Native plants evolved with your local soil, rainfall and winters, which is exactly why they need less from you once they are established.
Their deep roots reach moisture that lawn grass and many imported ornamentals cannot, so they need less watering after the first season. They are also adapted to local pests and rarely need spraying.
The bonus is wildlife. Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, asters and native grasses feed bees, butterflies and birds through the whole growing season.
Start small: replace one tired bed with a mix of three or four native perennials planted in drifts, and add more each year as you see what thrives.