Imagining some of these native plants in your own yard? Good news–there are lots of helpful resources to help you get started! If you’re opting to use a landscaper, be sure to communicate your desire to use mostly native plants, or look for someone who advertises this service. If you plan to tackle this on your own, here are some helpful things to consider:
Region: different plants will be native to different regions, so if you aren’t from nearby this website may not apply to you. If you’re from Virginia, the Virginia Native Plant Society has free pdf manuals for every region, which highlights about 100 species and has an extensive introduction with explanations, design examples, and more. The Virginia DCR also has a Native Plant Finder site, which allows you to search species you may be wondering about.
If you aren’t from here, search for native plant societies in your state or similar resources, there are tons! Audubon also has a website that filters plants based on what is native for your given zip code, and provides planting information. This is done using the Biota of North America Program, which displays native status of species down to county level!
Planting Conditions: once you have determined what is native to your region, it is important to consider what each plant needs to thrive there. Some important factors to consider are moisture levels, soil type, and light conditions. A few of the previous resources provide this information, as well as the Morton Arboretum for trees and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for general plants.
Native Nurseries: some nurseries will not specify clearly mark native plants, or they may have cultivars, which are cultivated varieties of a plant. Cultivars may not contribute the same wildlife benefits as a wild type native species, because they have been bred for a specific trait and may be used to high maintenance. To find native nurseries near you in Virginia, you can use visit the Virginia Native Plant Society website, or search for something similar in your own region.
Know that while it may seem more difficult to plant natives than nonnative species, the hard work will eventually pay off. Not only will these efforts benefit you with less maintenance and a beautiful yard, but it will also be helping to restore and protect the ecosystem all around you!
The sources listed on this page contributed in large part to the completion of this website through providing information for each species page. Return to the homepage to continue to explore W&L examples and get inspiration.