Pensacola News Journal

For: Saturday, March 30, 2002

By: Daniel E. Mullins

Extension Horticulture Agent

Santa Rosa County

Native Shrubs Becoming More Available

“I would plant more native plants if I could find them for sale.” This is a comment that I have heard from homeowners many times over the past 10 years.

“I would grow more natives if I knew that I could sell enough of them.” This comes from the nursery perspective. Which comes first – the supply or the demand? Should the nursery producer stop growing some tried and true sellers and speculate by including some natives, in hopes that they will sell? Or, should the nursery wait until enough potential customers ask for a certain species?

It’s like the old analogy, which comes first – “the chicken or the egg.” While realizing the frustration of the landscaper or homeowner, it is easier to side with the nursery in this case.

Most nurseries no longer have the luxury of growing small numbers of dozens of different kinds of plants. Like other businesses, many have been forced into the volume market, where large numbers are produced using the most efficient methods available.

Native plant production is further complicated by the fact that propagation and cultural techniques must be learned for each species. Just because we see an attractive plant growing under local, natural conditions, doesn’t mean that it will be easy to propagate and grow it to a saleable size.

Conradina canescens, commonly known as minty rosemary, is a good example of the process. This is a beautiful low growing native evergreen shrub that produces many lavender flowers in the spring. It is found growing naturally under the hottest, driest conditions imaginable – even on the beach dunes.

A local nursery became interested in this plant several years ago and began work on it. Dr. Mack Thetford, researcher at the University of Florida’s Milton Campus, also experimented with propagation and growing techniques.

Both the nursery professional and Dr. Thetford learned the special techniques that must be used for producing this species in quantity. As a result, several local nurseries now offer Conradina canescens.

Other natives are already on the market. These include vines such as Trumpet Creeper and Carolina Yellow Jessamine; shrubs such as American Beautyberry, Gallberry, Oakleaf Hyrangea, Saw Palmetto, Florida Anise and Native Azaleas; and trees such as Fringe Tree, Dahoon Holly, Live Oak, Yaupon Holly, American Holly, Bald Cypress, Red Maple and Southern Magnolia.

Watch for others to appear in the future. There are many native species not yet available. The supply might be limited by a lack of demand or because there are some production techniques yet to be addressed by nurseries and plant researchers.

More information is becoming available concerning native plants for landscaping. One source is the University of Florida publication: “Native Florida Plants for Home Landscapes.” Your local Florida Extension office can provide a copy or you may go online, download and print it. Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Click on Master Gardener Topics, then on Master Gardener Notebook. You will then see a list of topics. There, click on Landscape and you will see a list of publications including this one.

Question of the Week: I have misplaced a recent article that you wrote. Where can I find a copy?

Answer: This is a frequent question and I am always encouraged by it. This lets me know that there are some readers out there somewhere! There is an easy way to find most anything that I have written over the past 2 years.

The Santa Rosa County web site maintains archives of past gardening articles by the seasons. You can review, select and print by going to http://www.co.santa-rosa.fl.us/. The County Extension office is featured on the home page. Just click on the flashing icon and then on “Horticulture Information,” and you are there.