia Commonwealth’s greatest natural resources with thousands of plant species native to Virginia, as well as various mosses and lichens. They also are part of our natural resources. They provide the basis for much of our habitats and ecological communities throughout the state, serve as valuable tools to understand the natural world, and have intrinsic(essential) values as part of an ecosystem. A diversity of native plants ensures a high diversity of other organisms that use plants communities for their food, shelter, and nesting because plants are the basis of many of our food webs.

Invasive plants are not native to an area, which is generally defined as not present before European settlement. They have some detrimental effects on the environment, economy, or health. Not all introduced plants become invasive, and many are beneficial, such as many of our common food plants. Some plants have naturalized, meaning they survive and reproduce in the wild, without causing problems. Only when a non-native plant causes or is likely to cause harm is it labeled as invasive.