Hello! This reply may be a little late as although I am not a new gardener, I am new to this forum. Non-native plants are not necessarily 'bad' but when native plants are an option they are almost always better for every purpose you may have as a gardener except for simple aesthetics. Non-native plants are not recognized by the birds/beneficials/pollinators so they perform little if any role besides being pretty. Native plants however have evolved with the surrounding wildlife and offer food beyond simple pollen and nectar(seeds, caterpillars etc.) I could go on and on on this subject but put simply- native plants serve a function and fit into place in our gardens as a part of the food-web while ornamentals look pretty and maybe smell nice.
