Native Plants Q & A

Q: What is the difference between "straight species" and "cultivars"?

A: Straight species are the varieties of plants that are found out in the wild. When a plant in a wild population has a certain trait that is different from the others - such as a different flower color, height, leaf coloration, etc. - that plant can be propagated in order to produce more plants that have that same variation. This is called a cultivar - short for "cultivated variety". Cultivars are often propagated vegetatively - meaning each plant of a cultivar will be genetically identical to the parent plant. Sometimes this is the only way to propagate more of the desired plant, as seed produced by the desired plant may result in plants that revert back to the wild form. Cultivars are frequently showier, more floriferous, have different flower colors, or have a shorter stature than the straight species of a plant.

You can tell if a plant is a straight species or a cultivar by its name. Straight species will contain the Latin name of the plant only, written in italics; cultivars will have the Latin name followed by another name in single quotations, not italicized. See the examples below:

Helenium autumnale The straight species of Dog-tooth Daisy	Helenium autumnale 'Mardi Gras' A cultivar of Dog-tooth Daisy

Q: Is it okay to plant cultivars in a native plant garden?

From the wildlife perspective, it probably is. Insects are adapted to the chemical make-up of the plants they prefer, not necessarily the flower color, height, etc. which may be different on cultivars. This means that cultivars probably fulfill the same role in the food web that their wild counterparts do. And, cultivars are often showier than the straight species of plants, making them perhaps more adaptable to a more traditional "front-yard" setting.

From an ecological perspective, this question is harder to call. Cultivated varieties of plants usually (but not always) have a consistent genetic make-up, which means that every plant of a certain cultivar looks exactly the same, whereas in wild populations, there is significant genetic variability. Sometimes that variability is apparent to the naked eye, and sometimes it's only apparent when only 1 plant in a field is left standing, after its comrades all succumbed to a particular disease, for instance. The variation in that 1 plant, which otherwise looked the same as all the others, may hold the key to that species' future - as that is the only plant that is going to survive to set seed and reproduce.

As a general rule of thumb, when constructing your landscape for the greatest ecological benefit, we recommend planting at least some varieties of straight species (wild varieties). If you have the room, you could choose cultivars for the showy front-yard area, and straight species for more informal areas of your landscape, for example.

Q: Aren't native plants basically weeds?

Eupatorium fistulosum, Joe-Pye Weed, at the Philadelphia Zoo. If you didn't see this on the roadsides, but only in settings like this, stealing the show - would you think this was a weed?

A: There are many ways to answer this question! But let's try first with a story. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a most beloved native plant (although unfortunately it's not native to PA!), and it is standard fare in many American gardens. But, this wasn't the case just a few decades ago, when it was deemed just another common weed. It was only after European plant breeders "discovered" it, and began to work with it and promote its use in Europe, that Americans took another look at their familiar friend, and realized it was beautiful. By that time, Americans were willing to pay a pretty penny to buy the cultivars of Echinacea that were coming out of Europe, because they were the newest trend, and were clearly appreciated for their beauty on their own terms. If only we had realized this treasure when it was right under our nose!

Of course, it doesn't help matters that some of our most beautiful natives have names with "weed" in them - think of butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) or Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium). This is probably a continuation of the same story, above!

Also, we should keep in mind that native plants in the wild have to fend for their very existence against decidedly unfavorable odds - being mowed or sprayed by salt along roadsides, trying to compete with aggressive invasive plants, being forced out of their preferred habitats by development. In a garden setting, where someone is making sure that plants become well-established, keeps the invasive plants away, and provides some basic maintenance, the beauty of these plants really has the opportunity to shine through. See the picture to the left for a case in point.

Finally, a weed is a plant that is growing where it's not wanted. It's up to every homeowner to decide what they want growing, and where, on their property.

Q: Are native plants "no-maintenance" plants?

A: No - but they are low-maintenance plants. You will need to follow the basic guidelines of establishing new plants in your landscape. This includes site selection, soil preparation, implementing proper planting, mulching, and watering techniques, and keeping invasive plants away. As a basic rule of thumb, perennials need to be watered for 1 year, shrubs for 3 years, and trees for 5 years, in order to consider them fully established in the landscape. Perennials usually require maintenance every year in terms of cutting them back in late winter or early spring to improve their appearance.

If you follow these good gardening practices, you will be rewarded with plants that are beautiful year-round, healthy, and resistant to pest infestations and diseases.

> Ready to find your native plants? Continue to our lists of native perennials, shrubs, or trees.

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