What’s Stopping Us Using Native Plants?

Why it’s often hard to use native plants – and how Grounded wants to make it easier.

What’s wrong with growing a non-native rose at my cottage?

I was asked that question the other day. The questioner was expecting me to launch into a rant about the horrors of using non-native, cultivated plants.

I left him disappointed.

I grew up in a house with a front yard bordered by roses. They were spectacular. Reds, yellows… and the scents! I was a sad little boy when my parents grubbed them up because they didn’t have time for all the pruning.

I told my questioner there’s nothing wrong with planting roses, hydrangeas, hostas, or whatever plant you like, as long as it’s not invasive.

If you like a plant, put it in the ground!

I’m not here to scold and shame people into choosing only native plants. Non-natives can be beautiful and serve a purpose.

If you’ve been reading these articles long enough, you’ll know I prefer native plants because they fit in. They have co-evolved with the rest of nature here. That means they play a role in the web of life, adding biodiversity into a world that is losing species at a horrifying rate. Non-native plants do this too – but to a lesser extent, and they’re less likely to serve the specialist species that are critical components of an ecosystem.

Here’s the thing: you can grow both natives and non-natives. While the more native plants you have, the more nature you will support, planting a handful of natives is better than none

So if it’s so easy, why aren’t more people doing it?

The problem with natives

First, native plants are hard to find. We’re lucky to have Haliburton Micromeadows in the county. Baz, who owns it, has a wonderful selection of species. And of course, we here at Grounded supply native plants to our clients.

But in general, the growers who supply nurseries stick with the tried-and-tested cultivars. It’s simply good business. The plants are, as they say, proven winners. They are easily cultivated and grown, and they provide pretty much guaranteed customer happiness.

Finding native plants is like going off-piste at a ski hill. It seems like it’s only for the brave.

Second, there’s societal pressure. Visit any suburban location and you’ll see front yards that are all the same: acres of perfect grass and the same plants put in beds surrounded by mulch. It looks neat and tidy. Breaking the rules by removing the grass and planting densely with natives can get you in trouble, from disapproving glances to a crackdown by a homeowners association.

So it’s no wonder people stick with what they know. It’s safer that way.

How I solve the problem

My mission here at Grounded is to bring back biodiversity, to do my bit to keep our lakes healthy and, most importantly, to heal our broken relationship with nature. If a plant I’ve installed brings extra butterflies and bees to a cottage and helps the homeowner appreciate nature a little more, then it’s a victory.

So I got to thinking, how can I best do that? It’s not about shaming people into removing their hostas. Instead, it’s about helping people dip their feet in the native plant waters and helping them see the benefits to our environment – and to their happiness – of, in Douglas Tallamy’s words, bringing nature home.

This is why I now offer a maintenance service. I’ll take care of your landscape – cultivated plants and all – while slowly introducing native, naturalistic plantings.

Then, when a client comes to me with a big smile on their face – as happened recently – and tells me how much more relaxed and happy they are now they’re letting nature in, it makes me happy too.