native nursery, critique of native nursery and "native" wildflower
About an hour's drive from my house is Kuranga Nursery.
Kuranga stocks a huge range of native Australian plants. If it's native, you'll probably pick it up there.
It's also a very attractive place, at the edge of suburbia with a bushy feel to it.
I looked up Kuranga to see what it meant. I thought it must mean something in the local indigenous language.
It's a Hindi male name, meaning deer. Go figure ...
I saw a kookaburra, but it was camera shy and flew away before I could take its photo.
I'd picked up some Ptilotus exaltatus at Bunnings. I thought I'd get some more because I love them and they remind me of being in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia where they grew wild and prolifically.
In Kuranga they helpfully classify the plants in relation to how hardy and reliable they are. P. exalata scored a "Fuss Pot" grade, so I didn't buy any. I thought I'd wait and see how the ones already in my garden got on.
I don't mind a short flowering time for a plant, but to earn its place it needs to self seed or at least provide structure when it's not flowering. This one has no structure. Will it self seed in my garden? Maybe. I hope so, but won't hold my breath.
The climate of the Flinders Ranges is one of high rainfall, as well as periods of drought. It is a very different climate to that of Melbourne.
At the recent International Landscape Conference held in Melbourne, one of the speakers spoke disparagingly of Kuranga because it had so many species of Australian plants for sale.
It was only the other day when I was reading Tim Low's book The New Nature, that I understood why this person spoke like that. A native plant doesn't mean anything in a country like Australia - a continent encompassing a huge climate range.
Defining a plant by its political boundaries just doesn't make sense. Plants are biological beings that do not respect borders. Lots of "native" plants have become terrible weeds, just as lots of "exotic" plants become well behaved environmentally useful citizens.
More of this for another post ...
Kuranga stocks a huge range of native Australian plants. If it's native, you'll probably pick it up there.
It's also a very attractive place, at the edge of suburbia with a bushy feel to it.
I looked up Kuranga to see what it meant. I thought it must mean something in the local indigenous language.
It's a Hindi male name, meaning deer. Go figure ...
I saw a kookaburra, but it was camera shy and flew away before I could take its photo.
I'd picked up some Ptilotus exaltatus at Bunnings. I thought I'd get some more because I love them and they remind me of being in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia where they grew wild and prolifically.
In Kuranga they helpfully classify the plants in relation to how hardy and reliable they are. P. exalata scored a "Fuss Pot" grade, so I didn't buy any. I thought I'd wait and see how the ones already in my garden got on.
It was a good decision, because is how they look now in my garden ...
I don't mind a short flowering time for a plant, but to earn its place it needs to self seed or at least provide structure when it's not flowering. This one has no structure. Will it self seed in my garden? Maybe. I hope so, but won't hold my breath.
The climate of the Flinders Ranges is one of high rainfall, as well as periods of drought. It is a very different climate to that of Melbourne.
At the recent International Landscape Conference held in Melbourne, one of the speakers spoke disparagingly of Kuranga because it had so many species of Australian plants for sale.
It was only the other day when I was reading Tim Low's book The New Nature, that I understood why this person spoke like that. A native plant doesn't mean anything in a country like Australia - a continent encompassing a huge climate range.
Defining a plant by its political boundaries just doesn't make sense. Plants are biological beings that do not respect borders. Lots of "native" plants have become terrible weeds, just as lots of "exotic" plants become well behaved environmentally useful citizens.
More of this for another post ...
Our garden is a mixture. Some very happy exotics, and some equally happy natives. Where I can I try and get 'local' natives. And the birds thank me. And, speaking of natives, at the moment a small flock of rainbow lorikeets are visiting. The bird books say that they are 'out of area'. And they seem happy too. And are welcome.
ReplyDeleteHi EC, I think we need to be eclectic gardeners, anyway it's all trial and error. Send my love to the rainbow lorikeets.
DeleteGenerally there is a beneficial relationship between native plants and native organisms right down to microorganisms in the soil, a balance of prey and predator species, the ability to withstand the vagaries of local weather etc. I am all for planting native and we do nothing but. But native means native to where we live. Canada is a huge country (as is Australia of course) and what is native on the west coast, or in the arctic, would not do well here, and could not be considered native to the region.
ReplyDeleteHi David, yes - the difference between native and indigenous seems to be sometimes fudged. I manage to keep some parts of the garden just native, indigenous or exotic, but am open to new combos if they seem to work.
DeleteI completely agree catmint. Many 'wild plants' became weed here too and do not suit in different climate zones. I always learn about this because my climate is mild maritime without deep frost and hard hot.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm in nurseries I used to learn the hardiness and zone for any plant.
Hi Nadezda, this nursery must have just about every climate zone. You are very sensible and knowledgeable when choosing plants.
DeleteIt was interesting to hear that Ptilotus is classified as a "fuss pot." It arrived on the nursery scene here a few years ago and I of course picked some up but they weren't strong performers for me either. Discussions of native plants here drive me crazy as, with few exceptions, neither nurseries or pundits make distinctions based on what the plants actually need in terms of an ecosystem. California is a large and very diverse state and what grows in my own coastal scrub area is very different from the plants normally touted for use locally in "native" plant gardens.
ReplyDeleteI guess even in our gardens we have micro climates! Ptilotus is divine; I was very lucky to see it in its home environment, in the Flinders Ranges.
DeleteIt looks like a wonderful nursery. I look forward to your post about native plants.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise. I look forward to it too - feeling a bit overwhelmed by life at the moment.
DeleteI am sorry to hear that Sue.
DeleteIt's true that it is pretty meaningless to say that a plant is native because it grows on the same continent. I like native plants from this region of the USA, which has a fairly distinct climate. And I grow some exotics that are well-adapted to our location.
ReplyDeleteHi Jason, I prefer to try out exotics as well, although I belong to an organization called Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association, and they disapprove of planting that arent' local .
DeleteI reckon that here in Scotland we would be very limited if we were to stick to native plants. Kuranga looks like a great place, nah, I cant figure out the connection with Deer.
ReplyDeleteFunny, isn't it? I should ask them ...
DeleteThe same here - indigenous to South Africa, doesn't mean it will necessarily be happy in Cape Town's mediterranean climate. Tomorrow I am going to a dedicated lowland fynbos nursery ...
ReplyDeleteI remember when you first mentioned fynbos, I hadn't heard of it and googled it. That nursery sounds very specialized.
DeleteBeautiful imagens.
ReplyDeletejanicce.
Thanks, CM
DeleteI love to stroll around a nursery.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful place to spend a morning.
I love native wildflowers and grow many in the garden.
It's a very enjoyable stroll. They also have a cafe with yummy food using native seeds and herbs, etc. Your garden is divine. I find it easier to grow English and Californian wildflowers than native Australian ones.
DeleteIt seems to be a beautiful nursery. But your climate is so different to ours. I would have to start from zero if I wanted to make a garden in Australia! It takes a lot of knowledge to garden in such a harsh climate. Groetjes Hetty
ReplyDeleteI suppose your climate in the Netherlands is gentler than ours, but I guess you get used to gardening wherever you are.
DeleteI like native plants because they are adapted to the climate, and because they promote the well being of local wild life. However, the statement about some natives becoming invasive, while some non- natives behaving well is very true. I have plenty of natives to keep the wild creatures happy, but my garden would not be nearly as attractive without my non-natives. In fact some "exotics", such as camellias, have become so important to our culture here, that people are surprised when they find out they originally came from another part of the world. I look forward to your post about natives and exotics.
ReplyDeleteSome plants and animals are not native but seem to naturalize without becoming terrible weeds or pests. Like you say, they become part of the culture.
DeleteWhenever I found a self-seed plant, I go happy for a long time and actually don't mind if they don't give structure. It is a bonus for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree, except sometimes there's just too many of something and then I forget to be gracious.
DeleteThank you Sue! It's interesting - we are getting more and more plants from Australia. They are pretty tough plants!
ReplyDeleteNature has got all mixed up since people started taking plants and seeds all over the world. I don't know if it's good or bad - it just is.
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