What is the difference between a native plant, wildflower, and an “exotic” (non-native) or introduced plant?
A native plant is usually defined as one that was growing naturally in a specific area before white or European settlement. A wildflower, also called a forb, is a native plant that grows without human care. Non-native plants are sometimes called “exotics”, whether they were introduced hundreds of years ago by settlers and travelers, or recently purchased from a mail order nursery catalog. People, however, arent the only agents in plant relocation; they are spread through the actions of birds, animals, wind, and water.