Check out this excellent article and Improve Your Curb Appeal! — in it, Doug Tallamy takes all the big native plant myths head on:
Myth 1: Native plants are messy — MYTH BUSTEDMyth 2: Native plants cannot be used formally — MYTH BUSTED
Myth 3: Dense plantings cannot be attractive — MYTH BUSTED
Myth 4: Native plants will be destroyed by insects — MYTH BUSTED
Myth 5: Native plants are not as pretty as non-natives — MYTH BUSTED
Myth 6: Native landscapes will be scorned by your neighbors — MYTH BUSTED
Myth 7: Native plants attract vermin — MYTH BUSTED
Myth 8: Native plants are too expensive — MYTH BUSTED