Modern Ornamentals
Fertakos, M. E., Birch, S., Dearstyne, T., Fehr, T., Allen, J. M., & Bradley, B. A. (2026). Current nursery offerings highlight the potential to expand native plant sales. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 24(2), e70027. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.70027
Written by Matthew Fertakos, edited by Bethany Bradley
Summary
The ornamental plant trade is the primary introduction pathway for invasive plants. Planting native species instead has been proposed as a way to reduce risk, especially as climate change expands potential ranges for invasive plants (e.g., Allen & Bradley 2016; Evans et al. 2023). However, it is unclear whether ornamental plant industries are or could support a shift to support gardening with native plants. By surveying 339 nurseries spanning Maine to Kentucky, Fertakos et al. set out to quantify the availability of native and non-native species in trade, assess the state of invasive plant sales, and identify commercially viable native plants that could be more widely sold. 3,322 unique plant species were found being sold across 256 conventional nurseries (which primarily sell non-native species and are most often encountered by consumers) and 83 native specialty nurseries. Conventional nurseries offered 283 species recognized as invasive in the U.S., including 50 that are regulated by at least one state within the Northeast region (find regulated plants here). Across all nurseries 1,349 unique species native to the eastern temperate forest ecoregion were available for sale. Native specialty nurseries had especially wide availability of native plants, and 31% of these native species were not offered at any conventional nurseries. This group of 365 commercially viable native plants could support the growth of a native plant focus within conventional nurseries. Fertakos et al. also identified that ~75% of eastern temperate forest natives offered at conventional nurseries were native cultivars, and it is unclear whether these ‘nativars’ can support wildlife in the same way as wild-type species. The sale of problematic non-native species, including invasive species, is still a major issue within our region, but practitioners and consumers can increase demand for native alternatives identified and available as lists through this study.
Take Home Points
Conventional nurseries within the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are still mostly offering non-native species for sale, including those which are invasive and regulated within our region.
Many commercially viable native alternative species are already being sold in the region, and could be offered more widely as a replacement for non-native species.
Cultivars make up the bulk of native plant offerings at most nurseries, complicating efforts to plant ecologically beneficial native plants.
Management Implications
Practitioners working within horticulture should continue emphasizing the sale of native plant alternatives, especially those which are commercially viable yet not widely offered for sale within conventional nurseries. A list of promising native species can be found here.
Keywords
Novel introduction pathways, climate smart restoration and assisted migration, ornamental plants, invasive plants, native plants, nursery trade