Unpopular opinion: I think the native plant push in California is getting too extreme

I was at a garden club talk in San Jose last month and the speaker said we should NEVER plant a non-native species, not even in a private yard. That just feels wrong to me. My grandmother's hydrangeas from Japan are a huge part of our family's garden and they don't hurt anything. Has anyone else felt pressured to rip out plants they love just because they aren't local?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade2212mo ago

Read an article about non-natives sometimes helping local ecosystems adapt.

the_val2mo ago

That's a really interesting point, jade221... it's nice to hear a more balanced take on things for once.

theawest1mo ago

jade221 that article sounds useful, I planted a few non-natives that help my local birds survive the heat better.