Public commenters urge planting native species to support Flagstaff wildlife

Two public commenters at a Flagstaff meeting urged residents and gardeners to prioritize native plants to support local wildlife. A resident said native plants "are extremely important to our local ecosystems" and argued that planting native species helps birds, insects and other animals that have co‑evolved in the area.

Why it matters: native plants tend to provide food and habitat that local species recognize and use. "If you have a native plant option, then that has co evolved with the birds and the insects and the other animals in this area," one resident said, adding that "planning native things is the best way to do that." The commenters framed native planting as a practical step residents can take to support ecosystem health.

During public comment, a second resident recommended common, adaptable species for Flagstaff yards and gardens. "Some of the best plants are, there's fern bush, which will work almost any place in Flagstaff. Golden currant, I think, is a great one. Milkweeds are very important right now because we're trying to produce habitat for monarch butterflies who do live in Flagstaff, and we can encourage them to stay around and and be plentiful," the speaker said.

The remarks focused on homeowner and community planting choices rather than on specific policy proposals or city actions; no motion or formal direction was recorded during these comments. The speakers emphasized variety in planting to provide different shapes, textures and seasonal resources for wildlife and singled out milkweeds to support monarch butterflies.

The public comments did not cite statutes, policies, funding measures or requests for a formal city program. They were presented as recommendations to other residents and to garden planners rather than as a request for immediate municipal action.