Native vs. Non-Native Plants

Mike Dana, Extension Landscape Horticulture Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Purdue University

A current area of interest in American horticulture is the use of native plants and the native versus non-native debate.  On a recent visit to Hannover, Germany focused on study abroad coordination, I had an opportunity to visit the Botanical Garden of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen in Hannover.  There, I strolled through this re-creation of an Indiana (or at least Midwestern) tallgrass prairie complete with Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, New England Aster, Goldenrod, Pale-purple Coneflowers, and a wide range of other prairie species.  I found it notable that our native plants hold significant interest for plantsmen in Germany just as native plants of Germany (and all other parts of Europe and the world) hold fascination for us in the USA. 

Click image to enlarge