The Urban Plant Palette: Natives, Nativars, and Adaptable Choices
While native plants may be our first choice for urban landscapes, what happens when they aren’t commercially available or are not the best fit for a specific site? A native-first approach is not always practical for urban gardeners with non-native conditions of altered soils and hydrology, site-specific microclimates, and human-centric aesthetic sensibilities. The staff at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains have spent decades helping urban gardeners try to navigate these tricky scenarios. This presentation will explore the expanded palette of plants offered by wild-type natives, their cultivars and adaptables with an aim to help gardeners maximize ecosystem function and environmental sustainability.