Container gardening's fixation on native species overlooks practical resilience
Many urban gardeners swear by using only local plants in pots, but I've consistently seen them wilt under the stress of confined roots and reflected heat from buildings. Last summer, I experimented with a non-native, drought-resistant lavender alongside a recommended native perennial, and the lavender thrived while the other struggled. In an artificial setting like a balcony, selecting for hardiness and low maintenance seems more logical than adhering to geographic origin. The priority should be cultivating what actually grows, not preserving a botanical pedigree.