Sustainability in gardening is one of those ideas that sounds simple—until you actually try to apply it. The usual advice goes something like this:

Use native plants because they are adapted to local conditions.
Avoid high-maintenance, resource-intensive plants.
Support wildlife and pollinators.

On the surface, it makes sense. But when you dig a little deeper (pun intended), it’s not that straightforward.

Are Native Plants Really the Best Choice for Home Gardens?

One of the main arguments for planting natives is that they’re suited to local conditions and require less care. But here’s the catch: most residential lots are nothing like the natural landscapes where these plants evolved.

Much of Madison’s soil has been disturbed, compacted, and amended over the years. The shady backyard of a house in Nakoma is nothing like the open prairie where many of our native plants thrive. The highly-distubed clay of a newly built in Sun Prairie neighborhood is hardly an ideal environment for a species that prefers rich, moist woodlands.

Meanwhile, some non-native plants—like daylilies—seem to thrive in almost any condition. They don’t need much water, fertilizer, or care. Does that make them less sustainable than a struggling native plant that needs constant attention to survive?

The Hostility Around Hostas

Hostas are another great example of the contradictions in sustainable gardening. They’re practically self-sufficient—until the rabbits, deer, and slugs move in.

And this is where it gets interesting. Many gardeners claim they want to support wildlife, but then they get frustrated when wildlife actually shows up and eats their plants. So… do we like rabbits and deer, or are they the enemy?

If hostas are a buffet for herbivores, maybe that’s their role in a sustainable garden. Or maybe they belong in the "low-maintenance zone" of the yard, where they can exist without much intervention. Which brings me to another point...

Does Every Part of the Garden Need to Be “Sustainable”?

Most home lots in Madison are bigger than people actually want to manage. Not everyone has the time (or interest) to turn their entire yard into a diverse, native plant paradise. And maybe that’s okay.

What if sustainable gardening meant having some areas that are self-sufficient and low-maintenance, freeing up time and energy for areas that are more diverse, beneficial, and rewarding?

For example, a backyard could have:

A low-maintenance zone with easy-care plants like daylilies, hostas, or ornamental grasses that require minimal effort.
A wildlife-friendly zone with native flowers and shrubs that provide nectar and seeds without being completely devoured.
A high-maintenance zone for plants that require more attention but bring joy—whether that’s a vegetable garden, a perennial border, or a collection of rare native species.

Sustainability Shouldn’t Be One-Size-Fits-All

The truth is, every garden is different. Some homeowners love the idea of a yard filled with native plants and buzzing with pollinators. Others just want a landscape that looks nice without demanding too much time and effort. Both approaches can be sustainable—if they are thoughtful and balanced.

So maybe the conversation about sustainability in gardening should be less about strict rules and more about what actually works for each site and gardener. Instead of rigidly insisting that native plants are the only way to garden sustainably, we should be asking:

What plants will thrive without excessive inputs (water, fertilizer, pesticides)?
How can we balance wildlife support with plant survival?
Where can we prioritize diversity and ecological benefit, and where does it make sense to keep things simple?

Sustainability in the garden shouldn’t be about following trends—it should be about creating a landscape that works for both the gardener and the environment. And sometimes, that means embracing the unexpected—whether it’s a non-native plant that thrives with zero care, or a hosta that exists solely to keep the rabbits and deer busy elsewhere.

What do you think? Is sustainability in gardening as confusing for you as it is for me? I'd love to hear how you approach it in your own yard.