EcoBeneficial Interview: Annie White on Native Plant Cultivars, Native Plants & Pollinators

Join Kim Eierman of EcoBeneficial! for an interview with Annie White about her research on the attractiveness of native plant cultivars versus straight species native plants. Annie is a Ph.D student at the University of Vermont in the Department of Plant and Soil Science.

[@QuarrySchool]

I'm so pleased and surprised Annie has taken on this important comparison work. If a person doesn't understand the subject, which is virtually every plant buyer, they cannot appreciate how important this question is to the greater environment. Much applause!

[@SithSereyPheap1]

She took on the challenge of trying to answer the questions herself.Only a Ph.D would say something like that.You Rock Dr.White !

[@user-yi1kk8gy6k]

Outstanding !!!!!! Thank you so much.

[@gardenfornutrition6373]

Thank you for promoting this important topic. It looks like a subject which needs to be researched a lot more.

[@colly7963]

Thank you Annie for pioneering this essential research. And thanks to Kim for bringing it to us.

[@marciagoodrich287]

So much good information. That said, it would have been great to show images of the plants while Annie Whit was discussing their characteristics. I'm looking at penstemon while she's discussing New England aster.

[@cemclellan]

Fascinating discussion of natives vs. cultivars!

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

This is important research. Thank you for studying and publishing this info.

[@billwest9110]

Boneset attracts all pollinators. Tall phlox allows butterflies and moths to feed on the inside of flowers and bumblebees the outside base.

[@Ryanfd3056]

Amazing Interview....Fastest 39 minutes on the tube here. I learned so much. Thank you.

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@ocook12]

Is there an updated podcast on the research?

[@diegoagz]

I was wondering the same thing! This is more relevant now than ever.

[@mrilovetheants]

I've read that plants will produce up to three times as much nectar during the few days after it rains. I'm sure her trial garden is setup with identical conditions for both plants. But this is something to factor in when testing each year. (Also one needs to test the nectar to flowers that have not been visited by pollinators as the flower can be empty and give a false reading.) This was a good interview though, keep them coming.

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

MrILoveTheAnts, yes, these would be important considerations that could skew the results of the study.

[@dgmartino2]

I’d be more interested if she is varying times. Different plants release nectar at different times of the day.

[@rickschafer1768]

Thank you so much for this information! I have learned so much from your website and from Annie White's research. Julie Schafer

[@LittleSpaceCase]

I loved this thanks for sharing here on youtube

[@helenpruzan6970]

Awesome information!!!!Thank you.😊

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

Glad it was useful!

[@OldManse09]

Very informative. I wish the pictures shown were coordinated with the talk.

[@davidclark5794]

Thank you for this great interview!

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

+david clark Thanks! More to come from Annie on her work. Stay tuned...

[@Teremei]

I've got a 5 year old native/mixed garden, gonna listen to this!

[@BeeBeeMI]

Great Video!

[@czachcross123]

Should each state in the U.S. adopt a policy to direct each county within it's borders to maintain a set acreage of native, local genotype plants in order to slow habitat loss/change? If so, what would that acreage number be? Also, are there subsidies for landowners who manage their land in accordance to this idea? What is the monetary value associated by square foot with a native landscape?

[@davidparker8752]

I own 30 acres and partnered with the IS New Jersey Fish and Wildlife service. They installed 6 acres of native grassland where there used to be a hay field. I added approximately 25 variety of native wildflowers to the seed mix on my own dime. But they killed the old field, provided the grass seed and then seeded the field with their equipment free of charge to me. So yes, there are programs out there to help private land owners. I did sign a contract saying that I would maintain the field for at least 10 years.

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

Another variable she needs to add is the health of the plants as assessed through sap analysis as described and used by John Kempf at Advancing Eco Agriculture. I suspect the health of the plants may be a significant factor in attraction and production of pollen/nectar.

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

Another factor that should be examined is sap analysis of each to measure the nutrient density and overall health of the plants. This may have a huge impact on attractiveness.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

Hi, we've been having a tough time sourcing native Michigan plants and it really seems like there's a market for nurseries that solely deal with local natives. Sounds like a good business opportunity.

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

If you have not seen it, check out the website of the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association: www.mnppa.org/

[@kazysvarnelis8494]

Fascinating and informative but I wish you had used common names in addition to Latin names. I am a Ph.D. and have taught for thirty years and I appreciate what the scientific nomenclature means, but gosh it was frustrating wondering what you were referring to at times!

[@billwest9110]

Boneset attracts all pollinators. Tall phlox allows butterflies and moths to feed on the flower interior and bumblebees to feed at the base. My channel has examples.

[@roadtruckbrgamer-mz3ho]

Nice

[@daviddupre2420]

Please what is the name of the flower at time 1:54, we have some pods that are dark brown with 15 little spears on the top of the pod in a circle. Please help These were taken from a back road in the thumb of Michigan . Please help if you can. Thanks so much

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

Sorry, but I don't see what you are referring to. Try using a plant ID app list iNaturalist to identify what you are seeing in Michigan.

[@jennetteoverzet2959]

With lupins I'm sure lots cross pollinate .the worry is the native wildflowers to our areas have two really big concerns.. because if the true species are cross pollinating with introducing non natives ie Russel Lupin with our native lupin. We loose our native breed then to that area if seeds..which I'm assuming they will.

[@ldlink3935]

Interesting video, I listed at 2x the speed...

[@connie.22]

wow, very interesting. its amazing how i just assume guess some of this info. im living in israel and dont have such good info.

[@squito94]

Stay away from hybrids and just go with natives forbes from your area.

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

+squito You might be interested in my article "Why Locally-Sourced, Locally-Grown Native Plants Matter" www.ecobeneficial.com/2015/07/why-locally-sourced-locally-grown-native-plants-matter/

[@squito94]

+Kim Eierman Thanks for the link.

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

Hybrids do not always have the same pollen or nectar as natives

[@EeccmanNL]

@@EcoBeneficialVideos 17:20 Hey Kim, any results on this yet? The Salvia nemorosa "meinach: in my garden is always full of butterflies and bees. Im wondering now if they arent feeding on useless food now .

[@mamacitachicken]

What a shame there isn't close captioning. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing want to garden responsibly too. :/

[@scottschaeffer8920]

Cultivars have a place, crop retirement programs that focus on native species for conservation cover, it’s a shame to “plow under” a true eco-type project after that retirement contract expires. The cost factors in as well.

[@SmoothChino]

I got lost on the single quote single quote comment..

[@TheTW13]

When there is a single quote marks those are a cultivar. Example she gave the straight species of Purple Coneflower is Echinacea purpurea. Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ is a cultivar.

[@dgmartino2]

In reference to NE Asters: I can say anecdotally that purple dome is useless. Gorgeous. But zero pollinator activity. I have in my garden and it sits there lifeless

[@dgmartino2]

I have also always noticed that goldsturm rudbeckia is also very silent in regards to pollinators. I’m glad she saw that too

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

Like many dwarf native cultivars, 'Purple Dome' sees less pollinator activity than the straight species Symphyotrichum novae- angliae. I would not call it useless for pollinators, but it is does not perform as well as the species plant.

[@EcoBeneficialVideos]

If you are going to plant Rudbeckia fulgida, stick with a naturally-occurring form of the straight species, such as Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida. If appropriate to your region and your site conditions, a terrific Rudbeckia species that pollinators love is Rudbeckia laciniata. It is a much different plant however, in size, aggressiveness and the conditions where it naturally occurs.

[@dgmartino2]

@@EcoBeneficialVideos I actually ordered fulgida var fulgida. I plan to plant goldsturm in my garden. I want to try them both in the garden to compare in my own plots and take pics and videos. Love documentation to help educate people. Dealing with a small townhouse garden here but it’s quite something to see how many natives and pollinator plants you can get in a townhouse garden.

[@Lascts25]

Poor girl needs a camera with an AI Count the insect traffic 😅