Researchers say there is now enough evidence to conclude that non-native plants are a key component of wildlife conservation in gardens.
The use of non-native plants in gardens is one of very few wildlife gardening controversies. Although many sources state the importance of native plants, it is becoming clearer that non-natives play a key role in maintaining biodiversity in the garden.
Many of our native pollinators have evolved almost in tangent with our native plants. Sometimes the association is so strong and the pollinator becomes so selective that simply no other plant will do. Many butterflies do this, including the Adonis blue on horseshoe vetch. In these cases native plants are essential for conservation. However most of the pollinators you see in your garden are generalist species, which means they can switch to whichever plant is providing the best source of nutrients. When I talk about non-native plants, I don’t mean invasive species (Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, etc), which should clearly not be planted. I’m talking about buddlejas, salvias, lavenders, wild marjoram (from the Med!) and other common resource-rich garden plants, which actually provide a greater quantity of pollen and nectar than some of our native species.
Doctor Ken Thompson from the University of Sheffield and Stephen Head, an Environmental Consultant have reviewed many pieces of research on this topic (read their review here:http://wlgf.org/linked/native_or_non_native_text.pdf) and pointed out that the distinction between native and non-native plants is not as clear-cut as it might seem. True native species are those that evolved or arrived in an area without human intervention. Most of ours would have arrived shortly after the Ice Age. Then the first plants humans introduced were by Neolithic farmers, which means the original non-native species have already been here for roughly 5000 years. Plants have been arriving in Britain steadily since then. Today, there are 1,798 non-native plant species naturalised (surviving in the wild) in England and substantially more in gardens (Hill et al, 2005). I would argue that when it comes to preserving our traditional British landscape and catering for those specialists pollinating species, native plants are very important, however non-native species shouldn’t be cast aside in the urban environment.
Gardening is inherently wildlife friendly. Telling someone the only way to attract wildlife to their garden is to grow lots of native species is not only completely un-evidenced, it will also alienate those who like exotic species in their garden. As Dr Ken Thompson rightly says: ‘If typical gardens are indeed valuable for wildlife, then all gardeners can aspire to bring a concern for wildlife within the various aspirations of their own gardening.’
I personally love native species because I love a wild look in my garden. If I choose a non-native, it’s because it looks English, like wild marjoram. It’s worth remembering that without a good selection of non-native species (and cultivars!), our gardens would have a much shorter flowering season and quite a bit less colour, which neither us or the bees would be keen on.
So to conclude I would suggest when choosing plants for your gardens this year, don’t worry too much about their origin, because most pollinators don’t mind too much. Choose flowers which look natural to you, i.e.: not double flowers or complex hybrids, and most importantly, go for plants you like. It’s your garden after all!
References:
Hill,M. et al (2005) English Nature Research Reports. 662: 81
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