All across North America, habitat loss is impacting wild birds. Urbanization, chemical agriculture, and desertification are ...

Lenten roses and weeping willows showcase non-native species' impact, as native silver maples flourish in their natural habitat.

So, what is the difference between native and exotic plants? And are all exotics bad? Here are a few myths that have crept into modern discussions.

When considering shade trees for landscape use, such staple native species as maples, oaks, elms and hornbeams come to mind. Another serviceable choice is the American linden (Tilia americana).

Not all aggressive plants are bad, and not all pretty ones are good. In East Texas, the spread of invasive exotic plants, which are non-native species that escape cultivation and ...

So, what is the difference between native and exotic plants? And are all exotics bad? Here are a few myths that have crept into modern discussions.

Threatened in their homeland, feral Mexican parrots thrive on L.A.’s exotic landscaping Seasonal parrots gather in a roost in Temple City in January 2023.

THE AMERICAN ART ASSOCIATION; Paul de Longpre's Flower Paintings, With a Collection of Rare Exotic and Native Butterflies.

The anti-pollution ad debuted in 1971 and showed a man in Native American attire shed a single tear at the sight of pollution over a once unblemished landscape.

Los Angeles gardens and landscapes won't support the environment and threatened wildlife unless they use native plants. Low water use isn't enough.

Native Americans of this land were not just surviving; they were thriving through a deep understanding and respect for their environment.