Master Gardener Training Series: Native and Invasive Plants
I’ve read the books, watched the YouTube videos, and done the things I thought I needed to do to learn about native and invasive plants, but it wasn’t until my Hanover Master Gardener Association class this week, that I truly grasped a much fuller understanding of native and invasive plants and the effect on our local ecosystems. Not to go all doom and gloom on you, but invasive plants are a HUGE problem, but one that can be tackled through proper land stewardship (like planting native plants), informed citizens, and a bit of labor. Who doesn’t love thinking about a little gardening labor of love as we ease closer to Love Day next week?! 💝
Because this is such a complex topic, I’m going to cover the very very basics and then provide some quality resources for you to dig in further. I am passionate about these topics and will likely root further into the topics at a later date. If you have questions, please feel free to email me. If I don’t know the answer, I can connect you with someone who does. I am so appreciative of you taking the time to read about and learn about such an important topic.
What is a native plant?
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
The definition according to our incredible speaker, Bill Shananabruch of Local Ecotype Richmond Natives (LERN), is “A native plant is a species that occurred naturally in the Richmond area [or wherever you live] prior to settlement by Europeans.”
The example here is common yarrow or Achillea millefolium. According to the Digital Atlas of Virginia Flora, it can be found growing wild in every County in Virginia making it a great plant to add to your landscape. BONUS: it’s lovely in bouquets.
What is an invasive plant?
Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
The definition of an invasive plant according to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is “Invasive plants are species intentionally or accidentally introduced by human activity into a region in which they did not evolve and cause harm to natural resources, economic activity or humans.”
Kudzu is an excellent example of a purposefully introduced plant that was meant to fix a problem (erosion) and it went rogue. Now we see if enveloping forested areas in such a way that we can’t identify anything else in that environment.
How do I learn more about native and invasive plants?
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is loaded with resources.
Plant RVA Natives has a lovely book of native plants that is organized beautifully. You can download a copy or you can pick a copy up at your local extension office.
The Flora of Virginia Project is a paid resource, however, if you really want to dig into Native Plants. It is an invaluable resource. There is a phone app and a print version of the content.
The Digital Atlas of Virginia Flora is a fun resource to explore. This resource shows you actual mapped data of a plants native (or invasive) range.
Other resources include:
Books on the topic (start with Doug Tallamy)
Attend workshops and conferences through your local Extension Office or Botanical Garden
Virginia Native Plant Society Plant Walks- learn how to ID, learn new species, learn how they actually look in nature, learn what grows together
Blue Ridge Prism, Inc. helps with invasive species weed management and also has lots of resources available on the appropriate control measures to take when removing an invasive species.
Where can I purchase native plants?
Just because it’s labeled “native” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. Use these resources on your phone to help guide your purchasing decisions. Here are some considerations:
1) If there isn’t a botanical name on the label, don’t buy it. You can’t guarantee it’s the plant you think you’re buying.
2) Purchase from reputable, preferably local nurseries. Talk to the staff. Do they know about natives? Do they know where their plants were grown? Plants grown in your area are likely better adapted to your climate and conditions.
3) Purchase plants in groupings. Grouping like plants not only provides better aesthetics in the landscape, it also helps the pollinators find your plants and may even encourage females to lay eggs in a more protected environment.
4) Go for the straight species when at all possible. If a plant label has a botanical name followed by a fun name in single quotes then it is a cultivar and not a straight species. Ex. Achillea millefolium is the white, straight species, whereas Achillea millefolium ‘Summer Berries’ is a cultivar of the straight species. It is derived from a native plant and is sometimes called a “nativar.” The reason straight species are preferred is because some pollinators are specialists in a particular plant. They know that yarrow is white with green foliage. If we mess with the color, it could confuse the pollinator and deter her from using the plant as a host plant for her eggs.
5) Do not, under any circumstance plant an invasive plant. Familiarize yourself with the list. There aren’t currently regulations in Virginia for the sale of invasives. I saw English Ivy in a big box garden center this past growing season. This plant isn’t even appropriate in a container garden. It can and probably will escape. Invasive plants are biological trash. They are pollution.
Also always, Flower Friends, I hope that you find this information helpful. Thank you for reading week in and week out. I am so appreciative of your support. Feel free to reach out if you need anything at all or if you have ideas for future blog posts.
Keep Blooming,
Nicole Dillon, Breemar Flower Farm
