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Residents, landscapers urge Montgomery County to require more native plants; ZTA 25‑10 hearing draws mixed input
Summary
At a July 22 public hearing, many residents and landscape professionals urged Montgomery County to adopt ZTA 25‑10 requiring 50 percent native plants in required landscaping, while some industry speakers warned of practical and economic challenges.
A public hearing on Zoning Text Amendment 25‑10, the county’s proposed native‑plant landscaping requirement, drew extensive testimony on July 22, 2025. The amendment would require that 50 percent of required landscaping consist of native plant species; a Planning, Housing and Parks committee work session will be scheduled later to consider details and possible refinements.
Why it matters: Supporters told the County Council that native plants provide critical habitat for insects and birds, improve stormwater retention and reduce maintenance and chemical use. Several speakers cited entomology research and outreach programs and urged the council to adopt a higher native‑share threshold and to tie the…
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