If water sustainability isn’t the main concern of the site, there is also the relationship of biological species that should be taken into account for the election of going native.  As cities further and further stretch the bounds of development other living species are being taxed for it.  A continual lack of natural habitats being taken away leaves less and less opportunities for mammals, insects, and avian species to maintain healthy population levels.  One way to combat this is to create landscapes which offer chances for these lost nutrients, refuge from predators, and water sources to be recreated on site in a natural way.

Another plus to using native species is they are much more likely to survive, thrive and self-propagate.  This will ultimately conserve spending on having to replace species which die out due to over-stress from an environment they are not suited for.  There are tons of resources out there on how to find native plants to your region.  Simply searching the term “waterwise” with your location afterward will populate plenty of resources to review.  A few great resources to find native plants for your area are your local college extension’s website, your city’s water department page, and the Native Plant Society pertinent to your location.