Brisbane Horticulturists Growing Native Plants

With different postulates about the desired conditions to grow plants native to Australia, this paper summarizes and investigates why Australian gardeners should cultivate non-native plants. According to Aslan, Clare and Marcel, Australia has various climate conditions that are suitable for the growth of native plants. Aslan and Clare also stated that northern Australia has a tropical climate with dry, warm, and sometimes rainy winters and the summer times are hot and moist. Plants like Grevilleas, Banksias, Eucalypts, and Melaleucas thrive in the tropical climate of Australia as stated by Bidlack and Shelley. Non-native plants should not be grown in Australia because of the benefits of the native plants.

Gardening groups in Australia should not be allowed to grow non-native plants due to more scientific merit in native plants. According to Baltrus and David, growing exotic plants such as rainforests require an artificial environment which can be costly to set up and maintain. Plants grown in rainforest climate have shallow root systems compared to native plants with deep roots (Chelli and Azza). It will require Australian gardeners to loosen the soil. Moreover, the rainforest plants can survive tropical environments during specific times of the year such as during the rainy season (Dunne). Scientifically, rainforest plants are less tolerant to dry climate (Graham and Linda). Most of the plants grown in rainforests climate have little or no protection on leaves to prevent transpiration (Hillel and Cynthia). Therefore, it is significant to maintain an optimum level of humidity in the air to prevent loss of moisture. It may require trapping humidity by planting plants of tougher species particularly in dry regions such as Mt Garnet or Townsville.

Australian gardeners should consider planting Greviella, Banksias, Melaleucas, and Eucalyptus. According to Held and Hans, the proteoids roots found in the Grevillea plant exist below the soil surface to absorb moisture, especially in the rainy season (124). Additionally, the plant stomata close to save on water and open during the right conditions enabling drought resistance during the dry season in Australia (Kordyum). The dry and arid areas rely on Banksias to maintain the ecosystem; birds depend on the plant for nectar (Korymann). The Eucalyptus and Melaleucas grow together. They are adapted to drought on aspects such as soil and moisture retention (Ordonez). On the other hand, the Brisbane City Council should provide non-native plants such as Bromeliads and orchids which will encourage Australian gardeners to experiment with different exotic plants. For instance, bromeliads plants have long leaves which attach to a host thereby channeling water. Additionally, some plants possess spread out roots to trap water.

Nevertheless, growing native plants in Australia has more scientific merit compared to growing non-native plants. This is according to Olsen, the different climate zones experienced in Australia may not favor the growth of some plants during warm and dry, hot and humid (Olsen). For instance, rainforest plants do not grow well during dry times (Zhang). According to Zuellig, rainforest plants have a thin cuticle that allows excess transpiration meaning plants may not grow favorably in warm and dry climatic zones. Some non-native plants can invade native ecosystems and cause harm to the local plants (Zuellig). It has been the case especially with weeds like the artichoke thistle and olive in Australia. The negative impact of invasive species has increased the cost of Agriculture. For instance, weed control costs Australia about A$1.5 billion. The presence of native flora brings native fauna. Notably, non-native plants have contributed to the growth of non-native invasive insects in Australia such as the European wasp.

Australian native plants offer better breeding of inventive assortments which provides more flexibility to Australian greenhouses. For instance, the English Box which is a substantial water swallowing non-native plant can become substituted for a recently reproduced type of Westringia called the Gray Box, it is a more sensible reduced support plant, particularly for the Australian climate. Different cases of better bred native plants include Tanika, a fine leaf Lomandra that has turned out to be one of the most robust and most dependable scene plants accessible (Ordonez). It is amazingly flexible and gives a thick evergreen low developing native plant for most parts of Australia. Moreover, enhanced Lomandra Shara has been reared to be more Phytophthora tolerant, providing a fine leaf local Lomandra that will survive in areas such as Queensland that were previously deemed unsuccessful. Ozbreed has spearheaded a considerable lot of these 'better reared' native assortments and keeps on doing as such into the future.

One of the significance of Australian native plants is their scenic beauty. Local plants offer more aesthetic value (Graham). A significant number of native plants are entirely one of a kind to Australia. They are an improved version with tidier foliage, better blossoming, and usually a more minimized form. They are exceptionally particular when in sprout, giving excellent regular shading and staggering blossoms. Another alluring advantage is that they offer a safe house for our local wild animals. This provides habitat and sustenance for local creatures, insects, and birds, thereby, maintaining ecological balance. It attracts birds and insects that feed on nectar which in return provides pollination that improves biodiversity. Additionally, local Australian plants have adjusted efficiently to the local climate. This implies once a local garden is set up, it requires considerably less water to maintain and continues to grow healthy compared to other colorful gardens and plants.

Majority of the local plants can be set up efficiently, as they require less maintenance all through their lifecycle (Olsen et al.). In addition to this, local plants tend not to progress towards becoming weeds like non-native plants. For example, some colorful plants such as Aborigines can be less defenseless to neighborhood bugs and maladies. The reduced maintenance, fewer costs of running, and less watering imply a simple garden that keeps on looking healthy for the Australian gardeners. Lastly, native plants are more available as compared to exotic species. The Brisbane Counsel offers more free native plants to Australian gardeners compared to non-native plants (Graham). Therefore, local gardeners are inclined to grow native plants which then translate to adequate pollination. In addition to this, native plants can survive the harsh climatic conditions which include periodic drought and frost. The native plants are also adapted to the local soil which creates a better environment for their growth.

In conclusion, it is evident that growing native plants have more scientific merits compared to growing exotic plants. The abiotic factors such as climate favor the growth of native plants. Biotic factors such as invasive species and competition that can cause harm to biodiversity which can hinder conservation have preferred native plants compared to non-native. Australian gardeners should, therefore, focus on growing native plants due to reduced maintenance, improved quality of soil and better breeding.

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