In the last few years, Van Luyk’s has made a concerted effort to offer a wider selection of native plants in our perennial and nursery area, but one might wonder: what’s the fuss over growing native plants all about? Furthermore, how do we know what is native and what isn’t?

Let’s start with the second question – what is a native plant? A generally agreed-upon definition is that a native plant is anything that grew in southern Ontario before the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century. However straightforward that might sound, it’s important to understand that this means many of the cultivars offered at your local garden centre are not technically native plants.

To clarify: a Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is a native plant. The Endowment Sugar Maple cultivar (Acer saccharum ‘Endowment’) is not considered a native plant. Does it seem like we’re splitting hairs? Maybe, but it’s for a very good reason.

Cultivars are variations on a common plant that exhibit more appealing characteristics for our gardens (e.g. unusual flowers or a smaller mature size), but in many cases these characteristics are at the expense of something else. Perhaps the unusual flowers produce less pollen, making them unsuitable as a food source for local wildlife. A smaller mature size is great for a narrow garden plot but bad for the bird trying to make a nest high enough to protect her young from predators.

Native plants provide food and shelter for local wildlife. Non-native plants, on the other hand, are (usually) avoided by local wildlife because they are unfamiliar. As well, some introduced species can out-compete native plants in a given area and greatly reduce food availability and habitat for wildlife. This is a serious issue, and these plants are referred to as invasive species. Gardeners and garden centres have a shared responsibility to avoid these plants.

The pragmatic gardener should note that native plants require a fraction of the care and attention of other plants. They have the home-team advantage: accustomed to Ontario’s climate, they are better prepared to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws their way. This includes winter hardiness and drought-tolerance. This also means they tend to be inexpensive to purchase compared to similar non-native species.

Want to know more about our native plant offerings? Explore our nursery and perennial product pages to see what native species we offer.