History--Native Or Naturalized

Wildflower enthusiasts often distinguish "native" wildflowers from "introduced" species. But many of the wildflowers we commonly see and assume to be native are, in fact, species that were introduced hundreds of years ago and which have become naturalized. The term "naturalized" means that these species have been able to grow and reproduce successfully in their adopted home without benefit of cultivation. In addition to the many wildflower species which have been here for a long time, there are many recently arrived naturalized species and there will, without a doubt, be more new arrivals in the future.

One problem with making the distinction between "native" and "naturalized" is related to the history of North America. European explorers first arrived in the "New World" more than 500 years ago. When the first settlers arrived they brought with them seeds (accidentally and intentionally) from the "Old World". Many of the wildflowers that generations of North Americans have grown up with are species that were introduced and were able to establish themselves in their adopted land. Examples include narrow-leaved plantain (Plantago lanceolata), common buttercup (Ranunculus acris), several types of clover, Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and mullein (Verbascum thapsus).

As you can see, the issue of what makes one species a native, another an introduced species, and the impact introduced species have had on natives is not one upon which all people will agree. What is obvious is that some of the wildflower species loved and enjoyed by people are no more "native" than most of the people who now live here. We can enjoy them for their beauty, provided they do not fall into the category of nuisance plants.

Some people would say that all introduced species have, in some way, caused harm to natives. Other people worry only about those species causing obvious problems and presenting a very real and immediate threat to native species. It is virtually impossible to say with certainty how significant the damage caused by these long-ago introduced species might initially have been because there is very little data available from that time period. It is very likely that these long-established immigrants did push some or even many native wildflowers out of the way. We have been able to document the damage caused by several introduced species including kudzu (Pueraria lobata), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). Today, we spend a great deal of money trying to control these and other harmful introduced plant species without much hope. It is clear that these species are here to stay.

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