WHAT MAKES a particular native plant a good choice for the home garden? And where can we look for clues into which natives will do best in our particular location and conditions? 
Dan Jaffe is propagator and stock bed grower at New England Wild Flower Society, and author in collaboration with his colleague Mark Richardson of “Native Plants For New England Gardens.” Wherever you garden, he has advice to help you think about what to look for in a garden-worthy native and more, and how to really define native, anyway. I learned the concept of ecoregions—about choosing plants not because I live within a particular county line on a map, but instead guided by bigger natural factors.