Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: Non-natives threaten wildlife! A reminder of why use of locally adapted natives for restoration, pollinator gardens and other habitat projects is essential. Native plant societies can help!
March 15, 2018
New
research published in Science Magazine documents two threats to Monarch butterflies from planting non-native milkweed.
“It started with the best of intentions. When evidence emerged that monarch butterflies were losing the milkweed they depend on due to the spread of herbicide-resistant crops in the United States, people across the country took action, planting milkweed in their own gardens. But a new paper shows that well-meaning gardeners might actually be endangering the butterflies’ iconic migration to Mexico. That’s because people have been planting the wrong species of milkweed, thereby increasing the odds of monarchs becoming infected with a crippling parasite.”
Read the full article:
Native plant societies can help!
Native plant societies, botanic gardens, and other local native plant science and conservation organizations are treasure chests of unmatched site-specific botanical expertise that can help gardeners and land managers keep harmful plants out of their projects.
Some native plant societies offer online resources to help people choose locally appropriate species for projects. Examples include:
NOTE:
Other groups offer online plant selection guides, but these vary widely in quality and accuracy so use with caution!
