Plants that stand the test of time
Look to native plants for a low-maintenance garden.
We are big fans of the current native-plant movement.
They’re inspiring, when you consider their beauty and environmental benefits. Looking for a low-maintenance garden? Native plants are generally considered in that category since they’re ecologically evolved to the conditions they grow in. They’ve had some practice — think of a native plant as a species that grew here before the Europeans arrived about 500 years ago.
Native plants have weathered droughts and downpours through millennia. They support many pollinators and help promote biodiversity, arguably more than many ornamental equivalents.
If you’re interested in planting native species, you will soon discover that not all are created equal. Consider these three categories for native plants, beginning with the least native to the most pure: 1. Nativar or native cultivars. These are cultivated varieties of native species: native plants which have been bred for unique or desired qualities such as colour. Echinacea “Sundown” is an example, hybridized for its burntorange colour from the purplepetalled native.
Like many commercially available native plants, native cultivars are reproduced from cuttings for genetic consistency and many are sterile. They do not produce pollen for pollinators and have a low ecological value. 2. Basic perennial native
plants. Available just about everywhere, these are the most popular varieties such as echinacea purpurea and black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia). They gained their popularity for good reason: They are dependable, produce great colour, provide pollinator support and are drought tolerant.
Most of these plants are grown from cuttings in commercial nurseries: they grow true to the “parent” plant, which means less genetic diversity and ecological value for supporting wildlife than plants propagated from seed. 3. Seed-sourced open-pollinated natives. These plants appeal to hardcore native plant enthusiasts. Locally-sourced native plants are grown from seed that is gathered in an area where the plant is intended to grow. The benefit of choosing a locally-sourced seed is the specific genotype is better adapted to its intended environment.
Growing from local seed sources also helps improve overall biodiversity. Open pollination allows for continuous evolution of the species. A lot of these species are also at risk of local extinction due to habitat loss, so growing from seed is also an act of preservation which promotes greater biodiversity.
Seed-sourced native plants are largely a niche in gardening. The North American Native Plant Society is a great place to start for people who are interested. NANPS hosts excursions, workshops, socialevents, seed exchanges and plant sales.
While the spring and summer plant sales for NANPS were cancelled this year, they are looking at the possibility of a late summer or fall plant sale. Updates will be posted on their website — nanps.org/nanpsplant-sale-locations/.
Specialty nurseries produce native-species plants for sale. St. Williams Nursery & Ecology Centre bills itself as a “conservation nursery” in St. Williams, Ont. (about 170 km south of Toronto, near the shore of Lake Erie) that services the wholesale and ecological restoration trade. Demand for their plant material has been so great they are already taking orders for Spring, 2021.
In 2015, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, in southwestern Ontario, joined forces with a local non-profit called Return the Landscape to establish Maajiigin Gumig greenhouse.
They produce more than 150 species of plants indigenous to Sarnia-Lambton. Plants are grown from seeds collected on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s property, a refuge for many species at risk.
Maajiigin Gumig supports conservation by selling plants to the public on Thursdays as well as supplying other nurseries.
Kayanase Greenhouse, based on the Six Nations reserve outside of Brantford, is another Indigenous people’s nursery that combines science and traditional ecological knowledge to scout for seed and nurture locally native plants. Many customers make the 90-minute drive from Toronto to visit their retail greenhouse and tour the traditional longhouse that shares the property. This year, they are offering curbside pickup. You can view their plant inventory online and email your order. With a staff of certified seed collectors, Kayanase even offers customized pollinator seed mixes on request.
Gardening has the powerful potential to change the environment and ecology of this world. Native-plant gardening is an opportunity for all of us to make a difference in the restoration and preservation of native ecosystems.