Info & Resources

When it comes to native planting, “relevant anywhere in the US” is a bit tricky because native plants are highly specific to ecoregions and local conditions. A plant native to Florida will not thrive in Montana, and vice-versa.

However, I can provide a list of excellent, generic websites that offer tools and information relevant across the US, allowing users to find plants appropriate for their specific location:

Top-Tier, Widely Applicable Resources:

1. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Native Plant Finder:
   • Website: https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native or https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/
   • Why it’s good: This is one of the best tools for a nationwide search. You enter your zip code, and it provides a list of native plants for your specific area, along with the wildlife benefits they offer (e.g., which caterpillars they host). It’s very user-friendly for beginners.
2. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center:
   • Website: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/
   • Why it’s good: An incredibly comprehensive database of native plants across North America. You can search by various criteria (state, light conditions, soil type, bloom time, etc.) and get detailed information on each plant, including photos, growing conditions, and ecological value.
3. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (Native Plant, Seed and Services Directory):
   • Website: https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/native-plant-nursery-and-seed-directory
   • Why it’s good: While focused on pollinators, their directory helps you find native plant nurseries and seed suppliers specific to your region. They also have excellent pollinator-friendly plant lists and resources on “bee-safe” plants.
4. Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes:
   • Website: https://wildones.org/
   • Why it’s good: This organization promotes native landscapes through education and advocacy. They have over 100 local chapters across the US, offering localized resources, garden designs, and a list of native plant nurseries. Their website also has a wealth of educational articles and a quarterly journal.
5. USDA Forest Service – Celebrating Wildflowers (Native Gardening section):
   • Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/Native_Gardening/
   • Why it’s good: A government resource providing basic instructions for native landscaping, plant hardiness zones, and links to other valuable resources, including state-specific native plant societies.
6. Homegrown National Park (Native Plant Resource Directory):
   • Website: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/directory/
   • Why it’s good: Inspired by Doug Tallamy’s work, this initiative aims to restore biodiversity by encouraging native plant use. Their directory allows you to search for native plant suppliers, consultants, and educators by state and service type.

Excellent Regional/Nursery-Specific (but nationally relevant concepts):

While these are tied to specific nurseries, their websites often have excellent, general information on native plants and their benefits that is applicable anywhere:

• Prairie Moon Nursery: (https://www.prairiemoon.com/) – Known for seeds and plants for Midwest, but their plant descriptions and filters are incredibly detailed and educational for anyone interested in native plant characteristics.
• Prairie Nursery: (https://www.prairienursery.com/) – Similar to Prairie Moon, strong focus on prairie and meadow plants, with good educational content.

Important Considerations to Emphasize when Sharing:

Avoid Cultivars (Nativars): Briefly mention that true native species are generally preferred over “nativars” (cultivars of native plants) for maximizing ecological benefit, as the latter might lack certain characteristics beneficial to wildlife.

Zip Code is King: Always stress that users should use the zip code or state/ecoregion search functions on these sites. What’s “native” varies drastically even within states.

Ecoregions Matter: Briefly explain that native plants thrive because they’ve evolved with local soil, climate, and wildlife.

Local Native Plant Societies: Encourage people to look up their state or local native plant society. These are often the best source for highly localized information, plant sales, and community support.