Nativar Plants

Nativar plants are basically native plants that have been cultivated and hybridized to produce variations of different colors, shapes, size, growth habit,  growing season, scent and so on. These changes might make a plant more desirable for garden use or for larger production of fruits, berries, or food production. They are very controversial  right now because everyone debates on weather they are good for the environment or if they will cause declines of true native species and compete for habitat. I have my own thoughts about this and I feel that if the plant does not invade native species for habitat and if they provide wildlife with the same or better sources of food or shelter then I see no problem using them in a landscape. Others may feel that they are not acceptable in a native habitat garden. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and can be as flexible or as strict as they want but it all comes down to how they work in the landscape.

The most important question is whether a certain nativar is as valuable to wildlife as the true native species. The truth is some have positives while others have obvious negative impacts on wildlife and the environment.  One such negative characteristic is that sometimes when a flower is doubled or changed they may not produce pollen or if they do produce it then it may not be accessible to insects. If a flower color is different does it still attract the same insects needs to be observed and the same if a flower suddenly has a different scent.  I feel that the use of both native cone flowers and nativars works for me because I have a larger variety and still have the same flowers that insects are attracted to. It is a win win situation and in my wildlife habitat it works. I have a lot of plants that are not natives in my habitat, but they help anchor things and keep the neighbors from thinking everything is just weeds. When they see a familiar garden plant that they grew up with it comforts them and they do not panic about all the plants I add to my yard. I try to keep the non native plants in my front yard and closer to the neighbors property lines. I have read and heard from other gardeners about neighbors or municipalities complaining because they think of the native plants as weeds.