Plant Origin and Provenance. Why It Matters for Olives, Dormice, and Much More.

Many gardeners check the origin of a plant before deciding whether to buy it, and this makes good sense, but provenance is more important — here’s why.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Plant origin is where a plant originated. For example, the olive tree (Olea europea) originally grew in the subtropical areas around the Aegean and later the Mediterranean. So, the plants could cope with hot, dry summers and moderately cooler winters with little rainfall. So, if you have a hot, dry space in your garden, it is tempting to purchase an imported olive tree, assuming the conditions on your site mimic those of the tree’s origin. However, this is not always the right thing to do.

What is more important with plants is their provenance — this is where the seed was germinated and the plant grown. This is because conditions in your location will vary from those of the plant's origin — either slightly or a lot. It can be the soil type or texture, the pH, climate, or even mineral distribution, day length changes, or the number of hours of sun required for fruit to ripen. There will be subtle differences in your site and the plant's origin. Therefore, plants grown in your location, especially those that have been grown there for…