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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Good topic. Certainly for restoration
work, genetically diverse, non-cultivars (from a local source, if available)
should be utilized.. This may have to be spelled out very clearly in a
restoration plan if contractors are doing the work, else your site may be
revegetated with a monoculture of 100 <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Acer
rubrum </span></i>‘Red Sunset’. For the landscape/landscaper I
can see where this gets tricky, esp. on a small property that only supports a
few woody items. I totally agree that too much of our current landscape is
wasted, and it would be preferable to make them as close to the natural world
as we can. It will be hard to totally convince many clients of that, and if
they only have room for one tree on a small lot, they are going to want a red
maple that actually has good, red fall color or an American Holly with good
fruit production and minimal leaf blemishes. I would encourage the use of
natives, from local genetically diverse seed sources, but under some
circumstances compromises will need to be made. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Rochelle Bartolomei<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, April 09, 2008
8:33 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b>
native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [PCA] strict natives vs
cultivars</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I have a question regarding the use of cultivars versus straight native
species. My understanding is that cultivars are native plants that have
been selected for certain characteristics and then reproduced (cloned?).
I assume this would have a negative impact on diversity of ecotypes. <br>
<br>
I am a landscaper and I am attempting to do the right thing for the environment
and want to know which plants to select. As a design element, it would be
nice to be able to choose cultivars for their specific traits. In terms
of the plants themselves, sometimes the non-cultivated species are rife with
problems. For example, Michael Dirr advises against using ilex opaca
because of its vulnerability to disease and insect infestation, whereas he
encourages use of cultivars. Wouldn't it be better to have a healthy
cultivated native? <br>
<br>
I know that this subject is debatable, but I'd love to hear some
conversation about it, or be referred to recent studies or articles where I
could find some solid science to base my decisions on. My fear is that in
the future, our yards are going to be one of the few places wildlife is going
to have a chance to thrive, and if so, we need to make them as close to the
true natural world as we can. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> __________________________________________________<br>
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