Native Plants?

Question

How many natives do you plant compared to exotics?????

Answer 1

I don't have any real place to plant things, as I'm in an apartment. I think that if I did have my own yard, I'd enjoy having a lot of native plants, especially wildflowers. They're so important for the animals in particular, as we take over more and more of their former habitat! I would want to plant enough non-natives (if necessary) to make a good hummingbird garden, as I'm also a bit of a birder :-)

Answer 2

Why do you need exotics? Native are so great.

But I do have those trazy plants from....Iris from wherever. And plants not found here.

How do you define "exotics"? How far from you house do you draw the line? My redwoods are "native" to Cali, but not to where I live, in SoCal mtns. But.... So how do make the distinction? I wonder myself how *I* do it.

I'd plant een more natives if they were easier to find at nurseries. Some I want, native to this place here, I cannot find for sale, as plants or seed. So I plant more things from other places. That is kind of what gardening is.

Answer 3

As many as you possibly can especially if you are referring to endemic species. By planting endemic species you will attract the local fauna to your garden... is that not what gardening is all about ...or is it just a showcase for humans to be proud of. Your choice.

Use exotics with care as some of them can be invasive.

Answer 4

That depends on you entirely.....some landscapes are entirely native, but you have to keep them weeded to be so, since all sorts of 'weeds' are exotics; escapes from other lands....such as dandelions from China. Many street trees are exotics, since it was once thought that they had no natural pest enemies...Now we know that the pests follow them.....