Questioning the Narrative of Nativeness
In ecological landscaping, native plants are often treated as the gold standard—favored for biodiversity, water conservation, and regional character by landscape architects, conservationists, and regulators. But how clear-cut is the distinction between native and non-native? How long must a plant grow in a place before it “belongs”? Is a species from 1491 acceptable, but one introduced in 1510 not? And can non-native species, under the right conditions, offer similar—perhaps even superior—benefits?
As a landscaping specialist in NYC, Eco Brooklyn often sees, the realities of planting in dense, altered urban soils challenge idealistic notions of native purity. In our opinion, performance and sustainability must come first, above any notions.
This article re-examines assumptions about native plants and explores how designers, ecologists and landscapers—especially those working in complex urban environments like New York City—can adopt a more contextual, evidence-based approach.
Defining “Native”: A Temporal Dilemma
In North America, a plant is considered native if it was present before European colonization, often using 1492 as a benchmark. But this cutoff is historically convenient rather than ecologically meaningful. Plant movement has always been a function of time, trade, animals, and human migration. For example, the sunflower (Helianthus annuus), widely considered native to North America, has been spread and cultivated far beyond its original range for centuries. Conversely, the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba), often thought of as exotic or non-native, has survived unchanged for hundreds of millions of years and poses no known ecological threat in North America.
The arbitrary cutoff invites reconsideration of the very term “native.” If a non-native plant has been naturalized for 300 years, does it still carry the burden of foreignness? This crack in the native narrative invites further inspection.
Pros of Native Plant Landscaping
Native species do offer real benefits, especially when matched to their original habitats:
1. Ecological Compatibility: Native species are, by definition, well-adapted to local climate, soil, and biotic conditions. This often translates to reduced water needs, lower fertilizer requirements, and resilience to local pests.
2. Biodiversity Support: Native plants provide habitat and food sources for indigenous insects, birds, and mammals. For example, Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) is a host plant for the monarch butterfly, whose population is in peril.
3. Cultural and Historical Integrity: Native plantings often reflect indigenous land management practices and support cultural continuity for native peoples.
4. Aesthetic Coherence: Many argue that native gardens “look right”—a reflection of evolved harmony between local flora and the landscape itself. This can offer a subtle, site-specific aesthetic that is hard to replicate with exotics.
Where the Native-Only Approach Falls Short
Relying exclusively on native species can create new challenges:
- Ecological Dogmatism: Urbanized, polluted, or climate-altered environments may no longer support native species without artificial inputs. When landscaping in NYC, remember that Brooklyn brownstone yards and rooftops rarely mimic untouched meadows.
- Nativeness is Contextual: Not all non-natives are invasive, and not all natives are benign. For example, Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) can become aggressively dominant even in native prairie restorations. Meanwhile, many non-native plants, such as Lavandula spp. (lavender), coexist peacefully and contribute positively to pollinator support.
- Climate Mismatch: As climate zones shift, the definition of “native” becomes unstable. A plant native to South Carolina may become ecologically ideal for New York in 50 years. Should we not anticipate this and plant accordingly?
- Functional Diversity: Non-native plants can sometimes fulfill ecological roles that native plants no longer can. For instance, Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree) has proven valuable in urban forestry for its drought resistance, structural integrity, and ability to support urban pollinators.
The Role of Non-Natives: Practical and Proven
Many non-native species are already playing vital ecological roles in urban and suburban landscapes:
- Urban Forestry: Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree) withstands drought, heat, and pollution while supporting pollinators.
- Soil and Slope Stability: Miscanthus sinensis provides unmatched erosion control and carbon capture in steep or disturbed soils.
- Pollinator Support: Nepeta faassenii and Salvia nemorosa flower for extended periods and offer abundant nectar without spreading invasively.
These examples show that plant origin does not necessarily determine ecological value or risk.
Eco Brooklyn’s Approach: Designing for Function, Not Origin
Progressive landscape experts in NYC, including our team at Eco Brooklyn, are increasingly arguing for a performance-based, rather than origin-based, approach to planting design. The key question becomes: what does the landscape need to do? If the goal is erosion control, habitat creation, or urban heat mitigation, non-native species may outperform native ones.
Moreover, aesthetic diversity broadens considerably with non-natives. A Mediterranean-inspired landscape using Olea europaea (olive trees), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Santolina chamaecyparissus (cotton lavender) can be drought-tolerant, visually striking, and pollinator-friendly.
Here’s what we recommend when choosing between non-native or native landscaping in NYC –
Bioregional Filtering: Selecting plants (regardless of origin) that thrive in local conditions without becoming invasive.
Functional Layering: Mixing species to support soil health, structural diversity, and year-round habitat.
Cultural Storytelling: Integrating plants that tell a story relevant to place, history, or community identity, while keeping local ecosystems in mind.
Beyond Binary Thinking: A More Nuanced Lens
Instead of dividing plants into “native” and “other,” we can evaluate species through more holistic criteria:
- Ecological Behavior: Does it spread uncontrollably or integrate well?
- Functional Contribution: Does it provide habitat, forage, or climate mitigation?
- Cultural Context: Does it carry symbolic or historical significance for the community?
This broader lens respects complexity and change, both in nature and culture. When landscaping in New York’s evolved environment, Eco Brooklyn prioritizes adaptive strategies over ideological ones.
Conclusion: Toward a Thoughtful, Adaptive Planting Ethic
While landscaping in NYC, your plant choice should not be dictated by age-old ideologies but by performance and function. The native plant movement has brought ecological consciousness into the mainstream, but it need not be exclusionary or static.
Designers and ecologists must stay open to nuance, guided by science, observation, and responsiveness to shifting landscapes. In doing so, we can create plantings that are resilient, beautiful, and genuinely supportive of life—regardless of their country of origin.
As Eco Brooklyn’s eco-conscious approach to landscaping proves daily, resilient urban gardens are built not from purist doctrine, but from contextual wisdom.
The future of sustainable landscaping will not depend on drawing hard lines, but on learning to blend, adapt, and evolve.
Contact us if you are interested in learning more about our adaptive and practical approach to plant selection for NYC landscaping.