OPINION
HEPTACODIUM MICONIOIDES
The future belongs to DIVERSITY
Mark Straver on why going native is not always the answer
O
ur climate patterns are shifting, and no one can attest to this fact more than the nurserymen and women who work outside all year round. We know things are changing because we are seeing it happen in front of our eyes. Our native wildlife is in trouble, and animals and insects are adapting their behaviours in line with the changing weather; birds are migrating to the UK earlier in the year, animals are reproducing earlier, and insects are active for longer. The horticulture industry can support our struggling wildlife through these tumultuous times by ignoring one misunderstood practice: choosing native plants exclusively. Essentially, we want to give wildlife more food for as long as possible throughout the year. We can do this by ensuring they have food and pollen for longer; if the party is starting earlier and ending later, why are we not serving the food to our guests for longer? We need to choose a greater variety of longer flowering trees, shrubs and perennials – the best of which can often be found in other countries. Native plants are important, of course, and choosing native-only planting schemes was
something we all advocated for 10 years ago; but this approach is not the way forward if we are to grow gardens that support our wildlife in today's climate. While our native plants are shifting their flowering times in line with the changing weather patterns, we still need to do more to ensure a diverse environment for our wildlife. Our native birds and insects love the non-native options. Many crab apples in the UK are from North America and keep our birds and bees going from autumn through to early spring, even in the coldest winters. Some of my favorite non-natives that bloom well into the late summer and autumn are Heptacodium miconioides (seven son flower tree) from China, Tetradium daniellii (bee-bee tree) from Korea, and Lagerstroemia 'Natchez' from Mexico. Expert propagator and author Marina Christopher has been saying 'more is more' for years – more variety and non-native plants equals a balanced ecosystem. Dry gardening guru Olivier Filippi has also written many books about using greater diversity. Olivier is
The horticulture industry can support our struggling wildlife through these tumultuous times by ignoring one misunderstood practice
Lagerstroemia 'Natchez'
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based in the South of France and likes to use a lot of drought-tolerant plants from the Greek Islands and deserts in America to extend the season. We need to educate more people about creating diverse habitats for wildlife. When we speak to garden designers who come to our nursery, they are always on board with the concept and understand the importance of choosing plants to extend the flowering season. Some well-meaning but misguided councils request native-only planting schemes, and tree growers in Germany and Holland face restrictions as their local authorities insist on using only native trees. Letting nature lead the way and choosing plants that work in harmony with our climate patterns is just one piece of the environmental puzzle – an important piece, but one that is also often misunderstood, and we think it's time to bust this myth!
Heptacodium miconioides
MARK STR AVER Mark Straver is a thirdgeneration nurseryman based in Hampshire and has worked with plants since the age of 16. He is joint owner and director at Hortus Loci, which he founded with Robin Wallis in 2011. He’s known in the gardening world for his ability to source the best wholesale plants internationally, using his extensive knowledge, connections, and experience in the industry. hortusloci.co.uk
Pro Landscaper | August 2024
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