In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne celebrate spring planting season with a practical conversation about choosing plants that support wildlife and strengthen local ecosystems. Using the idea of "Plant This, Not That," they compare native plants that thrive in the Carolinas with invasive or problematic plants that can outcompete native species, spread aggressively, or reduce habitat value. The discussion also highlights Constructive Plant Rescue, a local nonprofit working to save native plants from construction sites and give them a second life in home landscapes.
Debbie and Laurie walk through helpful plant swaps by category, including vines, groundcovers, perennials, shrubs, trees, and grasses. From coral honeysuckle, wild ginger, oakleaf hydrangea, native dogwoods, oaks, and muhly grass to plants best avoided — like Japanese honeysuckle, English ivy, butterfly bush, Chinese privet, Bradford pear, crape myrtle, monkey grass, and pampas grass — this episode offers approachable guidance for anyone hoping to make more environmentally friendly planting choices. They also remind listeners to research what is native or invasive in their own region, consider sun exposure and soil type, and match each plant to the goals of their yard, garden, balcony, or habitat space.
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