About Native Plants

To some people, "native plant" means collected out of the woods. But collected plants usually will not live. That's about as simple as it gets. Nursery propagated plants will out-perform collected plants, be they annuals, perennials or the woody plants I grow. By purchasing only nursery propagated native plants, you can take a little of the strain off of your environment and insure your gardening succe$$. I have tried to include the area to which a plant is native with the plant description. Some are native to Japan. Each plant offered by this nursery has attributes that merit attention. I do not sell collected plants.

The majority (volume) of the plants I grow are native to the higher elevation, or cooler, regions of eastern USA. It has been pointed out that R. schlippenbachii is not a native but is included in my catalog. Also, one gentleman asked why I grew R. bakeri. Was it native to Ashe County, North Carolina? How close to home must a plant be to be called a native? Every species plant is native to somewhere and it seems silly to argue what is native and what is not. Stranger still to limit the use of a plant because of its origin.

I endorse landscaping with plants native to your region, or a geographically similar region, for a very simple reason. The plants found in an area are there because they thrive there. Sound too simple? Ever hear of a trial garden? Mother Nature has been performing tests on native plants since before you and I can remember. Plants live in an area because they can! Think about it. Then, look at what you want from the plant. Attract birds? Fragrant bloom? Excellent fall color? If your garden fits the plant's needs and if the plant fits your needs, then purchase it and enjoy it.

Landscaping adds value to your home and plants make your surroundings much more pleasant. A well-landscaped yard can add 5 percent to 15 percent to the value of your property. Quite a boost to your equity. Trees that shade your house in the summer, or act as a wind break in the winter, save money on cooling or heating bills. Not only do plants save money, they make you feel good! How can you put a price on that?