Garden Myths Debunked: Part 1

Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal opinions. I base these opinions on my experience, observations in the garden and the science of horticulture. Hopefully I will not step on too many toes and will be able to inspire discussion of these topics. Here we go...







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Myth 1: Native plants are “better” than non-native species.

This one has always bothered me but really got under my skin during the drought a couple of years ago when local politicians and the media jumped on the bandwagon. I often wonder what “native” and “better” means to people that make this statement. What exactly is their definition of native? Native to North America (pre or post European colonization)? Native to the southeast U.S.? North Carolina? The piedmont region of N.C.? Some plants are native from the northeastern states down to Florida. Does that mean that a red maple grown in Florida will prosper in New York? How about windmill palm (native of N.C. and many other southeastern states) that was grown in southern Georgia and planted in Raleigh? That palm, that’s roots have been grown in Georgia, is not going to be as cold hardy here as a palm that was grown from the seed of a palm that has genetic ties to North Carolina. I could continue on about the “native” issue but my real irritation is with the “better” than non-native species statement. How are they better? Are they more cold hardy? Drought tolerant? Better adapted to native soils? Natives are cold hardy, but should they not be? They evolved in their native environment. My problem with the cold hardy argument is that there are many non-native plants that are just as cold hardy as our natives. Who is to say which group of plants will evolve with our changing climate? As far as drought tolerance goes, there are native species that are, and some that are not. Non-natives are the same way. Native plants are certainly well adapted to our native soils, but is the soil around new homes or shopping centers the same as the soil in their natural environment? After the rich topsoil is removed, compacted sub-soils remain leaving an environment much different than what the plants are used to. Some natives can still make it here, just like some non-natives. I have no issue with native plants or gardens primarily comprised of them. We carry many natives here at the garden center. I do have an issue with poor information misleading gardeners and swaying opinions. This topic probably deserves an article all of it’s own, but I will leave it to this for now.




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