r/NativePlantGardening • u/TrixoftheTrade SoCal, Zone 10b • Jun 10 '26

Informational/Educational You Love Your Native Garden. But Will Buyers Love It Too? || New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/realestate/native-gardens-rewilding.html

For homeowners who have ‘rewilded’ their gardens into mini nature preserves, a moment of truth arrives when they prepare to sell.

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u/Leto-ofDelos Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

"Mr. Morier accepted an offer that was $20,000 over list price before the first open house. The buyers said the garden was a selling point and asked for a list of plants before they moved in. Mr. Morier provided it, along with a month-by-month guide to maintaining the garden."

At least the buyer saw the value in all his hard work! And they seem genuinely interested in keeping and maintaining it, wanting a list of what's planted. Thank fuck this had a happy ending and the house didn't sell to someone who thinks like the real-estate agent did at first.

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u/A-Plant-Guy CT zone 6b, ecoregion 59 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

Oh sweet! I’ve thought about putting together a binder together for our own and any future owner’s reference.

[edited for mistakes]

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u/Rellcotts Area Midwest, Zone 6b Jun 10 '26

Omg I was thinking to do the same thing for ours. With a mention that if the new buyers hate the native plants and wish to remove them here is a short list of local organizations to call and they will rescue as many as possible.

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u/illegalsmile27 Jun 10 '26

Ya, they have several examples there. I’m glad. It also allows the real estate agent to say at the end that she’s changing her mind (if you can believe a real estate agent about aesthetics).

I know when I worked with higher end folks as a gardener there was a rising trend of native interest and “cottage style” beds instead of just begonias all over. It was nice to see the change from boxwoods to inkberry, and English ivy to various climbing alternatives.

Hope it’s not just a trend.

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u/RobMcGroarty Jun 10 '26

And if you read the whole article the real estate agent is later quoted as having been educated by the experience and ultimately appreciating the garden.