Benefits of using local-ecotype seed:
- adapted to the planting site.
- they are not overly aggressive, so they work well in diverse mixes.
Using local-ecotype seed can prevent problems:
- non-local seed can fail to grow in sites too far from its origin.
- cultivars are bred for particular qualities (large size, aggressive growth, and resistance to diseases, etc). They can be overly aggressive and dominate mixed plantings, lowering diversity.
- non-native seed risks becoming invasive in the future.
- non-local and improved varieties of native plants may interbreed with plants in local prairies, alter their genetic makeup, and reduce their adaptability to local conditions.
Benefits of high-diversity plantings:
- provide better habitat for wildlife, and require less management to maintain that habitat quality.
- are more consistent pollen and nectar sources for native pollinators.
- lead to higher diversities of native insects, birds, and wildlife.
- increases resistance to invasive weeds.
|