Welcome back! In the first blog of this series, I talked about some basic native plant terminology: natives vs. non-natives, near-natives, invasives, and aggressive plants, and why ecological value is the most important thing on which to focus (in my opinion). But as you start making your shopping wish list for the spring—and perhaps start pre-ordering seedlings and plugs online—you’ll likely notice that the labels get a little more complicated.
Today, in Part 2, we’re diving into the “fine print” of native plant terminology. Understanding the difference between a straight species, a cultivar, and a local ecotype is the key to ensuring your Cape Cod habitat provides the maximum benefit to the wildlife that calls your back yard home.
Cultivars
A cultivar is a plant whose physical attributes have been altered through selective breeding (human intervention). Popular cultivars exhibit unique characteristics such as different bloom colors, longer blooming periods, larger flowers, darker or differently colored foliage, and varied plant sizes. While some research has been conducted on this subject, more is still needed. Generally, cultivars that only change in growth habit or size are acceptable to use. For example, Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) is a native shrub that can grow up to 10 feet tall; however, more compact varieties are available for smaller yards that still provide the same ecological value. Examples include “Red Sprite” and “Mr. Poppins,” which only grow to 3–5 feet tall and wide.
In contract, cultivars that exhibit changes beyond size or habit—such as alterations to leaf color, bloom color, or flower structure—may not provide sufficient benefits to wildlife and should be avoided. For instance, some Coneflowers on the market feature double blooms that make it nearly impossible for pollinators to access the nectar. Similarly, some Columbines have been bred to be blue, purple, or pink instead of bright red; this makes them harder for hummingbirds to locate, as their eyes are naturally primed to find red flowers, (that’s why hummingbird feeders are red). That being said, a cultivar of a native plant is still a better choice than an exotic, non-native plant from another continent.
Nativar
A nativar is just another term for cultivar, except it refers specifically to a modified version of a native plant.
Straight Species
A straight species is a plant that has not been modified; it is identical to what is found in the wild and is not a cultivar or “nativar”. To tell a cultivar apart from a straight species, look for a name in single quotes, which indicates it is a cultivated variety.
For example, below you can see the straight species on the left, Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as Purple Coneflower. On the right is a cultivar of this plant, Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’. Below those, on the left, is Aquilegia canadensis, commonly known as Wild Columbine, and on the right is the cultivar Aquilegia canadensis ‘Pink Lanterns’.
In my habitat, I don’t have room for the straight species Ilex verticillata (Winterberry), so I have a few cultivars instead, including the male plant Ilex verticillata ‘Mr. Poppins’ and the female Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’. The only difference between these cultivars and the straight species is the plant’s size, which makes it safe to plant in smaller spaces. They will provide the same ecological value as the straight species.
Ecoregion
An ecoregion is a geographical area that shares similar soils, climate, plant communities, and wildlife. There are five major level III ecoregions in New England. On Cape Cod, we are part of ecoregion (84) Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens, which also includes the Islands, a portion of Long Island, and the coastal plain of New Jersey. These areas share growing conditions typical of forests dominated by pines, such as sandy, nutrient-poor, and acidic soils.
Because of these shared conditions, plants native to other parts of ecoregion 84 often thrive on the Cape. An example is Rudbeckia triloba (Brown-eyed Susan). Though often considered a garden introduction in much of New England, it is native to Long Island and thrives in the sandy, drought-prone conditions of our coastal pine barrens. This low-maintenance, easy-to-grow biennial attracts bees, butterflies, and songbirds, making it a beautiful and functional addition to a Cape Cod habitat. I have a few of these myself.
Local Ecotype
A local ecotype is a native plant sourced specifically from your local ecoregion—for us, that’s ecoregion (84) Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens. While a species may be native to a broad geographic area, plants from different regions evolve unique traits to survive in their specific local environments.
To explain this further, consider Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Milkweed). This species is native across a massive range, from New England (including Cape Cod) to the Rockies and down to the Gulf Coast. It produces dainty, nectar-rich orange flowers that are essential for wildlife. However, these plants do not bloom at the same time everywhere. They have co-evolved with the Monarch butterfly; as Monarchs migrate south to Mexico to spend the winter, the milkweed blooms follow their path, ensuring food is available at every stage of their journey. So, a Butterfly Milkweed from Florida might bloom at a completely different time than one native to the Cape.
Furthermore, if you were to plant a Butterfly Milkweed sourced from Florida on Cape Cod, it might struggle to survive. While technically the same species, the Florida ecotype is not adapted to our temperate winters or specific sandy soil chemistry. Sourcing plants that are not local ecotypes can potentially provide fewer ecological benefits—such as missing the “bloom window” for local pollinators—and the plants themselves may not be as long-lived. While it isn’t a “deal-breaker” for everyone, using local ecotypes is a best practice for long-term, resilient habitat management. That said, it is ok to put something on the ground (or in a pot) while you wait for more Cape Cod local ecotype native plants to be available on the market.
Whether you choose a straight species or a size-appropriate cultivar, the goal is the same: creating a resilient, functioning habitat in your own backyard. Don’t let the “perfect” be the enemy of the “good”—every native plant you put in the ground helps! And if you’re like me when I started my journey, and just realized that you unknowingly bought some cultivars and put them in your garden, don’t worry. Think about how attached you are to these plants and assess their ecological value. This will help you determine whether they should stay or go.
Here are a couple of my “woopsies.” Two Echinacea purpurea cultivars that are allowed to stay for now until I grow more appropriate replacements. The finches and bees love them anyway and they are gorgeous.
Stay tuned for the final installment of this series, Part 3, where I will go into generalists vs. specialists, host plants, and keystone plants.
Additional resources on this topics:
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