We are very pleased to bring you a special episode of Let’s Argue About Plants today, featuring an interview with Douglas Tallamy, PhD, professor of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. Several months ago, Christine Alexander, digital content editor for FineGardening.com, sat down with the famed professor to discuss how plants can save our planet. Tallamy has spent his life’s work researching the impact of nonnative plant species on the environment, with his fieldwork playing a critical role in solving the mystery of the plummeting insect and bird populations seen over the past 50 years. Despite the seemingly larger-than-life problems we face, Tallamy insists there are ways average gardeners can help save our ecosystems. He addresses some of the questions gardeners are asking: Should I be planting only native plants? What are keystone species, and why should I fill my landscape with them? Tallamy’s message is sometimes misconstrued, especially when it comes to a gardener’s role in the climate crisis. We hope this interview sheds some light and hope on steps we can all take to help nature. As Tallamy says, “We’re its last hope.”

This interview was edited for length and clarity. For further reading, check out Douglas Tallamy’s most recent books, The Nature of Oaks (2021) and Nature’s Best Hope (2020).

Don’t have time to listen to the whole podcast? Check out the version of this interview that appeared in Fine Gardening #208.

Why Native Plants Are Key to Saving Our Ecosystems

Keystone Plants

1. Goldenrod (Solidago spp., Zones 3–9)

2. Aster (Aster spp., Eurybia spp., Symphyotrichum spp., Zones 4–9)

3. Sunflower (Helianthus spp., Zones 3–9)

4. Oak (Quercus spp., Zones 2–9)

5. Cherry (Prunus spp., Zones 3–8)

6. Birch (Betula spp., Zones 3–9)

7. Cottonwood (Populus spp., Zones 2–9)

8. Elm (Ulmus americana, Zones 3–9)

9. Willow (Salix spp., Zones 4–10)

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The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.

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This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

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