Every Square Foot Counts

Perennial Plant Association and Perennial of the Year.  Hurray! You got it right!

To the Perennial Plant Association  (PPA) I say: HURRAY! YOU GOT IT RIGHT! YOU CHOSE WISELY! Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is their Perennial Plant of the Year?. They chose the species and not a cultivar. This plant and others in the genus are the only larval host of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).

When someone does something good you congratulate them. You then encourage them to do more. Stand by them for the good they did. Help them to evolve. If you don’t you will be an obstacle to their growth. Friend on the inside or impediment on the outside – you choose.

Butterflyweed is native to North America and is/was widely distributed (Map). This perennial is produced from seed not cuttings. Why is that important? Every seed is the result of sexual reproduction and is the result of dissimilar gene pools combining. Each seed is genetically unique. Cuttings are pieces of an existing plant that are treated to generate roots. Since the new plants are cut off existing plants this is considered reproduction without sex or asexual reproduction. This is a fancy way of saying cloning. Seeds have wide genetic diversity which imparts resilience in the landscape. Cuttings have an ever-decreasing genetic diversity and leaves them less likely to be adapt the changes in the landscape.

Having a plant such as Butterflyweed marketed and promoted is raising awareness of many issues: beautiful landscapes, habitat loss, biodiversity, native plants, pollinators… the list large. Education is the key here. We want people to use Butterflyweed and why they use it will be unique to them. Once something has value it is worth protecting.

Advice from the old Landscape Architect, Ecologist, Nurseryman and Horticulturist. Yeah, I am the that codger. Do not promote this plant outside of its natural range. Chose other plants that are suited for the site. Taking a plant outside its range puts it in a place where the conditions may not be right or it can become invasive. You can spend your time and hard earned dollars on a plant that won’t survive or takes off and displaces the other plants you value. There are 73 species of milkweeds native to the United States of which Monarchs utilize about 30 of these species as host plants. If Monarchs are the reason you like Butterflyweed and you are not in the range of it then chose the right milkweed or flower for your region. Adult Monarchs need lots of flowers to feed on so plant more flowering perennials that attract them.

To my colleagues at the PPA: The goal is to promote the use of perennial plants. Why not promote locally native perennials and the benefits they provide. As a business owner, the sales of locally indigenous plant material should not fight for a piece of the pie it should make it the pie bigger. Let’s plan for that in 2017 and beyond as North America winters away for a few more months.

To my colleagues in the field of ecology: Every square foot counts. The Monarch visits landscapes and natural areas. Let’s give the nurseryman and landscapers a gold star for doing the right thing.

Need help? I am a few electrons away.

Jack Pizzo, MS, PLA, ASLA, ICN

[email protected]