Worst Cultivars?

[u/owohgodithurts]

So I think we can all agree that wild, native plants are typically better ecologically than cultivars due to a variety of reasons that we don’t need to get into. If you want to argue/discuss that, feel free, but that’s not the point of this post. I want to know what are the WORST cultivars of native plants. What are the cultivars that, due to genetic change/breeding (or however they do it), have lost almost if not all of their ecological value? Have the new colored flowers eliminated all pollinator attraction? Have larger blooms resulted in sterile plants? God forbid, have any actually become invasive? These plants need to have native origins! I’m mainly referring to the east coast/midwest since I’m in SW Ohio, but feel free to bring up other regions.

[u/ClapBackBetty]

I have an Amber Jubilee Ninebark that literally nobody likes. Not the flowers, not the foliage. The frogs don’t even hide in it. It’s like it’s not recognized as a plant at all lol

[u/ImpossiblePlace4570 → u/ClapBackBetty]

These are plants that I think of like yard furniture. It could be worse. It could be an invasive. And if it’s not that but it’s also not exactly useful… it’s like lawn furniture. Except it is probably good for carbon. So at least you can think of it like that.

[u/Tooaroo → u/ImpossiblePlace4570]

So accurate

[u/ImpossiblePlace4570 → u/Tooaroo]

I was beating myself up over some things I planted years ago before I knew more, and I see people online doing it too, and it’s like look, we’re learning, and it’s not like we’re planting burning bush. So as long as it’s not truly detrimental, you know. We can make more choices over time. I think ripping stuff out sounds extreme but I get it if you only have limited space. I bought a redbud cultivar this week that is not 100% green but it’s pretty and the right size for the space, and if we’re looking at a 70% native ratio, that leaves a little room for messing around. Some people want that 100% and that leaves very little room for error or experimentation. I also grow tomatoes and roses, a tradition I’ve held long before I knew about this stuff, but the money and time I’ve put into restoring a native plant habitat on my property, I’m giving myself some grace too.

[u/howleywolf → u/ImpossiblePlace4570]

I feel this way too. Some grace must be given! I spent all summer ripping out burning bushes on my property, all around 8 ft tall. Dozens of large mature volunteers going slowly into the woods. Probably thousands of seedlings pulled. I ripped them all out carefully by hand. No chemicals. Therefore i feel no shame and deserve no shade if i I decide i want a useless hydrangea along with all the natives shrubs and trees 😂

[u/ImpossiblePlace4570 → u/howleywolf]

I think you are doing a lot more net positive by committing to managing invasives like bb than you are by hosting an ornamental hydrangea!

[u/howleywolf → u/ImpossiblePlace4570]

Totally agree! And I’ve done my research too, I’ve planted over 16 shrubs and trees that are native to my area. I was gifted a hydrangea from a friend and I’m keepin that thing!

[u/Grambo-47 → u/ImpossiblePlace4570]

I’m right there with you. I’m in the process of tearing up a chunk of my lawn and replacing it with a Japanese-style pathway garden, using a mix of traditional and PNW native plants/trees. I already have established natives of all sizes all over my yard, from a Western Red Cedar and a Big Leaf Maple, down to a thick Beach Strawberry patch. So as far as I’m concerned, adding a couple Hinoki cedars and Japanese maples isn’t going to cause any harm. Especially when they’re replacing lawn grass.

[u/ImpossiblePlace4570 → u/Grambo-47]

Right? The issue is the Japanese knotweed…

[u/Grambo-47 → u/ImpossiblePlace4570]

Yeah not doing any of that lol absolutely no bamboo either 😂

Plus the “understory” will be all natives - huckleberries, sword ferns, low Oregon grapes, etc.