Are native cultivars as valuable in pollinator habitat gardens as straight native species? Native plants are generally recommended for supporting pollinators, but the growing demand for native plants, coupled with the horticulture industry’s desire for plants with unique characteristics, has led to the increased breeding and availability of native cultivars or “nativars.” Annie White was one of the first researchers in the country to evaluate native cultivars based on their ecological value instead of just their garden performance. Informed by both years of rigorous field research and real-world landscape design experience, Annie’s talk discusses both the benefits and challenges of using native species and their cultivars in landscapes. Annie White is the founder of Nectar Landscape Design Studio and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Vermont. She earned her MS in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her PhD research on native plant cultivars, done at the University of Vermont, broke new ground on this very important and timely subject. This was one of the first public presentations she ever gave about the results of her study.
This Mt. Cuba Center program takes place online Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 6:30 pm. $25. Register at www.mtcubacenter.org
