Main Takeaways

“The question of whether or not nativars are a good alternative to natives for home gardens is one I hear often. I look forward to seeing how we are able to further expand this work and translate its relevance to the general public so that people can feel confident in the planting selections they make.”

— Dr. Jennifer Ramp Neale, Director of Research & Conservation at Denver Botanic Gardens

Implications of gardening with nativars:

The good news: In small home gardens far from natural areas, nativars can be a perfectly suitable solution to landscaping and design needs and can play an important role in sustaining the local food web.

The type of nativar matters. Not all nativars are equal in their ability to support food webs. Many cultivars are selected or bred to have alterations in leaf color, flower color or morphology, which may impact the plant’s ability to provide ecosystem functions.

Context matters. Sites near wild areas have different requirements. A plant, especially a cultivar, can escape cultivation and impact the gene pool of a wild plant population, potentially altering the ability for these plants to survive and support food webs.

Plant parentage matters. The genetic background of a native plant can inform its suitability for your site, whether it’s a restoration planting or a home garden. However, most sources in the marketplace for native plants lack this information. Considering plant sourcing, where possible, can improve the habitats we create in our homes and the success rate of restoration plantings.