Natives, Non-Natives, Invasives, and Weeds

Personal opinion here: if you don't enjoy your garden, it doesn't matter how ecologically beneficial it is. If support of local fauna is not your priority, I see no reason to limit yourself to strictly native plants. I, for instance, have quite a healthy crop of lambs ears in my front yard, even though I live in Zone 7 of the eastern seaboard and have not actually ever been to Armenia or Iran. I grew up with them as a child in my yard, and so their nostalgic quality overrides my drive to have a 100% native yard.

Natives are plants that are originally from your area. Some botanists can even track plant varieties to specific counties. Generally, they're plants that naturally occur in that area, and they'll thrive with the least amount of work from you, while providing the greatest amount of support to local fauna.

Non-Natives are plants that are, of course, not originally from your area, and will need more attention from you, specifically in the early days and during season transitions. I include cultivars as non-natives, although they are sometimes referred to as nativars.

Invasives are plants that are not native to your area but that come in with little to no competition or barriers and can take over a space, and spread on their own. There is a valid debate on where the line between Non-Natives and Invasives are, or if they are actually the same thing. In our area, think of plants like Kudzu vines or Mimosa trees. Plants like the Bradford Pear Tree that were brought in to be ornamental, but have short life-spans, produce thorny branches, and smell terrible are another good example.

Weeds, to me at least, are plants that are simply not in their correct spot. This will be a ridiculous statement to some, who think of weeds as a menace, and the bane of their garden. For instance, I'll happily grow Dog Fennel in my yard. It's a native, it's very beneficial to the locals, and it's gorgeous. It is also, however, very aggressive and will spread quite prolifically. Many gardeners remove it as a weed, but as long as it's not choking out a planned bed or interfering with the nutrients of, say, my milkweed plants, I'll let it stay.

If you don't enjoy your garden, then you won't keep up with it. Even the most maintenance yards will become neglected if you don't want to spend time in them, so choosing plants that you enjoy in your space is most important, after making sure the selection does no harm. Let's pick out an array of plants that will balance a benefit to the area and a balance to your enjoyment.