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What
is a "native" plant?
All
plants are native to somewhere, so what makes a plant truly "native"?
In North America, we consider native plants to be those that occurred naturally
here before European settlers arrived. Native plants evolved with little human
intervention. In addition, to be considered native, the plants must have occurred
in the specific area where they will be replanted. For instance, a sweetgum tree
would be native in Virginia, but not in a Pacific Northwest garden. Local
native plants are best adapted to local conditions
It's no longer enough
to say that a plant is native - you need to know what area it comes from: its
genetic provenance. For example, serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is native
from Washington to Arizona but plants from one of those states wouldn't be appropriate
to plant in the other. Seasoned
gardeners know the old adage, "right place, right plant." Simply put,
this means you should choose plants adapted to your specific soil, light and water
conditions. Local native plants are the ultimate example of "right place,
right plant." Plants from local genetics are adapted to the local environmental
conditions, so they survive better and grow more vigorously. It makes sense to
use plants that evolved to thrive in your region's climate and soils. Another
reason for staying local is that non-local "native" plants can interbreed
with local natives, and the resulting plants can have reduced vigor and lower
survival rates. Best
for local flora and fauna
Local native plants do a better job of feeding
local animals and insects. For example, plants grown from seed collected far away
may leaf out and bloom later than local plants do, thereby missing an opportunity
to provide cover or food during a critical butterfly feeding period or bird migration
stopover. Non-native plants from other regions can become invasive, smothering
native plants and injuring the ecosystem, such as kudzu in the southeast and English
ivy in the northwest. Best
for water quality
In order to maintain our non-native plants, we pour tons
of poisonous chemicals onto the landscape every year. Most of it ends up in lakes,
streams and oceans, causing fish kills, toxic algae blooms and contaminated shellfish.
Native plants have natural resistance to local pests and diseases, and they thrive
in the native soils, so they don't need lots of chemical assistance. Best
for human health
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides pose myriad human
health hazards. Many pesticides sold in stores for home use contain known carcinogens
or chemicals that affect human reproductive health. Water-soluble fertilizers
may contain salts that can guild up in the soil over time. Pesticide exposure
poses significant health hazards for thousands of agricultural workers. By using
low-maintenance native plants, you help safeguard your health and your children's. Ask
your suppliers
You can't assume that native plants come from local genetics
unless you ask the growers. Few nurseries do all of their own propagation and
some nurseries do none at all-they buy full-grown or starter stock from other
growers. Ask nursery owners about the provenance of the native plants you buy.
They should at least be able to vouch for their state of origin. If they can't
identify the county or region of origin, ask them to keep track of it in the future.
Without local genetics, you stand to lose the celebrated advantages of using native
plants-drought tolerance, disease resistance, and adaptation to local soils and
climate. So truly native plants are your best bet. ©
2007 Sound Native Plants.
Ben
Alexander
Sound Native Plants
PO Box 7505
Olympia, WA 98507-7505
(360)
352-4122
www.soundnativeplants.com
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