Great video❤

there are so many plant species but it would be amazing if people started making a list of regions comparing cultivars and 'straights', especially for people who have a small space and want to have the largest impact for wildlife

Excellent video - thank you for clarifying this complicated subject! One more thing to consider that rarely comes up in these studies (except for Mt. Cuba). Some straight natives do not do well in existing garden beds that already have amended soil; they grow tall quickly and then collapse from the rich diet and do much better in lean soil. So, if you are trying to re-wild an existing ornamental garden, many cultivars are much better adapted to that environment as long as they are close to the species in appearance. I also grow both the species of beardtongue (penstemon digitalis) native to my area as well as the purple leaf cultivar 'Dark Towers'. The species has some purple coloring in the foliage naturally, hence the development of purple foliage cultivars. But 'Dark Towers' has 3 to 4 times as many pollinators when it blooms as the species! The opposite is true for species redbud trees and the purple leaf cultivar 'Forest Pansy'. Whenever possible, I try to grow both species and cultivars and test/compare them over a period of time, but I have the room to do that, not everyone does.

Would be awesome if you guys did a follow up video, as this was posted almost 4 years ago, to see what information has changed!

Thanks. Proven Winners operates down the road from me, and they promote nativars. It sounds like these plants are questionable, this is good to know.

I have sterile butterfly bush and all the polinators go for that and zinnia over all other plants including natives. We eat nonnative plants ourselves. I say as long as its not invasive and you like it plant it. I have so many bees, wasps, and butterflies. Not to mention beetles, lady bugs, ect. I do not use herbicides or insecticides. I use minimal amounts of organic fertilizer. I plant herbs as ground cover and let flower. Ive planted host plants and wildflowers but also have heucheras and a few purple leaved plants. I think its important for everyone to have gardens but its already intimidating so please just plant, plants. Thank you so much for this valuable information.

Thank you for this clear, data-based explanation of a tricky topic. I appreciate the references!

This is the video I was searching for! Thanks.

@NativePlantChannel

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you for all the useful information. This topic has been quite difficult and controversial but your video addresses many aspects.

@NativePlantChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Diego, thanks for commenting! I try to present the pros and cons.

my favorite new channel. well done.

@NativePlantChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy it!

Thank you for this information!

@NativePlantChannel

3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Great topic. Lots of well meaning people are taken to task on social media if they dare plant a cultivar instead of the straight species. Not cool and counter-productive too! My favorite cultivar - Clethra Alnifolia “Ruby Spice”. HUGE pollinator attractor and beautiful too. Keep up the good work!

Excellent work. I'm new to the 'Native Plant' topic, but I'm learning. I'm always appreciative of vids that summarize or list the actual science thats been done. Thanks.

@NativePlantChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Mark, I'm glad you found it helpful. Thank you for commenting and check Native Plant Channel for new videos, several will be coming out over the next few weeks!

very helpful!

Great summary. Thank you and well done!

@NativePlantChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for explaining this. I am new to the concept of planting native plants for pollinators and really appreciate your clear, concise information and your encouragement! I wonder if the cultivars are as nutritious for those feeding on them? Meaning the quality of the nectar or the leaves as compared to native plants.

@NativePlantChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Sandra, thank you for commenting. I don't know the answer to your question. There are so many issues that are either recently being studied or have not been studied at all.

Great presentation and so much useful information, thank you. What a great resource Mt. Cuba is for this subject. I live in Michigan and know that MSU does these same types of trials but somehow have not been able to access their research. Just an FYI. Thanks again for making these videos and helping me become a better steward.

@NativePlantChannel

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Mary, thank you for commenting, I'm so happy it was helpful! Thank you for creating an eco-friendly garden!

Thank you. I really enjoy your channel!

@NativePlantChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! There is so much more to come and I appreciate your comment!

Great video, and information. Thanks so much.

@NativePlantChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for commenting!

What I do is plant what ever variety I want , knowing certain colours won't necessarily attract much and then I weave in straight species to lure pollinators over

In the mornarda case. I wonder if it was a preference of the regional population of pollinators used in each study.

@NativePlantChannel

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for commenting, this is an area that needs more studies.

in the days of facebook and youtube... im finding many plant stores have an online presence that we can use to give feedback and to encourage native plants. also there are online local groups encouraging and suporting natives....

I have recently been made to cut my cottage's wild plant yard down. In May the townshi p passed some rules about height ( 6 inches). It is basically all wild woodland understory type plants and bushes. Is there a Pennsylvania organization that might help me educate/fight such rulings.? This area was woodlands until the 1930's when small plots were sold for summer cottages on the small natural lake. Now most have been turned into year round homes on the still tiny lots. Nearly all trees (except mine) have been cut down. The yard was a haven for many birds and insects. HELP.! A few other older cottages are unruly like mine.

@user-do7es3lb5b

2 ай бұрын

Would it help to be able to show your garden is certified wildlife habitat? You can register for this online with the National Wildlife Federation. It isn't expensive and the criteria is not that difficult.

Please note -- attracting pollinators is not a definitive indicator. A non-native can "attract" pollinators, but that does not mean that there is any nutritive value for them at the end of the day.

@iancampbell1281

4 ай бұрын

It also means that there could be more value in a nativar, too, though.

I live in NJ and planted Switchgrass “Shenandoah.” Is this not going to then be used by skippers? I’m bummed. The grass is green and turns red in fall.

@NativePlantChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment. I don't know the answer to your question, but the research I found focused on plants with leaves that were completely red or purple. 'Shenandoah' is primarily green, it might be ok for skippers. This is a good topic for another study!

Is there a risk of certain cultivars being too attractive (or even too beneficial) to pollinators? For example- could a plant with too much nectar or pollen cause an overabundance in the pollinators' population that could disrupt the ecological balance? Or maybe, could a cultivar be so attractive to pollinators which would cause the pollinators to not pollinate the other non-cultivar types? I know in the North American dart frog-keeping community is reluctant to even house two of the subspecies together for fear of the slim chance that a mixed subspecies would find its way back into a native habitat. Could the ecosystem of PA native plants' habitat be that fragile?

@mattkrier5856

2 жыл бұрын

Probably not imo

Just subbed! I first watched your Anise Hyssop video, which I enjoyed. So I just realized this past week that I planted a pair of the Blue Fortune cultivar last year. They’re labeled as 2-3’ tall, but mine are both over 5’, so doing well. However, I was very dismayed to realize this cultivar was bred to be sterile meaning no seeds or food source for birds. I saw yellow finches on em last year but they probably were faked out as they was no seed, when I thought they were eating. Do you suggest I replant with the native next year? Right now I have several carpenter bees feeding and sleeping on them daily so I plan to leave through year end. Curious of your take on whether sterile cultivars such as these are beneficial to our environment? After all, the time the bees are spending on these, while providing them food, they could be pollinating something else and producing seed. Thanks for any insight!

@NativePlantChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Hi, thank you for joining! Agastache is a top pollinator plant. Since you have only 2 plants, I would leave them and just add other non-sterile agastaches. Try obtaining seeds and sprinkling them in the fall, they should come up easily next spring.

@ferg2914

4 жыл бұрын

Native Plant Channel Thanks for the quick reply! I will do so. The straight species flowers all the way to frost?

@NativePlantChannel

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, with some deadheading it keeps blooming.

l'm in The Florida Native Plant Society and do a lot of work concerning native plants and eradicating invasives. Funny, l see Mother in law's tongue (sanseveria) behind you. That's a horrendous Class l invasive in our area.

@lookforward2life

2 жыл бұрын

I’m on Vancouver island and butterfly bush is an invasive weed here. Ugh. So much learning required before I can do anything. That’s how it feels anyways. All I’ve got is plants to eradicate so far….

@heidimlsb3530

Жыл бұрын

It’s a houseplant…

@adrabruzzese7610

Жыл бұрын

Its inside her house! And even she planted outside it would not survive winter.

@gcxred4kat9

Жыл бұрын

@@heidimlsb3530 Unless you live in a warm climate and it escapes cultivation. Then it takes over.