2025 November 15 Native vs. Exotic Cultivar and The “Amethyst Butterfly”
I was lucky enough to get the task of planning and planting a Soft Landing under the Black Locust trees at one of the NEORSD community sites. It was fun to envision the perfect native soft landing project in full bloom. Writer Ann Patchett describes the perfect creative vision as an “Amethyst Butterfly”; a fun part of imagining the outcome of your creative endeavor. However, the “Amethyst Butterfly” is not a product of reality, and the dream never quite makes it to the real world. Patchett says she has to metaphorically kill the butterfly to make the 3-D image she envisioned fit the page (Amethyst Butterfly link). This is a normal part of the creative process, and it shouldn’t discourage anyone from starting or finishing a project. I didn’t expect the native v. exotic issue to come up in an intentional native planting, but here’s what happened.
A Soft Landing is a native planting beneath existing trees to provide a space for insects to overwinter naturally. I selected shade tolerant native species that I knew well from my home plantings so that there would be a bloom time throughout the growing season. For the groundcover layer I chose Golden Ragwort Packera aurea and Canada Anemone Anemonastrum canadense. In my own yard, I love that Golden Ragwort blooms early bright yellows, and as soon as it’s done, the Canada Anemone pops open with white blooms for most of the summer. The best thing is that they don’t seem to outcompete each other. When they are done blooming, both stay a lush green far into fall.
When I opened the trailer yesterday to see my native plant friends, I immediately said “Who are you?” to 25 plants I did not recognize. The tag said “Anemone Hybrid Jasmine”. I checked the planting list and there was no Canada Anemone. A substitution was made. This Anemone is Japanese. I now remember this plant from my work at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where it makes sense to use exotics like this near the Asian animals.
What does it matter? Aside from the different light requirements, color, height, and bloom time, I’ve been looking for places to show off the diversity and aesthetic beauty of native plants. I’m afraid exotic plants often take the stage when they don’t have the same ecological value as natives. Many insect species are generalists and will use the nectar of any plant like these, but many other insects need specific native plants to survive. My planting plan had a whole column for which native moths and butterflies use each of the chosen plant species. The Veiled Ear Moth and One-Lined Sparganothus Moth that host on Canada Anemone will not likely recognize a Japanese hybrid.
I am learning at every turn of this horticultural journey, that more education, planning and more available variety are needed. Off the top of my head, I can think of two other native anemones that would have worked: Wood Anemone Anemorides nemorosa, or Tall Anemone Anemone virginiana, although the latter may not be a great short groundcover. Nurseries still don’t carry true natives in large numbers, and nursery workers/owners may not care about making exotic substitutions.
Just like any project, my “Amethyst Butterfly” wasn’t an exact projection of my dream, but the planting went ahead. My coworker Jane Donovan had some good points that the new plant wasn’t likely to become invasive because hybrids usually don’t produce viable seeds. She also found a great spot farther back that made sense with the light and height requirements. It’ll be beautiful and in the long run maybe we’ll be the only ones who know about the difference. Overall, the planting was a success. I’ll write about that next.
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