Going Native in Alabaster
An interview with Dr. Sue Webb on the use of and value in using native plants.
By Lee Hurley
Dr. Sue Webb is a master gardener and native plant expert with a science background in microbiology. Dr. Webb will give a talk at the Albert L Scott Library on Saturday October 11th from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Her presentation will center on the many benefits of adding native plants to one’s garden. Alabaster Connection interviewed Dr. Webb in August.
Alabaster Connection: Where is home?
Sue Webb: I live in Jemison. I’m a Master Gardener based in Alabama.
AC: How did we find you? Do you give a lot of talks?
SW: I’ve given talks, but my main venue is Petals from the Past, a nursery in Jemison. After retiring from my previous career, I persuaded Jason, the owner, to 
set aside an area just for native plants. Over time it’s grown into what’s likely the largest retail collection of native plants in Alabama. Many of my speaking engagements come by word of mouth from nursery customers.
AC: How did you get into native plants? Did Jason introduce you to their importance?
SW: Actually, my interest started before I worked there. Fourteen years ago, I moved back to my childhood property and noticed the woods were strangely silent compared to memories of birds and wildlife. That drove me to research how native plants support local ecosystems—and how habitat loss has squeezed out so many species.
AC: What recommendations do you give to people with regular yards who want to include native plants?
SW: Native gardens aren’t designed like classical European ones. I emphasize “beauty and function,” showing photos of attractive native species and explaining where to plant them—wet areas, near the house, spots for fall color—and how they feed pollinators.
AC: Are native plants easier to maintain or less water-needy?
SW: It’s a misconception that you can plant a native and never water it again. However, once established, Alabama natives—being adapted to local climate and soil—generally need less supplemental care than many non-native species.
AC: Can you give a few examples of native plants?
SW: Fothergilla (a spring-blooming shrub with white flowers before the leaves and stunning fall color); Amsonia (a spring foliage plant with clear blue flowers); Purple coneflowers (summer bloomers beloved by bees); and Native asters (fall bloomers that feed pollinators and provide seeds for birds).
AC: Are most native plants perennials?
SW: Yes, most wildflower natives regrow from their roots each year. A few reseed themselves, sprouting new plants from seed the following season.
AC: Is Petals from the Past the closest nursery to Alabaster for native plants, or do you know others?
SW: Petals from the Past is an excellent nearby resource, but more Birmingham nurseries are now expanding their native plant selections, giving Alabaster residents additional options.
AC: How do the prices of native plants compare to non-natives?
SW: Most straight-species natives tend to cost about the same or even less than many non-natives. When growers select and patent particular cultivars (for example, a standout form of Fothergilla) those patented varieties command higher prices. But in general, unpatented native species remain competitively priced.
AC: What was your experience in the Botanical Gardens’ native plant certification program?
SW: That program was my true introduction to native plants. The lectures were useful, but the weekly guided hikes into the woods—identifying plants in their natural habitats alongside experts—were invaluable. I later joined similar field programs in Chattanooga to deepen my hands-on knowledge.
AC: Beyond nursery work, what else fills your time now?
SW: I work at the nursery four days a week, run a small landscape design service focused on integrating native plants, and regularly give public talks on native gardening. These activities keep me busier than ever.
AC: What is your academic background in microbiology?
SW: I earned my bachelor’s degree at Birmingham-Southern College and completed my PhD in immunology at UAB. My research focused on how the immune system handles cancer and diabetes, using animal models to explore disease mechanisms.
AC: Where did you work before retiring to Alabama?
SW: I spent nearly 25 years at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.
AC: Do you miss living in California?
SW: I miss the perfect weather most of all. Two of my children live in San Diego, so I visit when I can, but I’m happy to be back in Alabama’s native landscapes.