What are native plants, and why are they so crucial to our ecosystems? August 23, 2023 Home Explore The Naturalist's Journal What are native plants, and why are they so crucial to our ecosystems? Share FacebookTwitterEmail What do turkey corn, swamp lousewort, American skunk cabbage, and sneezeweed (gesundheit) have in common? Besides having quirky names, they’re all plants native to the U.S.