Native plant gardening is a wonderful way to connect with nature and to improve your piece of the planet, yet such gardens are not always appreciated by neighbours more interested in tending lawn and other Eurasian species. Ecological gardens are, however, on the rise and a new appreciation of their multi-dimensional aesthetic qualities is growing. In addition to being popular, practical and ecologically relevant, there are also legal protections for these important spaces. Please read on to join our petition and to find out what more you can do to support native plant gardening
In Canada, gardening according to one’s environmental principles is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . In the United States similar protection is afforded under the First Amendment.
Many municipal, provincial/state, and federal agencies actively support the inclusion of native flora on public and private properties. The use of native plants in US federal projects has been mandated since 1994.
Florida, in 1992, became the first State to enact a natural landscaping statute by requiring landowners to maintain designs that
- reduce water usage,
- prohibit invasive alien species and
- limit the maximum percentage of turf grass
…all of which are typical of native plant gardens
Some of the publicly reported cases are detailed in the City links below. Most instances, however, do not make headlines. That means that every year, uncounted pollinator havens are needlessly lost across North America. If you know of similar threats faced by a native plant garden, please contact NANPS at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by voicemail: 416-631-4438.
Municipally-orchestrated threats against native plants are most often complaint-driven. That means, if someone doesn’t share your appreciation of ecologically-oriented garden design and makes a complaint about your native plantings, a government inspector may come knocking on your door. Usually, such complaints are addressed under Property Standards or Weed bylaws. These rules are usually intended to deal with neglected properties or matters of health and safety but attempts are often made to apply them based on subjective interpretations of gardening aesthetics in an effort to enforce conformity to the gardening standards of previous generations.
If government restrictions on native plant gardens concern you, please read and respond to NANPS petition. This petition will be offered for use in jurisdictions where native plant gardens are unreasonably threatened.
Contrary to the beliefs of some municipal officials, there is a difference between a neglected and a natural garden. Most obviously, there is usually a much higher degree of biodiversity in a native plant garden. The presence of goldenrod and other of our more aggressive native species does not signify neglect, merely tolerance.
These special places need to be protected and encouraged...and many places around the world are choosing to do just that! MODEL BYLAWS
Current areas of Concern:
Almost 40 years after the courageous Lorrie Otto of Madison, Wisconsin fought for our right to grow, native plant gardens are still under threat in a few backward areas of North America. If this situation concerns you, please write to the offenders listed in the "Cultivation" section of this website. This deplorable discrimination won't change without your help!