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Re: 'native' plants vs.. 'other' plants

Sean A. O'Hara wrote:
> 
> The recent discussion about the 'ease' of growing native (or not!)
> has inspired me to taken my e-pen in hand . . . (bare with me) ;-)
> 
> Perhaps is it due to the overwhelming prevalence of easily
> grown plants in the nursery trade that has created this concept
> that all plants must be easy to be worth growing for the
> average gardener.  And easy being usually defined as the ability
> to grow regardless of where (soil, exposure, water) the poor thing
> is planted.  
> 
> Anyway - before dismissing any major group of plants (such as 'natives')
> as being unsuitable for your garden, take a long, hard, critical look
> at where it is you are asking plants to grow.  Think of the situations
> they will have to deal with, not the imagined solutions you may or may
> not find - but the real, hard reality of the site.  There will be
> some things you can do to improve it (soil amendment, opening up a
> tree to let in more light, regrading or drainage, etc.), but if you
> accept what you have to deal with, and you explore those plants, native
> or otherwise, which actually PREFER to grow in those conditions, then
> you find your garden suddenly thrives in the way you always imagined.

Sean 

Congratulations on your "thoughts", which will give many of us some
useful guidelines. 

Unfortunately the majority of gardeners seem to hanker after at least
some plants totally unsuited to their climate and will try many times
before it finally dawns that such are not for them.

I must admit to trying for several years to grow the high alpines from
our southern mountains, where even the most beautiful grow "like weeds".
I also toyed with auriculas and some of the oriental primulaceae and
similar goodies. It too some years and a lot of labels in the discard
pot before  I finally persuaded myself that my Med-type climate with dry
summers and comparatively mild, but very wet winters was simply death to
them and moved on to European and South African plants which really
enjoy the conditions. 

When it comes to shrubs, I find I have a lot of choice and with a little
provision of shade and shelter and the exploitation of a dry sunny bank
I can enjoy Camellias, rhodos and pieris in one part of the garden,
rather tougher assorted evergreens and deciduous shrubs (including fruit
trees) in another and Med-type shrubs, both native and imported, in the
rest. I am really fortunate in having a garden with such an assortment
of microclimates, I guess and after a bit over forty years I have had
plenty of time to discover which fit best where, which is half the
battle..

Moira

Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand
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