As gardeners deal with hotter summers and less reliable water, one Pacific Northwest horticulture creator pushed back on a common claim: that climate change will make native plants a poor choice.
Instead, the creator argued the opposite may be true, especially when natives are compared with imported ornamentals that may require more water than the region can spare.
Here's what to know
Posting on Instagram, the Xeric Horticulture (@xerichorticulture) argued that many plants native to the Pacific Northwest also are prevalent to the south, where conditions are hotter and drier.
For that reason, the creator called the idea that regional gardeners will eventually be unable to grow native plants "a factually incorrect statement."
Xeric Horticulture said he planned gardens around likely climate shifts, including "warmer, drier summers" and "wetter, warmer winters" with reduced snowpack, noting irrigation may become pricier or unavailable.
He said common imports could be at a disadvantage, particularly plants brought in "from places that are way wetter than here."
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At the same time, Xeric Horticulture said, "Some of our native plants that like it hot and like it dry are probably going to do great under climate change conditions."
Commenters added nuance to the discussion.
"We import the plants but not the biodiversity," one wrote, while another said: "Not being able to grow native plants is a very generalized term — are there some that might be harder or nearly impossible? Yes, very likely so."
More background
As summers get hotter and water becomes harder to access, yards built around thirsty plants will take time, money, and maintenance to stay alive.
Native plant lawns and other low-water alternatives have attracted interest, on the other hand.
There are environmental benefits as well. Native plants generally do a better job of supporting pollinators, birds, and soil health than many ornamental imports.
The comment section also included a caveat: Not every native species will respond the same way to the changing climate, especially plants with narrow habitat needs or vulnerabilities to disease.
What can be done?
Not every native plant will thrive everywhere forever. Plant selection should reflect future conditions as much as current ones, especially in regions facing higher temperatures and uncertain summer water supplies.
People looking for a lower-maintenance yard can start by rewilding or upgrading to a natural lawn. Low-maintenance grass replacement options can include regionally appropriate native plants.
Even a partial lawn replacement can deliver meaningful benefits, including lower water usage, less mowing, and reduced spending on routine yard care. It can also make a landscape more resilient when heat spikes or irrigation is limited.
One commenter pointed out that gardeners may need to think outside the box when choosing plants, writing, "Native plants do not adhere to state lines, and there is no reason to stick to a state border!"
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