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Re: Natives vs. non-natives, long-term


Great question.  Here in Central IL there are very few native species on
our roadsides (except an occasional patch of big bluestem), but drive a
couple of hours north or south and you will see little bluestem, butterfly
milkweed, and other nice species growing on the roadsides.  It seems the
quality of the soil is important...  the natives have a competitive
advantage over the non-natives in areas with poor soil.   Of course the
things other people have mentioned (history, management, etc) are
important too.

Chris.

On Mon, 9 Oct 2000, John Foust wrote:

>
>I'm puzzled by the fact that I don't think I've ever seen, say, 
>little or big bluestem along a roadside here in southeastern
>Wisconsin.
>
>In recent years, I have seen them as far out as a half-mile
>from purposeful prairie plantings, so the seed will spread!
>But I don't think I've ever spotted them in a place where
>I subsequently don't find a nearby preserve.
>
>Are the non-native grasses introduced 100 or 150 years ago 
>so strong that they out-competed and eliminated such natives 
>in every instance, in every nook and cranny I pass?
>
>What does this say about today's plantings - are they forever 
>doomed to be "hot house flowers" that can't stand up to the 
>others in the long term?
>
>- John
>
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