By: John Olive, Retired Director, AU Ornamental Horticultural Research Center, Mobile
The choice to use only native plants in gardens is becoming more and more popular. Native plants, as a group, are often described as being low maintenance and good for the environment. Some municipalities have even passed ordinances requiring that only native plants be used in city planting projects. There are many good reasons to use native plants, and there are good native plant choices. There are also many non-native landscape plants that are easy to maintain and will thrive for a novice home gardener. If you desire a low maintenance landscape that is good for the environment, you should consider both native and non-native plants.
There are many definitions of native plants. For the purposes of this article, we define native plants as species that are indigenous, occurring naturally in a region or ecosystem (in our case the lower Gulf Coast). Native plants evolved naturally in the region over hundreds or even thousands of years without human involvement. Non-native plants are imports from other parts of the country or more commonly, other parts of the world.
Some experts recommend only native plants be used in landscapes because native plants have adapted to the area and therefore should grow well. This is true, but some native plants have specific habitat requirements and are difficult to grow commercially; therefore, they are often hard to find in nurseries. By limiting your garden to only native plants, you will be missing out on some beautiful and durable choices. Non-native plants such as camellias and evergreen azaleas have also proven they will do well. They have been used for over 200 years in the Deep South and thrive in the urban landscape. Can you imagine Mobile and the Gulf Coast without azaleas and camellias?
Some non-native plants are excellent choices for your landscape but the category to avoid is non-native invasive species. These are the plants that can take over your yard and push out desirable native plants in the ecosystem. Cogon grass, Chinese privet, Asian wisteria, and popcorn trees are all good examples of non-native plants to avoid. They can also easily escape cultivation and invade nearby woodlands, crowding out desirable native species and degrading the ecosystem. Avoid planting invasive species. Each state has a list of plants it considers invasive. Your local County Extension office also has information on invasive plants to avoid.
There are good choices of native and non-native plants for your garden and landscape. One plant group that contains both native and non-native species is azaleas. Deciduous azaleas are often referred to as native azaleas. While this is generally true, not all deciduous azaleas are native to the Gulf Coast and some named cultivars are crosses that may or may not occur naturally. Evergreen azaleas are imports and are not native.
Both evergreen and deciduous azaleas do well here in the Deep South but for very different landscape uses. Deciduous azaleas are often stand-alone plants in a less formal setting. They tend to grow best in areas with partial shade and protection from the intense mid-day sun. Evergreen azaleas are often planted in mass and in more formal designs. They will tolerate a bit more sun, but they also benefit from some shade. Evergreen azaleas come in a variety of sizes and provide more options in landscapes.
Do not get hung up on whether a plant is native or not. Instead, select plants based on the landscape use of the plant and how it fits into the specific site: “Right plant, right place.” The Mobile Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale, March 14-15, will have a good selection of both native and non-native plants that will do well in Gulf Coast landscapes. Knowledgeable people will also be available to help you choose the right native and non-native plants for your particular situation.
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