We here in liberal S. FL and everyone seems to want to plant non native water sucking and gas powered trimmer needing plants. We have had a *drought* every year we’ve lived here and our lawn looks like hell (we get our water for the yard from the canal, so when it’s low there’s not enough water pressure to really water it). I never understand why people don’t just plant things that do well in the native climate AND things that don’t require manicuring. Of course, I hate yardwork. I guess all those hedges are important to keep people employed.
I also am a supporter of native plants. Anything that is not native to a region will take over and obscure the vegetation that was designed for the area. I guess the problem arose with the suburban gardener. Imitating the wealthy industrialist of the turn of the twentieth century who went to extremes to gather exotic plants to decorate their lawns, the new landed gentry sought the same gardening path although on a far more smaller scale. Hence the intrusion of foreign plants and the loss of those that really thrive.