Now with the "Buy Canadian" sentiment, this idea should be expanded into environmental awareness.

Now with the "Buy Canadian" sentiment, this idea should be expanded into environmental awareness and action also.

Each time we add a non native plant to the local area, it is taking up space that should have been available for habitat, meaning food and shelter for animals of every type, including bugs. We are also taking a risk that such introduced plants can become invasive and degradate areas well beyond your garden fence.

In the case of plants used as crop, we are taking a calculated risk since we need the products those plants provide. Taking that same risk for plants used purely for aesthetics is unconscionable in today's world undergoing this "Climate Emergency".

So "BUY Canadian" - ensuring you choose local native plants who's range includes the particular forest / habitat zone you happen to live in. Going deeper, ask the retailer "where the seed source is?" With the more local the better, thus ensuring you are not spoiling "Local Adaptation" as the genetics of your purchased plants mix with those already represented. A further point is that buying local native plants means you no longer have to worry about temperature zone maps, since these plants ARE already adapted to your area.

As for crops, there is a long list of plants we have been using for generations, but please ensure they do not escape. However; new non native crop plants should not be introduced since they could be highly invasive (Sea Buckthorn is a case in point). Rather, we should trade with the originating countries.

Many of the Big Box stores pay no attention to these ideas at all, bringing in non native ornamental plants grown in the southern or mid USA where the growing season is longer therefore being able to grow larger plants sooner. Those plants are almost always not adapted to our local growing conditions. This may not be a concern for annual plants, but negatively effects the continued growth of perennials, shrubs, and trees, as well as the habitat around them. Rather; extend the boycott to all plants not grown locally. Buy Canadian! Don't just "plant a tree" since that slogan is actually wrong. Plant a Native Tree!

Sorry about making you google every plant before you can put it into the shopping cart. The campaign to fix plant labeling laws is about to start.