Beyond the Bush: Unpacking the Native Plant Mandate in #NewtownPA

This presentation made before the #NewtownPA Planning Commission on 2 September 2025 focuses on the revised landscape ordinance for the township, specifically the new requirement for 100% native plants in development projects. Kim Flanders, a registered landscape architect with CKS Engineers, defines native plants as those that have evolved in a given place, forming complex relationships with their environment and other organisms, and distinguishes them from cultivars, hybrids, and adaptive plants. The discussion highlights the benefits of native plants for wildlife, particularly insects and birds, and addresses common misconceptions, such as them being easier to grow or immune to diseases. Challenges with implementing the new ordinance are explored, including plant availability, specific growing conditions, and the need for planting diversity to mitigate disease impact. The presentation also touches on practical considerations like street tree placement to avoid infrastructure damage and the importance of professional landscape review. NOTE: At the 14 May 2025 BOS meeting, the BOS authorized the Township Planner and the Township Solicitor to draft an ordinance amending the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance to remove non-native trees from the list of acceptable trees that may be planted in the Township.