What is a native plant? A lot of what we consider native plants does not make it native to the specific area where you reside. For example, in Northern IL Silver Maples can be an invasive species, in the south Sweet gum is invasive in some habitats despite their native status. The reality is that if you plant a species native to North America, it does not mean it is native to your region. Further, even if its from your region it does not mean it is native to the area in your region where you are planting it. certainly, its better to plant native species in your garden, for example, however; it might actually be better when planting a flower garden to use exotic annuals than to use persistent native invasive species. some might think this is splitting hairs, but which is better, to plant a problematic species or to plant something that simply can't become a problem?
Malcolm On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 5:05 PM, Warren W. Aney <[email protected]> wrote: > Native plants host native insects that provide food for native birds. > See Tallamy, Douglas W. 2007. Bringing nature home; how you can sustain > wildlife with native plants. Timber Press. > Prof. Tallamy is chair of the Dept of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, > University of Delaware. > > Warren W. Aney > Senior Wildlife Ecologist > 9403 SW 74th Ave > Tigard, OR 97223 > (503) 539-1009 > (503) 246-2605 fax > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ted Turluck > Sent: Wednesday, 24 April, 2013 07:17 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Arguments for Native Plants > > Hello List Members, > > I am working with native plants and would like to make sure I have all the > arguments for native plants correct. If I am missing some, please let me > know. My goal is to promote native plants for use in landscaping and > grazing. > > Native plants provide habitat and food for native wildlife. This is > particularly important with increasing urban development and the habitat > loss that goes along with development. > > Native plants make up a large part of the ecological heritage of an area. > They made up the environment in which the first settlers lived and the > resources they used. > > Native plants are less likely to become invasive because the herbivores, > parasites, and pathogens they evolved with are still present. > > That is all I have at the moment. Please let me know what other arguments I > need to add or how I can strengthen the ones I already have. > > Thanks! > -- > Ted Turluck -- Malcolm L. McCallum Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry School of Biological Sciences University of Missouri at Kansas City Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
