Want to learn more about native and keystone plants? We asked our regional experts for native resources they turn to when they’re looking for additional information. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning your journey into sustainable landscaping, these resources can help support your efforts. See the best keystone plants for your region and zone here.
Explore the resources below to learn more about the plants that can create and maintain a thriving, eco-friendly landscape.
Books
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, by Douglas W. Tallamy
Doug Tallamy’s book Bringing Nature Home, which was the topic of his program, is a great reminder of how we should be using our native plants. His photos are stunning.
Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger
The Midwest Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden, by Alan Branhagen
The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden, by Uli Lorimer / Native Plant Trust
The Pacific Northwest Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden, by Kristin Currin and Andrew Merritt
The Southeast Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden, by Larry Mellichamp and Paula Gross
U.S. Forest Service – Books Our Botanists Use, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/features/books/index.shtml
Mid-Atlantic Native Plant Information Resources
- Organizations and Programs
- Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council, chesapeakelandscape.org
- Ecological Landscape Alliance, ecologicallandscaping.org
- Landscape for Life (sustainable landscaping program), landscapeforlife.org
- Maryland Biodiversity Project, marylandbiodiversity.com
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- Adkins Arboretum (Ridgely, MD), adkinsarboretum.org
- Cuba Center (Hockessin, DE), www.mtcubacenter.org
- S. Botanic Garden (Washington, DC), www.usbg.gov
- Stoneleigh (Villanova, PA), stoneleighgarden.org
Midwest Native Plant Information Resources
- Organizations and Programs
- The Wild Ones, Natural Landscapers, org
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe, IL), chicagobotanic.org
- The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL), org
- The Holden Arboretum (Kirtland, OH), org
- University of Wisconsin Arboretum (Madison, WI), wisc.edu
Mountain West Native Plant Information Resources
- Events
- Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Annual Conference, landscapingwithcoloradonativeplants.org
- Nurseries
- Caras Nursery (Missoula, MT), carasnursery.com
- Center for Native Plants (Whitefish, MT), com
- Draggin’ Wing High Desert Nursery (Boise, ID), com
- Great Bear Native Plants (Hamilton, MT), greatbearnativeplants.com
- Harlequin’s Gardens (Boulder, CO), com
- Idaho Botanical Garden (Boise, ID), idahobotanicalgarden.org
- Villager Nursery Inc. (Truckee, CA), villagernursery.com
- Organizations and Programs
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, CO), botanicgardens.org
- High Plains Environmental Center (Loveland, CO), org
- Rocky Mountain Gardens and Gerald W. Marks Exploration Center (Missoula, MT), org/what-we-do/horticulture-agriculture/rocky-mountain-gardens.html
Northeast Native Plant Information Resources
- Organizations and Programs
- Ecological Landscape Alliance, ecolandscaping.org
- Home Grown National Park (Boston, MA), org
- Native Plant Trust (Wayland, MA), nativeplanttrust.org
- Nurseries
- Native Plant Trust’s Nasami Farm (Whately, MA), nativeplanttrust.org/for-your-garden/nasami-farm
- Wild Seed Project (North Yarmouth, ME), net
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- Native Plant Trust’s Garden in the Woods (Whately, MA), nativeplanttrust.org/visit/garden-woods
Pacific Northwest Native Plant Information Resources
- Organizations and Programs
- California Native Plant Society, cnps.org
- Calscape, org
- Native Plant Society of British Columbia, wordpress.com
- Native Plant Society of Oregon, npsoregon.org
- Oregon Flora, org
- Washington Native Plant Society, wnps.org
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, xerces.org
- Nurseries
- Plant Native (maintains a list of native plant nurseries by state), org
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- Bellevue Botanical Garden (Bellevue, WA), org
- Leach Botanical Garden (Portland, OR), leachgarden.org
Southeast Native Plant Information Resources
- Organizations and Programs
- Georgia Native Plant Society, org
- Virginia Native Plant Society, plantvirginianatives.org
- Tennessee Native Plant Society, tnps.org
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- State Botanical Garden of Georgia, uga.edu
Southwest Native Plant Information and Resources
- Organizations and Programs
- Public Gardens and Resource Centers
- The University of Texas at Austin – Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Austin, TX), wildflower.org