Native cultivars
Plant breeders often make selections among native plants for specific characteristics (ex. unique coloring or large blooms) or they may "cross" multiple species to achieve desired traits. The plants resulting from these selections would be native cultivars or "nativars". There is a lot of discussion and opinions on whether the resulting plants are really "natives" or still have the same ecological benefits of regular native plants.
HIP believes that, in general, "nativars" are better choices than plants that originated outside of the mid-west and certainly outside of the USA. However, when nativars blooms or flower shapes are significantly different than the native variety, it can make the pollen or nectar less accessible to the wildlife we are trying to support. We recommend sourcing straight species from sources as local as you are able. Avoid nativars that are drastically different than their native namesakes.
Learn more:
Indiana Native Plant Society Journal Spring 2014: https://indiananativeplants.org/wp-content/uploads/21_1-Spring-2014.pdf
YardMap - Habitat Network via TNC and The Cornell Lab: https: content.yardmap.org/learn/nativars-native-cultivars/
Native vs. "Nativar" Illinois Extension: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-12-28-native-vs-nativar
Proven Winners: https://www.provenwinners.com/Native
EcoBeneficial: https://www.ecobeneficial.com/2015/10/the-nativar-conundrum-new-research-on-natives-vs-native-cultivars-with-dr-doug-tallamy/
The National Wildlife Federation:www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2016/JuneJuly/Gardening/Cultivars
Plant breeders often make selections among native plants for specific characteristics (ex. unique coloring or large blooms) or they may "cross" multiple species to achieve desired traits. The plants resulting from these selections would be native cultivars or "nativars". There is a lot of discussion and opinions on whether the resulting plants are really "natives" or still have the same ecological benefits of regular native plants.
HIP believes that, in general, "nativars" are better choices than plants that originated outside of the mid-west and certainly outside of the USA. However, when nativars blooms or flower shapes are significantly different than the native variety, it can make the pollen or nectar less accessible to the wildlife we are trying to support. We recommend sourcing straight species from sources as local as you are able. Avoid nativars that are drastically different than their native namesakes.
Learn more:
Indiana Native Plant Society Journal Spring 2014: https://indiananativeplants.org/wp-content/uploads/21_1-Spring-2014.pdf
YardMap - Habitat Network via TNC and The Cornell Lab: https: content.yardmap.org/learn/nativars-native-cultivars/
Native vs. "Nativar" Illinois Extension: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2019-12-28-native-vs-nativar
Proven Winners: https://www.provenwinners.com/Native
EcoBeneficial: https://www.ecobeneficial.com/2015/10/the-nativar-conundrum-new-research-on-natives-vs-native-cultivars-with-dr-doug-tallamy/
The National Wildlife Federation:www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2016/JuneJuly/Gardening/Cultivars