June 23, 2025

Native Plants vs. Cultivars vs. Nativars: What’s the Difference?

When planning a New England garden, you’ve probably come across terms like native, cultivar, and nativar. But what do they actually mean—and how do they affect pollinators, local wildlife, and your garden’s long-term health?

Let’s break it down.

 

What Are Native Plants? 

Native plants—sometimes called “straight species”—are the original locals. They’ve evolved right here in New England over thousands of years, adapting to our specific climate, soils, and ecosystems. Because they grow from open-pollinated seed, native plant populations are genetically diverse. That diversity makes them naturally resilient to pests, disease, and even climate shifts. 

Think of them as the heirloom tomatoes of the plant world: time-tested, adaptable, and full of ecological flavor. 

 

What Are Cultivars? 

Cultivars (short for “cultivated varieties”) are plants bred for specific traits—like a certain flower color, a compact shape, or resistance to disease. Many cultivars are clones, which means they’re genetically identical to each other. 

That can be useful in the garden center—what you see is what you get—but it also means low genetic diversity. Think of cultivars like fast food: consistent, convenient, but not always the most nutritious for local wildlife. 

 

What Are Nativars? 

Nativars are cultivars bred from native plants. So they start with good intentions—but they’ve been selectively altered by humans for traits like bloom color, size, or leaf pattern. 

Some nativars retain much of the value of true natives. Others, especially those with dramatic changes like double blooms or purple foliage, may confuse or deter pollinators, or lack the chemistry needed to support insect larvae (like caterpillars that rely on specific host plants). 

 

 

Native, Nativar, Cultivar: Real Garden Examples 

 

Let’s look at a few familiar plants to see how this all plays out:

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) 

• Native: The straight species has single purple-pink petals and a spiky orange cone—perfect for bees, butterflies, and goldfinches. 
• Nativar: ‘Magnus’ keeps the same color but with bigger, more horizontal petals—still great for pollinators. 
• Cultivar: ‘Double Scoop Cranberry’ has a double flower that looks fancy but can block bees from reaching the good stuff. 

 

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) 

• Native: Classic black-eyed Susan, bright gold petals with a dark center—easy for pollinators to find. 
• Nativar: ‘Goldsturm’ was selected for garden consistency—still helpful to wildlife, but cloned plants mean less genetic variety. 
• Cultivar: ‘Maya’ has fluffy double petals that look beautiful in bouquets but don’t feed pollinators well. 

 

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) 

• Native: The native orange version is a Monarch butterfly must-have. 
• Nativar: ‘Hello Yellow’ offers a sunny yellow twist—similar benefit for Monarch caterpillars, but a slight chemical change is possible. 
• Cultivar: Tropical milkweeds like Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Gold’ are not native to New England and can cause migration problems if overused. 

 

These examples show that even small tweaks can affect how useful a plant is to local insects and birds—so it’s worth choosing carefully!

 

 

Why It Matters for Pollinators and Wildlife 

Pollinators—like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds—are highly attuned to the colors, shapes, and scents of native blooms. Research from the University of Vermont and the Mt. Cuba Center has shown that heavily altered cultivars (especially those with double petals or unusual colors) receive fewer pollinator visits than their wild counterparts. 

Specialist insects—like Monarch caterpillars—depend on native plants for larval development. A flashy version of a plant may look good in the garden, but if it doesn’t have the right phytochemistry, it could be useless (or even harmful) to these insects. 

 

 

The Importance of Genetic Diversity 

Open-pollinated native plants offer a wide genetic pool. That diversity helps them adapt to unpredictable weather, resist new pests, and continue reproducing year after year. 

In contrast, cultivars and nativars—especially those propagated clonally—can create what’s known as a genetic bottleneck. Over time, this can reduce cold-hardiness, drought tolerance, and seed viability. In other words, they may look strong today, but could falter in the long run. 

 

So What Should You Plant? 

If your goal is to support pollinators, beneficial insects, and the greater New England ecosystem, we recommend: 

Choose straight native species when possible.

They’re the most ecologically valuable and offer the full buffet of benefits to local wildlife.

If you choose nativars, select ones with minimal changes.

Stick with varieties that maintain the same flower shape and color as the native plant. Avoid double blooms, odd colors, or heavily altered foliage.

Ask about propagation.

Look for open-pollinated, locally grown stock when available. These plants are more genetically diverse—and more resilient

Diversify your plantings.

Just like nature, a healthy garden thrives on variety. Mix in a wide range of native species for better ecosystem support.

 

Cultivars and nativars can have a place in the landscape—especially in formal gardens or small urban spaces. But if your goal is a thriving, low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly garden, nothing beats the real thing. 

Native plants aren’t just beautiful—they’re hardworking, adaptable, and deeply rooted in the health of our New England environment. Every wildflower, shrub, or native tree you plant helps create a healthier, more resilient landscape for generations to come. Come visit any of our locations and shop our great selection of natives, or shop online!