BUYER BEWARE: CULTIVARS f you’re planting to sustain pollinators
and other wildlife, you may want to exercise
caution when using cultivars,
I
even cultivars of native plants.
Huh? What’s a cultivar?
A cultivar is a plant selected by humans
and bred for certain attributes in appearance
or behavior that humans prefer. Cultivars
have existed since the earliest days of agriculture.
If a plant exhibits early, late or
longer bloom time, bigger flowers or fruit,
novel flower color, more compact growth,
double flowers, different leaf color or shape,
disease resistance, sterility or lack of pollen,
someone will name it and put it into production,
typically through some form of cloning
to ensure the desired trait continues. Every
year, the horticulture industry produces new
cultivars, and cultivars of native plants are
becoming more available.
You can recognize cultivars by their marketing
tag names. For example, Coreopsis
'Full Moon' is a cultivar and a hybrid (cross
between species). Cultivar species are often
not listed. The tag name, 'Full Moon,' is probably
more appealing than the common name,
“Tickseed,” used for many native Coreopsis
species (none of which attract ticks). Most
cultivars come with little reliable documentation
on origin or ecological impact.
The concern for pollinators, in particular,
is driving some important new research on
ecological function of cultivars. Studies have
shown different colored and shaped flowers
preventing butterflies from accessing nectar
and foliage cultivated for red, blue or purple
colors reducing the ability of insects to feed.
This North Florida wildflower garden designed by FANN member Larry Teague, Zamia Gardens, features
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, Blanketflower, Gaillardia pulchella, and Cutleaf Coneflower,
Rudbeckia laciniata. Cultivars of all these species are available. There are over 100 named cultivars of
Echinacea alone. Echinacea is very popular for its appearance and perceived medicinal values. It’s also
a wide-ranging species in the U.S. with a very limited natural distribution in Florida. Will a cultivar
originating in Ohio do well in Florida? Maybe, maybe not. Photo by Larry Teague, Zamia Design
Some cultivars even produce less nectar for
pollinators. As a result, many native plant advocates
are recommending avoidance of cultivars.
Renowned entomologist and native
plant advocate Doug Tallamy says: “The proliferation
of cultivars demonstrates the extent
to which the nursery trade is still stuck
on the idea of plants as enhanced decoration
rather than as essential to wildlife ... always
request true native plants because there is
only a market for cultivars if we buy them.”
Sometimes cultivars of native species are
available when straight or “true” native
species are not. Some, but not all cultivars
are problematic. There are cultivars providing
ecological value. Cultivars arising naturally
may be responding to an ecologically
driven need. We don’t have all the answers
Choose true native species whenever possible.
Ask for true natives whenever possible, even when not
available. No demand, no supply.
When considering a cultivar, ask a lot of questions about
how it differs from the true species and how its selected
traits affect wildlife.
Choose cultivars of native species that originate in your
region. FANN lists native cultivars that developed
naturally within major ecoregions that encompass Florida.
Use cultivars of native species only if you really need to.
A good example might be aesthetic concerns in an area
of your landscape visible to neighbors, particularly if you
live in a managed community that emphasizes certain
aesthetics and tightly controls landscaping.
If you’re involved in restoring a natural area, don’t choose
cultivars. Use true native species.
If you have an opportunity to support ecologically
oriented research in horticulture, do so. Contact FANN
to find out how.
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10 | GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS 2019-2020 FANN/Florida Association of Native Nurseries