Commissioners report on native-tree conference; speakers flagged nursery supply issues and cautioned against rigid native-only mandates

Commissioners who attended a recent conference titled “Native species in urban environments” summarized several takeaways for the Shade Tree Committee on Aug. 21, including nursery supply-chain concerns, the rise of cultivated 'nativars,' and caution about mandates that require native-only plantings in all urban conditions.

Summary of presentations: Chair Jody and other commissioners described remarks by regional experts including Alan Seward (formerly with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources), Connie Hausman of Cleveland Metroparks, and Marie McConnell of Lake County Nursery. Commissioners said Seward warned that some native-species enthusiasm can be a poor fit for constrained tree lawns and that municipal ordinances requiring only native plantings on narrow urban sites could be too restrictive.

Nursery supply concerns: Marie McConnell told conference attendees that nursery businesses must predict demand years in advance and that many legacy nurseries face succession and workforce challenges. Commissioners said McConnell urged local groups to communicate desired species to nurseries and, where possible, to visit or “tag” stock to help nurseries plan for local needs.

'Nativars' and adaptability: Speakers and commissioners discussed 'nativars'—nursery-produced cultivars derived from native species—that may be selected for greater urban tolerance. Commissioners noted this could produce a different future urban forest than strictly wild-sourced native trees.

Local implications: Urban Forester Lathwell and commissioners stressed the need for diversity in species selection for harsh urban conditions, and some attendees warned against ordinance language that would restrict municipalities to native-only plant lists for every urban planting site.

Next steps: commissioners said the conference reinforced the commission’s interest in supply-chain topics; local organizers plan a city-focused tree summit on supply chains and native species in the near future. No formal policy changes or ordinance proposals were adopted at the Aug. 21 meeting.