This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Exotic, invasive species....

Many plants were transported back and forth before people understood the impact
exotic species could have on natural areas on another continent.  The negative
response comes from not wanting to repeat those same mistakes.
In the Midwest, exotics colonize disturbed areas readily, not our native
species.  Most of the agricultural weeds farmers battle every year are exotic
species from Europe and Asia, not our native plants.  Although, that fact is not
well known.  Many people think that are native plants are the problem species.
Some are, but, the most common agricultural weeds are exotics.  Thus, the need
for more education.
Yes, there are many cultivated varieties which have been bred from our native
plants; however, when doing natural areas reconstructions, it is the native
ecotypes that should be used, not the cultivars.  There are also problems when
the native ecotypes cross breed with cultivated varieties.  The native ecotypes
become contaminated; and, thus, are no longer our true native ecotypes.
I hope that this explains some of the frustrations shared by people who work on
natural areas management and reconstruction.  People exported and imported plants
and seeds, not realizing the ecological impact.  We are
trying to educate people not to make those same mistakes.

BacknThyme@aol.com wrote:

> Hello, all. I have been following the discussion on prairie plants in English
> gardens and am surprised by the general negative U.S. reaction to  the
> English garden designer's inquiry.
>
> As a general rule, I understand that introducing foreign species is not good
> for native plants, but in fact, it has been happening for centuries,
> especially between this country and England.
>
> Virtually as soon as they were discovered, a great number of U.S. prairie
> plants went to England, and elsewhere in Europe. The English were looking for
> everything from new medications to garden ornamentals and this "new" land was
> prime hunting ground.
>
> Sometimes our prairie plants even became the objects of hybridization
> projects over there. Clarkias are one example; goldenrod another. Plants that
> are invasive were long since let loose, and the need to avoid some ought to
> be well documented for someone wanting to use U.S. prairie plants in British
> gardens today.
>
> A good reference to begin learning more about this fascinating topic might be
> the little English handbook Wild and Garden Plants (1993) by Max Walters,
> part of a British Natural History series. It helps explain the history of the
> botanical/horticultural link between Great Britain and other countries in
> terms a gardener can understand; I found it in the University of Kansas
> science library, so it ought to be easy for anyone on this list to locate.
>
> Also, for the designer in England, Kew Gardens near London would have many
> documents on early plant explorations in U.S. prairie country. Also, on
> subsequent activities regarding those plants in England as garden
> ornamentals.  Kew has played a pivotal role in plant explorations all over
> the world, with a particular eye to garden possibilities, and those
> explorations really began with our U.S. plants.
>
> Hope this helps. -- Nancy Smith, Back in Thyme Gardens, Lawrence, Kansas.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
> message text UNSUBSCRIBE PRAIRIE

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PRAIRIE
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index