Try This, Not That

Trading popular landscaping plants for native alternatives

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This is the time of year, before the dire straits of summer fall upon us, that I am rushing to do any final transplanting in my garden.  In all honesty, it's really too late, but I cannot help myself. Before I move that volunteer mulberry that shot up in the middle of my perennial garden, I watch the weather like a hawk, waiting for the perfect heavily forecasted afternoon thunderstorm.  In harmony with the late spring rains, I move and plant as much as possible, before it starts to feel simply unbecoming to plant anything. 

So, with this last chance to get good things in the dirt, I want to highlight some native plants for you to consider instead of more common non-natives that tend to be troublesome (“pests,” disease ridden, sensitive to extreme weather, etc.) while  offering little ecological benefit. If you are attempting to switch some of your garden over to native plants, use this as an initial guide to native alternatives.

 Two caveats: (1) nothing is a perfect exchange, as every plant is its own unique creation. And (2) as I’ve repeatedly held, non-natives are not always worthless; in fact I have quite a handful of these mentioned below in my gardens. These are just merely suggestions for those interested in incorporating more natives, with all of their ecological benefits and sense of place, into your landscapes. 

Crepe Myrtles vs. Parsley Hawthorne 

Even I have trouble denying the beauty of the crepe myrtle, with its  floral confetti falling post-bloom. However, the trees are prone to troubles. I offer the parsley hawthorne instead! Similar in size and form, this tree is a fast grower with precious tiny, white blooms. I have seen an infinite number of bees surrounding these flowers, and little birds seem to flutter in and out of the trees all day. 

Shi Shi Camellias and Plum Yew vs. Fetterbush 

It’s difficult to deny the grandeur of an old camellia in full winter bloom, but the fetterbush is a strong contender to the overused and quite emotionless shi shi camellia. This native is a shade-loving, less pest- and disease-prone, low evergreen shrub. I often find camellias struggle in environments with a lot of standing water, but the fetterbush loves water and can handle periodic flooding, making it a great candidate for the shady wet spots so common here in South Louisiana.

Asiatic Azaleas vs. Swamp Azaleas 

Bizarrely enough, the azaleas that southern Louisiana is known for are actually native to Asia, and our native azaleas are not planted enough. The biggest difference between this flowering shrub and the more common Asian azaleas is that our native version is  not evergreen. It has an interesting form, grows tall, and is one of the first magnificent blooms of spring. The early spring blooms show off before the small tree leaves out for the utmost garden drama. I love using them as a pair flanking a gate, or solo as a focal point to a naturalistic garden.

Boxwoods vs. Yaupon Holly

This classic switch up is becoming more common in the region. I have seen both classic yaupon holly and dwarf yaupon holly make excellent evergreen hedges, meeting boxwood expectations in every shape or form while being far more tolerant of excess irrigation and less prone to blight. 

Gardenia vs. Arrowwood Viburnum

In my heart, nothing will ever truly take the place of a giant antique gardenia. However, if you are looking for another excellent, but native, shrub with epic white spring blooms, viburnums are a must. These are deciduous though, not evergreen like the gardenia.

Tropical Hibiscus vs. Native Mallows 

There are so many excellent native members of the hibiscus family (Malvaceae) to choose from. The mallow  is especially easy and returns each year, even after the hardest of winters. Its ecological value is unparalleled when compared to the non-natives. My favorites are Coastal Mallow, Turks Cap/Little Apple, and Scarlet Rose Mallow. Plant and enjoy the bee and hummingbird extravaganza that follows. 

Distyliums, Yews, and Junipers vs. Darrow’s Blueberry 

This evergreen, colony-forming, native blueberry can be an excellent landscaping plant, solo or en masse. Distyliums, yews, and junipers are popular for adding foliage and interest to the garden, but can all suffer from our random, yet few, cold snaps and/or are sensitive to wet feet. These blueberries, born and bred in our humid climate, are much hardier. They are thought to need partial shade, but I have seen them grow beautifully in harsh, full sun as well.

Italian Cypress, Leyland Cypress, or Arborvitae vs. Red Cedar 

Red cedar trees are evergreen junipers and wildlife powerhouses—drawing birds to them to strip the bark from their trunks for nest-building. The classic red cedar is best, but also check out the cultivar ‘Brodie’ juniper, with its smaller and more slender form; it's a great alternative to the common non-native landscaping trees such as Italian or Leyland cypress, or Aborvitae. ‘Brodie’ juniper is what many like to call a “nativar,” a cultivated variety of a native plant that is bred for a particular characteristic.

Often “nativars” are not as ecologically beneficial as true natives and genetic diversity is lost. But, if the smaller ‘Brodie’ is a better fit for your yard, don’t fret. A native cultivar is better than a non-native choice.

Confederate Jasmine, Chinese Wisteria, and English Ivy vs. Carolina Jessamine

I adore the Confederate Jasmine vine or, as I like to say, Marigny Jasmine . . . I connect the deep vanilla scents to childhood spring memories wandering through jungles of New Orleans gardens. But Carolina Jessamine is the evergreen native vine of choice here in Louisiana, as far as I am concerned. Jessamine will live through drought, deluge, shade, and harsh sun. It’s a super early bloomer with an elegant form and leaf shape.