Invasive scotch broom, left, crowds out native species. Similarly colored and just as lovely, the native northern spicebush, right, provides nourishment and habitat for native species. (Photo courtesy Denise Williams/iNaturalist CC BY-NC, Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Question re squill. Where I live, the 2 substitute plants you mention don't bloom till much later. Also since squill spreads by seed, how do they travel? I haven't seen birds interested and my bed of squill hasn't jumped the sidewalk in 20 years. Sweet autumn clematic though is a thug. Truly curious about squill...
have recently learned about the negative impacts of our burning bushes, I am in the process of removing them and planting Winterberry Holly , Spicebush and Arrowwood Viburnum
Wonderful information as I continue to plan my garden!!
Botanical names would be helpful
These are great comments, Jeremy, thank you! Some of these issues we explore in other articles but other ones could be written about further. You might be interested in a webinar we held recently, which was all about native plants and pollinators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmREfDQ02Fk Again, thank you for the thoughtful feedback.
I'm 100% a proponent of native plants and have spent the past three years removing invasive and non-native species from my yard (including removing a lawn) and replacing entirely with species native to our region. This is a repeat of what I did when I lived in Rhode Island. Through about 10 years of experience replacing non-natives with natives in residential landscaping, I've learned a lot that almost always is never mentioned in advocacy articles, such as this one. These issues need to be discussed in the open by proponents of native plants, such as the Chesapeake Bay Program:
1. Native plants are often much more expensive than common, non-native (and often invasive) options and, as such, is beyond the means of many people on the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder. Something as simple as replacing a lawn with native species means the difference between a $10 bag of grass seed and $1,000 of native grass plants in pots. A single star of Bethlehem bulb might cost $0.10 (or free; just wait for it to show up in your yard). A single spring beauty bulb can cost $5 to $10. This "simple" replacement can be 100 times more expensive. The growing of native plants is thus most often associated with a rather specific socioeconomic (and racial) class. How can non-profit advocacy efforts for native plants help support low-income property owners, for instance? If native plants are essential for a healthy ecosystem then why is this endeavor most often associated with wealth and White people? This is a huge issue and I wish organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Program would address it.
2. Native plants are often (and for good reason) not nearly as aggressive as non-natives. There's a reason why vinca, for instance, is so popular. You don't need to plant a lot and it spreads really quickly (quick and cheap). Most people taking the route to natives don't know this and will give up when they see how slow many natives grow and spread. Be honest about the need for patience. Non-natives are popular for a reason!
3. There is a different kind of beauty in native plants. In most cases, there really is no 1:1 visual replacement for many non-natives. Be honest about this. Natives, in general, tend to have smaller flowers, grow taller (and flop), and have more sprawling forms, compared to non-natives. Again, be honest with the public on these issues, but also introduce a more "wild" aesthetic as being acceptable, such as meadows. (Personally, I've come to prefer the meadow look and find manicured landscapes to look artificial.) Natives grow great when they have their friends to support them in a meadow planting. Non-natives have been bred for an artificially short and stout stature to fit on store shelves for sale. Thus, what people think is "normal" in a landscape is actually an aberration: Point this out in your advocacy efforts.
4. Many city and county ordinances make it difficult for people to choose native plants for their yards. Lawn mowing and anti-"weed" ordinances prejudice native plants and reward the planting of non-natives. Local government must do a better job at recognizing and rewarding the planting of natives rather than penalizing people for doing the right thing. Again, these kinds of native plant advocacy blogs never mention this important issue.
5. Most people don't know where to find native plants, especially specific species. Let people know how to find them.
6. Most nurseries will not sell plant plugs to the public (wholesale or to the trade sales only). Plant plugs can be a lot less expensive than quart or gallon pots, but many local nurseries won't/don't sell them. This is a big issue, again, in terms of cost.
7. Tell people how to plant natives from seed to save money. But, most natives don't grow particularly well from seed, so point out the natives that are most successful from this endeavor such as Coreopsis spp., many Rudbeckias, Monardas, asters, bottle brush grass, etc. Let people know about the need for cold stratification!
Again, we definitely need organizations, like the Chesapeake Bay Program, advocating for native plants in residential and commercial landscapes, but these efforts only go part way toward helping people make this change. Better education is essential.
Thank you for sharing this great info.
It's amazing what is all around us. I had no idea about any of these plants things for the write up! Keep the articles coming!
Thank you for the informative and useful article. Great job!
Adkins Arboretum, where I volunteer, switched their big spring native plant sale over to online ordering and individual scheduled pickup. This will continue for the foreseeable future. Visit adkinsarboretum.org for details.
Thank you!
Your comment has been received. Before it can be published, the comment will be reviewed by our team to ensure it adheres with our rules of engagement.
Comments
Question re squill. Where I live, the 2 substitute plants you mention don't bloom till much later. Also since squill spreads by seed, how do they travel? I haven't seen birds interested and my bed of squill hasn't jumped the sidewalk in 20 years. Sweet autumn clematic though is a thug. Truly curious about squill...
have recently learned about the negative impacts of our burning bushes, I am in the process of removing them and planting Winterberry Holly , Spicebush and Arrowwood Viburnum
Wonderful information as I continue to plan my garden!!
Botanical names would be helpful
These are great comments, Jeremy, thank you! Some of these issues we explore in other articles but other ones could be written about further. You might be interested in a webinar we held recently, which was all about native plants and pollinators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmREfDQ02Fk Again, thank you for the thoughtful feedback.
I'm 100% a proponent of native plants and have spent the past three years removing invasive and non-native species from my yard (including removing a lawn) and replacing entirely with species native to our region. This is a repeat of what I did when I lived in Rhode Island. Through about 10 years of experience replacing non-natives with natives in residential landscaping, I've learned a lot that almost always is never mentioned in advocacy articles, such as this one. These issues need to be discussed in the open by proponents of native plants, such as the Chesapeake Bay Program:
1. Native plants are often much more expensive than common, non-native (and often invasive) options and, as such, is beyond the means of many people on the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder. Something as simple as replacing a lawn with native species means the difference between a $10 bag of grass seed and $1,000 of native grass plants in pots. A single star of Bethlehem bulb might cost $0.10 (or free; just wait for it to show up in your yard). A single spring beauty bulb can cost $5 to $10. This "simple" replacement can be 100 times more expensive. The growing of native plants is thus most often associated with a rather specific socioeconomic (and racial) class. How can non-profit advocacy efforts for native plants help support low-income property owners, for instance? If native plants are essential for a healthy ecosystem then why is this endeavor most often associated with wealth and White people? This is a huge issue and I wish organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Program would address it.
2. Native plants are often (and for good reason) not nearly as aggressive as non-natives. There's a reason why vinca, for instance, is so popular. You don't need to plant a lot and it spreads really quickly (quick and cheap). Most people taking the route to natives don't know this and will give up when they see how slow many natives grow and spread. Be honest about the need for patience. Non-natives are popular for a reason!
3. There is a different kind of beauty in native plants. In most cases, there really is no 1:1 visual replacement for many non-natives. Be honest about this. Natives, in general, tend to have smaller flowers, grow taller (and flop), and have more sprawling forms, compared to non-natives. Again, be honest with the public on these issues, but also introduce a more "wild" aesthetic as being acceptable, such as meadows. (Personally, I've come to prefer the meadow look and find manicured landscapes to look artificial.) Natives grow great when they have their friends to support them in a meadow planting. Non-natives have been bred for an artificially short and stout stature to fit on store shelves for sale. Thus, what people think is "normal" in a landscape is actually an aberration: Point this out in your advocacy efforts.
4. Many city and county ordinances make it difficult for people to choose native plants for their yards. Lawn mowing and anti-"weed" ordinances prejudice native plants and reward the planting of non-natives. Local government must do a better job at recognizing and rewarding the planting of natives rather than penalizing people for doing the right thing. Again, these kinds of native plant advocacy blogs never mention this important issue.
5. Most people don't know where to find native plants, especially specific species. Let people know how to find them.
6. Most nurseries will not sell plant plugs to the public (wholesale or to the trade sales only). Plant plugs can be a lot less expensive than quart or gallon pots, but many local nurseries won't/don't sell them. This is a big issue, again, in terms of cost.
7. Tell people how to plant natives from seed to save money. But, most natives don't grow particularly well from seed, so point out the natives that are most successful from this endeavor such as Coreopsis spp., many Rudbeckias, Monardas, asters, bottle brush grass, etc. Let people know about the need for cold stratification!
Again, we definitely need organizations, like the Chesapeake Bay Program, advocating for native plants in residential and commercial landscapes, but these efforts only go part way toward helping people make this change. Better education is essential.
Thank you for sharing this great info.
It's amazing what is all around us. I had no idea about any of these plants things for the write up! Keep the articles coming!
Thank you for the informative and useful article. Great job!
Adkins Arboretum, where I volunteer, switched their big spring native plant sale over to online ordering and individual scheduled pickup. This will continue for the foreseeable future. Visit adkinsarboretum.org for details.
Thank you!
Your comment has been received. Before it can be published, the comment will be reviewed by our team to ensure it adheres with our rules of engagement.
Back to recent stories