[MAIPC] Native Garden Friend Challenge

[Randall, Johnny]

Richard: I certainly appreciate your thoughts on domesticated plants (and if they are native). I would argue that there is a continuum between “native” native plants and “altered” native plants. Much depends on how long, and to what extent, these have been in cultivation and the source of the seeds from which plants were grown.

I use a similar argument that I call “cultivation is not conservation” that is primarily aimed at rare plant sales. See our policy on such at https://ncbg.unc.edu/files/2019/08/RarePlantPolicy.7-08.pdf I look forward your comments!

Johnny Randall

Johnny Randall, PhD
Director of Conservation
North Carolina Botanical Garden
CB 3375
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC 27599
W – 919.962.2380
C – 919.923.0100
ncbg.unc.edu
Consider a Venus flytrap plate!
See https://ncbg.unc.edu/support/venus-flytrap-license-plate/
[VFT plate final small]



From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> On Behalf Of Richard Gardner
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2020 11:33 AM
To: MAIPC Listserve (maipc at lists.maipc.org) <maipc at lists.maipc.org>; Nathan Hartshorne <nshartshorne at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Native Garden Friend Challenge

I collect local wild seeds and plants because I am more comfortable with them than nursery bought for two reasons. The first reason is if I am in a minimally managed wild area I am fairly certain the seeds are from locally native plants that were not originally from seed catalogues. Even though the plants species may be native where I live the "native" plants may have come from up to hundreds of miles from my home. The species may be native but the genetics are not. The second reason is that regardless of a nursery's intentions it will cull out genetic variability by saving seeds from specific plants which meet the characteristics desired. This may be unintentional but after a few generations this will begin to show.

To me the biggest question is are domesticated native plants native? I do not think so.

I did a PPT on this subject: https://www.slideshare.net/rtgardner3/using-ecological-utility-to-define-native-plants-nenhc-2017

                                               Richard Gardner

On Sunday, October 11, 2020, 09:29:12 AM EDT, Nathan Hartshorne <nshartshorne at gmail.com<mailto:nshartshorne at gmail.com>> wrote:


We all have friends who would be interested in a native garden, but the effort and cost feel prohibitive, even though they really aren't.  Last year, I decided to start experimenting with growing the plants myself and giving them away, even planting them at friends'.  Obviously we don't want to take business away from the local native nurseries, but this creates a push that many people need.  And once they see the bees going nuts over bee balm, goldenrod, etc. they can really get into it and then support the native nurseries.

So now that we're well into fall, consider buying seeds online and preparing for next spring.  Packets can have a couple hundred seeds and cost a couple dollars, so it's not difficult to get started with a wide variety.  Just make sure that the native seeds you purchase are native to your region, some local regions can be very specific.

If you do decide to do this, please let me know.
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