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native plants
Trends
- 1Climate change fuels spread of invasive species across Europe●Climate change boosts invasive species growth in Europe
Warming temperatures are accelerating the growth and spread of invasive species across Europe, according to reporting by Deutsche Welle. Milder winters and shifting climate conditions are allowing non-native plants and animals to establish themselves in new regions, threatening local biodiversity, agriculture and ecosystems. The findings add to growing concern over the wider ecological consequences of climate change on the continent.
- 2Wild asters keep bees fed through the fall●Bees still need food in the fall. Wild asters bloom prolifically and support pollinators when most flowering plants are
Gardeners are highlighting wild asters as a vital late-season food source for pollinators. Species such as the small white aster (Symphyotrichum racemosum) bloom prolifically just as most flowering plants go to seed, sustaining bees like the eastern bumblebee into autumn. The message encourages planting native species to support pollinator health.
- 3Iran Maps Genetic Diversity of Wild Peonies▼Hidden Genetic Wealth of Iran’s Wild Peonies Mapped by Microsatellite Markers
Researchers have mapped the hidden genetic diversity of Iran's wild peony species using microsatellite markers, revealing the extent of genetic wealth held in native populations. The findings could inform conservation efforts and future breeding programs, highlighting Iran's role as a reservoir of valuable plant genetic resources for horticulture and science.
- 4Garden Experts Warn Against Planting Butterfly Bush●You Should Never Grow Butterfly Bush in Your Garden, Pros Say—Here’s Why
Gardening experts say homeowners should avoid planting butterfly bush, a popular shrub known for attracting pollinators. Despite its name and colorful blooms, the plant is considered invasive in many regions, spreading aggressively and crowding out native species that local butterflies and other wildlife actually depend on. Experts recommend native alternatives that better support pollinators instead.
- 5Ethiopia bets on fifty billion seedlings to restore lost forests●Fifty Billion Seedlings: Can Ethiopia Replant Its Ravaged Forests? A legacy of deforestation has left Ethiopia strugglin
Ethiopia is pursuing one of the world's largest and best-funded forest restoration programmes, aiming to plant fifty billion seedlings to reverse a legacy of deforestation. Decades of tree loss have left the country exposed to more intense flooding and drought, and the reforestation drive is seen as a test of whether large-scale planting can restore native forests and buffer communities against climate extremes.
- 6Sardinia's washed-up Posidonia is a flowering plant, not algae●I have learned that this is not algae but a blooming plant - Posidonia. #nature #travel #photography #blackandwhite #mon
A photographer in Sardinia shares a black-and-white image of what many mistake for washed-up seaweed, noting it is actually Posidonia oceanica, a flowering seagrass native to the Mediterranean. The point matters because Posidonia meadows are ecologically vital, and the fibrous balls found on beaches are often misidentified as algae by beachgoers and hikers.
- 7Gardeners Ask Whether Evening Primrose Turns Invasive▼‘I love the evening primrose in my garden. But will it become invasive?’
A gardening columnist takes up a reader's dilemma: they enjoy evening primrose blooming in their garden but worry it could spread aggressively beyond control. The piece examines the plant's growth habits and the wider question gardeners face about attractive species that may outcompete native plants, offering guidance on how to manage or contain it.