Grow These Indigenous Alternatives to Invasive Plants
As spring approaches and you start thinking about what you’re going to plant in your garden and/or yard for the upcoming growing season, there’s a lot to think about, from what foods you want to grow to your favorite plant species. flowers and shrubs to which plants are easiest to grow.
But there’s something else the US Forest Service wants you to consider : whether the plants are native to your area. Here’s what you need to know and why it’s important.
Native plants vs. non-native plants vs. invasive species
When botanists, biologists, and other environmental scientists talk about “native” plants , they mean those that have evolved in a given area for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and are part of an ecosystem. In the US, for example, plants are only considered “native” if they were there before the arrival of European colonizers.
On the other hand, “non-native” plants originated outside the territory, but can grow there. Some, known as “adapted plants,” can coexist with native plants without escaping into natural areas and harming the ecosystem, according to Chris Enroth , a horticulture professor at the University of Illinois.
But other non-native plants are far more problematic. Known as “invasive species”, they can cause environmental and economic damage as they spread – smothering, suffocating and/or covering native plants in their path. Or, in the words of the US Forest Service : “Invasive plants become landscape thugs, out-competing the surrounding natives.”
Native alternatives to invasive species
If you’re interested in growing a wholly (or mostly) native garden, the US Forest Service has put together a chart that lists some of the most popular invasive species grown in the country, their key characteristics, and a few examples of native species to grow. plant instead. Here are some examples:
Japanese wisteria
- Desirable characteristics : Spectacular flowers, aroma.
- Native plant alternatives : forest phlox ( Plox divaricatus), sweet azalea ( Rhododendron canescens), coastal azalea ( Rhododendron atlanticum), American wisteria ( Wisteria frutescens)
english ivy
- Desirable Characteristics : Drought tolerant evergreen.
- Alternatives to native plants : wood aster ( Eurybia divaricatus), alum root ( Heuchera villosa), creeping mint ( Meehania cordata), common spurge ( Pachysandra procumbens), creeping phlox ( Phlox stolonifera), Solomon’s seal ( Polygonatum biflorum), Christmas fern ( Polystichum ). acrostichoid)
porcelain berry
- Desirable Characteristics : Fast growing, bright fruit.
- Alternatives to native plants : gray dogwood ( Cornus racemosa), virginian creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia), viburnum marsh hawthorn ( Viburnum nudum)
Flaming Euonymus Bush
- Desired Characteristics : Bright autumn color.
- Native plant alternatives : fringed blue star ( Amsonia ciliata), Hubricht’s blue star ( Amsonia hubrichtii), witch alder ( Fothergilla gardenii), oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia), feltbush ( Leucothoe racemosa), marsh hawthorn ( Viburnum dentatum), arrowhead viburnum woodland ( Viburnum nudum)
You can find the entire chart and more information on the agency’s website.