Eugenia Update: Why Plant Native Trees?

I blogged earlier about Agatelang (Eugenia palumbis) when these native trees were in bloom. In June, they started fruiting and I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of what their berries look like. I still want to urge you all to plant more native trees in the CNMI and I hope you can see from these pictures that they are just as attractive as introduced species used as ornamentals in landscaping.I took my friend Julianne from Hawai'i around the island for sight seeing and we spotted a fruiting Agatelang at the Bird Island lookout. The taste reminded me of the spicy sweetness of Pitanga or Surinam Cherries (Eugenia uniflora) but just a little blander. Thank you for the pictures, Jules!

WHY CONSIDER PLANTING A NATIVE TREE?

• Planting a native tree is a gift to wildlife, your island and the Earth.
• You nurture local biodiversity.
• Native trees are beter adapted to your island’s weather, soil and other environmental conditions.
• They provide the best native wildlife habitat.
• They are more resistant to insect and disease attacks, and are less likely to be stressed than non native plants.
• Local plants are adapted to local conditions and often have lower maintenance requirements, such as little or no fertilizers.
• Native trees and plants are a link to your island’s natural heritage.
• Many introduced plants or non natives offer less value to our native wildlife.
• Native trees and plants are the backbone of the island wildlife's food chain because native insects, birds and other animals have evolved with them and find it hard to survive without the food and shelter they provide.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this post. I also hope you will join me in planting more native trees on our islands.

Ti napu.

The Beachcomber