native soil

Noun

native soil (plural native soils)

1. (idiomatic) The country or geographical region where one was born or which one considers to be one's true homeland.
   • [T]hey were peculiarly honored by the unexpected presence in their midst "of that famous son of the South, Colonel Starbottle," who had lately returned to his native soil from his adopted home in California.1892, Bret Harte, “Colonel Starbottle's Client”, in Colonel Starbottle's Client and Other Stories
   • "Look back, Peter," he said, "and you can get your last glimpse of your native soil. The black line that just shows under the sky is Sandy Hook."1919, Joseph A. Altsheler, chapter 4, in The Sun Of Quebec
2. (idiomatic, usually, plants, things, ideas) Source, place of origin, principal location, or natural habitat.
   • [B]ut who else from seeing a plant in an herbarium can imagine its appearance when growing in its native soil?1839, Robert FitzRoy, Phillip Parker King, Charles Darwin, chapter XX, in Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the Years 1826 and 1836, […], volume...
   • What a strange idea—what a needless labor—to construct artificial ruins in Rome, the native soil of ruin!1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter 8, in The Marble Faun

   Synonyms:

   native ground