Across North America, more and more people are discovering the satisfaction of landscaping their homes, schools and businesses with native plants.

WHAT ARE "NATIVE" PLANTS?

Native plants are those that evolved naturally in North America. More specifically, native plants in a particular area are those that were growing naturally in the area before humans introduced plants from distant places. In eastern and central North America, native plants typically grew in communities with species adapted to similar soil, moisture, and weather conditions. Some of the widespread communities included oak-hickory-chestnut and beech-maple forests, tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, and freshwater marshes. Additional communities occupied specialized niches, including savannahs, fens, bogs, flood plains and alpine areas.

WHY LANDSCAPE WITH NATIVE PLANTS?

Native Plants Save Energy

Native plants have evolved and adapted to local conditions over thousands of years. They are vigorous and hardy, so can survive winter cold and summer heat. Once established, they require no irrigation or fertilization. They are resistant to most pests and diseases. Thus, native plants suit today's interest in "low-maintenance" gardening and landscaping.

Native Plants Stay Put

Each native plant species is a member of a community that includes other plants, animals and microorganisms. The natural balance keeps each species in check, allowing it to thrive in conditions where it is suited, but preventing it from running amok. Thus, native species rarely become invasive, as plants introduced from other areas can be.

Native plants provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other desirable wildlife. Many help to enrich the soil. Their root systems help rainfall percolate into the soil, reducing erosion and runoff. This improves water quality.

Native Plants Are Interesting

The diversity of native plants includes interesting flowers and foliage. Native shrubs and trees provide a variety of heights, shapes and textures in the landscape. Many provide winter interest through their bark or seed pods.

Another dimension of native plants is their historical and cultural interest. Some plants played a significant role in Native American culture, or in the European exploration and settlement. Many species have reported value as food or medicine. Others have been used for cordage, textiles, dyestuffs, or similar domestic purposes. Native plants can provide children and adults with a tangible link to the past.

The Wild Ones - Natural Landscapers, Ltd. http://www.for-wild.org/
A non-profit organization with a mission to educate and share information with members and the community to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound practices.

Biodynamics - Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association / http://www.biodynamics.com/
Informational site with links, books, etc.

Demeter Association, Inc. /http://www.demeter-usa.org/site/
For the Certification of Biodynamic Agriculture. Also lists of products, lots of information.

Demeter.net / http://www.demeter.net/
Information, international contacts.

Home Page of the Anthroposophical Society of America / http://www.anthroposophy.org/
Membership information, current events, lots of information.

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas / http://www.attra.org/
Information, publications, tons of links, suggested readings, etc.

Soil Technologies Corp. / http://www.soiltechcorp.com/
Environmentally friendly fertilizers and pesticides.

The Garden Gate / http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/
A large and well-chosen number of garden-related links. Great website.

Avant-Gardening: Creative Organic Gardening / http://www.avant-gardening.com/
"You Can Grow" using organic gardening as a medium for creative expression, sustainable gardening, and spiritual growth.

Intergarden / http://www.ibiblio.org/london/
Organic Agriculture, Farmscaping, Permaculture, Bioregionalism. TONS of information and links.

Sustainable Agriculture Network / http://www.sare.org/
Links and lots of information for farmers

GardenWeb / http://www.gardenweb.com/
"The Internet's Garden Community" - one of the best gardening websites, lots of resources; images, cultivation info.

Seed Saving and Seed Saving Resources / http://homepage.eircom.net/~merlyn/seedsaving.html
A website dedicated to saving plant genetic resources

Internet Directory for Botany / http://www.botany.net/IDB/
HUGE database of links concerning botany. Thousands of botany - related links.

Cyndi's Catalog of Garden Catalogs / http://www.gardenlist.com/
Over 1900 catalogs organized and rated.

World Species List - Animals, Plants, Microbes / http://species.enviroweb.org/
An amazing project, a HUGE index of animals, plants, and microbes all over the world. One of a kind.

Native Seeds, Wildflowers, Fruits and Berries

Burnt Ridge Nursery and Orchards / http://landru.myhome.net/burntridge/index.html
A family owned certified organic farm - specializing in disease resistant bushes and trees that provide edible fruits or nuts, also NW native plants.

Collector's Nursery / http://www.collectorsnursery.com/
A retail mail order nursery featuring rare and unusual plants. Dwarf and rare conifers, uncommon, excellent perennials, shade plants, and more.

Florabunda Seeds / http://www.florabundaseeds.com/
Dedicated to preserving old species of flowers, precious heirloom flowers.

Rocky Mountain Rare Plants / http://www.rmrp.com/
Seeds for alpine and rock garden plants from around the world. Cultivated and wildcrafted seeds. A truly unique selection

Washington Native Plant Society / http://www.wnps.org/
Committed to protecting the native plants of Washington. Provides a variety professional and educational services to educate and conserve native Washington plants.

Bamert Seed / http://www.bamertseed.com/
Over 40 species of native grasses, legumes and forbs for restoration, wildlife habitat, erosion control, and low maintenance turf areas.

Plants of the Southwest / http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/
Specializing in drought tolerant native plants and seeds - Wildflowers, grasses, trees and shrubs, evergreens, herbs and vegetables

Theodore Payne Foundation / http://www.theodorepayne.org/
Helping California's growing population and its native plants live together in harmony. Founded in 1960.

Ernst Conservation Seeds / http://www.ernstseed.com/
Provide a variety of conservation and reclamation seeds; grasses, wetland seeds, upland and woodland seeds, and wildflowers.

Holland Wildflower Farm / http://www.hwildflower.com/
This website helps you make the right decisions as far as where and what to plant so that you can make the most efficient use out of your wildflowers and your growing space.

Heaths and Heathers / http://www.heathsandheathers.com/hhweb_001.htm
Heather specialists - one of the largest varieties of heather collections available in the United States - over 650 varieties.

California Native Plant Society / http://www.cnps.org/index.htm
A non-profit organization working to preserve and educate people about California's native plants.

Wild Food Adventures / http://www.wildfoodadventures.com/
Experts in edible wild plants of North America.

Earthly Goods Online / http://www.earthlygoods.com/
A huge selection of perennial, native and annual wildflowers, herb seeds, grasses and wildflower seed mixtures

Select Seeds Antique Flowers / http://www.selectseeds.com/
Antique flowers; open-pollinated varieties of flowers that originated 50 or more years ago.

Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery / http://www.srpn.net/index2.shtml
Growing source for the finest, hard - to - find hardy perennials, shrubs and smaller conifers, alpine and rock garden plants.

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