Controversial? "Field" Collecting Native Plants?

I hope I did not insult anyone who is highly educated. It was just an opinion from one who is not.

Just decided I want a Northern Catalpa tree in my front yard. I could go to a local store and buy one I suppose. One that was raised in TN I'll bet. Or I could collect some seeds - I did start another thread asking about that. Lots of people here have one in their yard and they even grow wild in the woods. Other than the issue of contacting the land owner, is it OK to transplant a 4-6 foot "native" tree that grew up in this area?

I do not see a problem with it. Your growing it as an ornamental in your yard. How many others througout the US have planted ornamentals. But I'm the bad guy on this thread, so don't go by what I say.

the primary argument presented near the beginning of this is- "permission needed" and you have (or will) permission of the owner of the current growing place.
I doubt you will find a Catalpa at a nursery anyway.

I have to disagree with the above statement. You seem to me to have a very good head on your shoulders and state your beliefs in more than admirable fashion. If your heart and soul feels comfortable doing it the way you have I say go for it. As others have stated, getting permission is the key in my opinion. You can also shop around for native plants. Not all companies have outrageous prices. There's one in Georgetown KY close to where VV lives that has VERY competitive prices even on hard to find and pricy items such as Lady Slippers. www.shootingstarnursery.com

Doug

This message was edited Aug 5, 2011 10:49 AM

Thank you for your comment. I have been to that website. Very nice stuff although I have not purchased anything mailorder yet, I may have to, to expand my collection.

But only three viburnums there...

I'm sure there's plenty more close by there in Scott Co. !!!!

I can only imagine.

I did notice that several nurseries in my area have been offering native plants for sale. I finally got a couple of plants I have seen in the wild and placed them in a part of my yard that I am going to make into a natural area.

I tried that too, but be careful if you really what to stay native to your area. I bought some columbine that was supposed to be native, but wasn't and the stuff you get from the big box stores isn't native to my area.

This message was edited Sep 22, 2011 7:08 AM

I've found that areas slated for construction are good for getting native plants--again, with permission. My experience is that the landowners don't care what you take, since they're planning on paving it all anyway. Also, with perennials such as Salvia and Mimulus species (I'm in SoCal), I can just take a small clipping and propagate a new plant from it, which seems less likely to impact the system than removing the whole plant or a bunch of its seeds.

Also, if you have a botanic garden near you, they often have spring and fall plant sales where natives are offered. Sure, they're expensive, but the money goes to a good cause.

Lastly, I've cultivated friendships with other native plant lovers, and we periodically trade seeds and plants with each other! I'm lucky in that I'm a biology grad student, with a lot of friends in the botany department-- an excellent source for native plant seeds!

Sounds like all the bases here have been covered. I too have read thru this thread and agree that the act of seeking permission to enter someone's property is key to avoid criminal charges - however unlikely.

The crux of what we're talking about here I think is more at an ethical/moral dilemma.

I don't know if there is a scientific consensus among experts as to whether it is "wrong" to plant a catalpa grown in TN in someone's front yard in WI. Of course, the question of whether a plant is "native" is also arguable as we must delineate between pre-settlement native and post Colonial native or naturalized plants.

I have been growing natives for years and had volunteered at a property where "only natives" were supposed to planted per a restrictive covenant on the property. When I discussed the "native" issue with the County Extension agent she told me I was "splitting hairs" when I said I could not find the native Heuchera, only the key lime and peach melba cultivars. Blasphemer!!

Like many of you, I have participated in "plant rescues" on property that was slated for development and with permission we were allowed to enter and take whatever we could carry.

On roadsides and ROW or easements, of course it may be "illegal" pursuant to state, federal, and perhaps municipal laws, but it is also criminal that threatened and endangered plants that often thrive only in those places are not managed properly by those agencies entrusted with their care. For instance, I am aware of populations of rare plants in New England on a ROW which were mowed while the plants were in bloom for 3 years in a row. When people could not find the plant on subsequent visits they investigated and discovered that the plants were never allowed to set seed, hence the decline in population.

I would consider the plant's IUCN/redlist status before I decided to take a plant from its original location. I rarely dig up plants. I may take seed as long as the plant has a strong local presence.

I also am wary when purchasing "native" plants to be sure that the plants were not wild collected.

As for whether my feeble efforts at conservation and/or restoration of wildlife habitat in my backyard will have some catastrophic global impact, I feel that due to fragmentation, deforestation, and loss of open space in general, my actions in my backyard in an urban environment will not have any impact on the genetic diversity or survival or extirpation of any species.

Sadly, as I get older my global perspective becomes smaller and smaller. I have accepted that I may not be able to change the world, but my small efforts may become a ripple.


Edited to query: Is it wrong to plant a FL native plant like the Florida Paintbrush in a region other than it's native region? Silly question, no? We've been doing it since those crazy botanists and horticulturalists from the Harvard Arboretum started shipping plants back from the far east . . ..

This message was edited Nov 15, 2011 12:39 AM

I agree. If that were the case everyone selling plants through the internet or a mail order plant catalog would be out of business or at least not be able to keep a large enough customer base to make money. Seed companies too!