Many so-called "exotics" attract just as much wildlife and beneficials as do native plants. Quite a few of these are merely cultivated forms of indigenous or native plants that have been developed for enhanced attributes - disease resistance may be only one of these aspects. While there are many benefits to using natives in the landscape - greater adaptability to specific locations/climates being one - native plants can also be less than ideally attractive, often appearing somewhat weedy or unkempt. In certain neighborhoods governed by HOA's or covenants, the use of only natives may be discouraged or outright prohibited. It would probably make more sense to shoot for some sort of balance between natives and more exotic ornamentals. The exotics are not by definition considered bad or less desirable, provided one stays away from those that require excessive chemicals to maintain or that pose invasive potential. You will get the greatest benefit from any significant biodiversity in your plant selection regardless of origin and as rhodium has so astutely pointed out, avoiding all use of pesticides and other garden chemicals. And remember, if you restrict yourself to planting ONLY natives, you can pretty much kiss off much of anything in the way of common edibles or basic kitchen garden produce.

I didn't keep a very close eye on them they were just gone one day If it was birds wouldn't the ones all along the road get taken too? I'll just try a net this year

ashalee91 you can get blue frangipani cuttings on ebay... http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUTTING-OF-PLUMERIA-7-12-INCHES-HAVE-ROOTED-BLUE-HAWAI-WITH-CERTIFICATED-/251169169095?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item3a7ad95ec7 http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUTTING-OF-PLUMERIA-7-12-INCHES-HAVE-ROOTED-CHELSEA-WITH-CERTIFICATED-/251169169512?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item3a7ad96068 and purple.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUTTING-OF-PLUMERIA-7-12-INCHES-HAVE-ROOTED-SKY-VIOLET-WITH-CERTIFICATED-/251169169801?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item3a7ad96189 let me know if you get one...i would be very interested in seeing a pic of them bloom :) Sarah

Artie What about Native Plumbago (Plumbago zeylanica). It's native here as well as in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. I've come across references to "white or blue flowers" but have only seen the white. I'd be interested to know whether there are blue versions in anyone's gardens. The plant is variable, but is more ground-cover-ish than the introduced plant. There's also: Cinnamomum oliveri - our answer to the Camphor laurel, Cinnamomum camphora. Celtis australis - surely better than Celtis sinensis. Aphananthe philippensis, Native Elm -different Generic name, but definitely in the Ulmaceae, and a truly lovely little tree. There's a native poppy, too -forget its name, but it's a little annual and an interesting shade of orange - Papaver something. Native Daffodils (Calostemma luteum and C. purpurea) are very good value, being bulbs which flower at Christmastime. They're closely related to the introduced plant (and just as poisonous. Don't let the kiddies eat them). There are plenty of native Hibiscus, including the lovely "Barambah Creek" if you can't be bothered with prickles. Native Capers - Capparis species - have lovely perfumed flowers and always come with a horde of dancing butterflies. Slow growing and prickly, though. (Good for birds, of course, especially blue-wrens, which, amazingly considering their size, love to eat the "Caper White" butterflies.) There are some very good minature versions of Callitris, the native cypress, some of which must like your area? Native orchids? There are a lot of these. Best of luck with the project. Trish