NATIVE
PLANTS
NATIVE PLANTS
NATIVE PLANT TYPES
NATIVE PLANTS LINKS
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SECTION 1
NATIVE
PLANTS
Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife
over thousands of years, and therefore offer the most sustainable habitat.
A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular
region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.
Native Plants
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants
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SECTION 2
NATIVE
PLANT
TYPES
Planting a selection of flowering plants, grasses, trees and shrubs provide
wildlife benefits throughout the seasons and will ensure year round habitat
biodiversity. Multi-layered plantings will also add visual interest and
beauty to your property throughout the year. In addition, once established,
balanced native plant communities can better resist non-natives threatening
to overtake wild habitat.
When possible, plant species grown straight from local seed sources. These
native originals are the best choice, as they co-evolved with specific
wildlife, which supports migration, breeding and other seasonal interdependency.
Certain cultivars of native plants will offer some benefits to wildlife, like
pollen and nectar, while others, cultivated for a unique color or larger bloom,
may have eliminated elements originally beneficial to wildlife. Increasingly,
the garden trade is bringing more species of natives into the market place and
new research is being done on cultivars that preserve wildlife benefits. Never
collect native plants from the wild as it will deplete natural ecosystems.
Non-Woody Flowering Plants
Most native flowers are also known as herbaceous (or a non-woody stems) plants.
Many are perennials (that come back each year) or biennials which self-seed (to
reappear every other year). This cost savings for gardeners is also a source of
dependable food and cover for wildlife. Many flowering plants provide, seeds,
nectar, and pollen and at times are also host plants for specific types of
butterflies, moths, and insects. Many insects can only feed on the native plants
with which they have co-evolved. Monarch caterpillars, for example, can only feed
on milkweed. If insects cannot survive, than all the wildlife that feed on them
will perish. This includes song birds, amphibians, and small mammals.
Many native flowers are also very fragrant, as their sweet scent is intended to
attract pollinators to their nectar source. Adding them to your landscape is a
benefit to wildlife and to the senses. Examples from various regions include
Beebalm/Wild Bergamot (Mondarda fitulosa), Fragrant Phlox (Phlox pilosa) and
Anise Hyssop, (Agastache foeniculum)
Grasses and Groundcovers
These plants assist in preventing ground erosion, providing cover and places for
wildlife to raise their young. They are often drought tolerant, require minimal
maintenance, and are usually pest and disease free.
Grasses are excellent garden bed background plants and can provide screening for
privacy. In winter months they offer structure and form on an otherwise barren
landscape. Grasses add texture, motion and even sound in the breeze. Options in
size and shape gives dimension to habitat gardens and a spectrum of color
including soft greens, blues, reds and purples. Some examples include little
bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), wild
sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) and tall grass prairie switch grass (Panicum
virgatum). Some seed heads provide food for wildlife.
Groundcovers suppress weeds, retain moisture and also prevent erosion. Different
types are suited to either shade or sun. They are ideal cover for small mammals,
insects and other wildlife that survive close to the ground.
Trees and Shrubs
They serve wildlife year round. Many contribute pollen and nectar sources in the
spring, then berry and go to seed in fall and winter. Not only an important food
source, but they also provide nesting and resting places for birds and other
wildlife. Common bird species that do not migrate, such as northern cardinals,
woodpeckers and mockingbirds, depend on berrying shrubs in winter. Shrubs planted
densely attract many more birds to a property like cardinals and thrushes seeking
cover and nesting places.
Selected native trees and shrubs can visually anchor garden beds and serve as a
focal point with color, form and function. Planting a selection of deciduous,
semi-evergreen and evergreen trees creates a color palette bridging each season.
Trees benefit wildlife with acorns, other nuts, and berries. Pines provide roosting
areas for larger birds, like wild turkeys and hardwood trees provide nesting holes
for screech owls, flying squirrels, and wood ducks.
Bonus:
These woody plants also absorb carbon and help reduce energy costs as they provide
wind breaks in winter and shade in the summer. According to the U.S. Department of
Energy, a carefully positioned tree can save up to 25 percent of a household's
energy consumption for heating and cooling.
Native Plant Types
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants/Native-Plant-Types
Native
Plant
Finder
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/
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Native
Plant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_plant
PESTS
AND
DISEASES
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/identifier.shtml?mealy_cabbage_aphid
PLANTS
DATABASE
https://garden.org/plants/
THE
PLANT
GUIDE
http://theplantguide.net/
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SECTION 3
NATIVE
PLANTS
LINKS
The Biota of North America Program
http://www.bonap.org/
The Desert Echo
http://www.thedesertecho.com/
Gardening with Native Plants
https://www.gardendesign.com/plants/natives.html
Go Native
http://ohiodnr.gov/gonative
Green Healthy Planet
http://greenhealthyplanet.com/
Grow Native
http://grownative.org/
Landscaping with Native Plants
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/WildPlants/LandscapingwithNativePlants/Pages/default.aspx
Mother Nature Network MNN
https://www.mnn.com/
Native, Invasive, and Other Plant-Related Definitions
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ct/technical/ecoscience/invasive/?cid=nrcs142p2_011124
Native Plants
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/native-plants
Native Plants
http://albany.cce.cornell.edu/gardening/lawns-ornamentals/native-plants
Native plant types
http://keystonewildflowers.com/resources/plant-types/
Plant Native
http://plantnative.org/
Plants For A Future PFAF
http://pfaf.org/user/Default.aspx
Vegetable, Fruit and Herb Gardening Guide
https://garden.org/learn/library/foodguide/
What are Native Plants?
What are Native Plants?https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants
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The
PLANTS
Database
https://plants.usda.gov/java/
Native
Plants
Database
https://www.audubon.org/native-plants
Native
Plant
Database
http://grownative.org/native-plant-info/plant-picker/
Native
Plant
Trust
http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/
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Plants
http://amazingfacts4u.com/category/plants/
The
PLANTS
Database
https://plants.usda.gov/java/
Aquatic Plant
Search Engine
https://www.disky-design.dk/fish/PlantSearch/PlantSearch.html
Horticulture and
Soil Science Wiki
http://horticultureandsoilscience.wikia.com/wiki/Horticulture_and_Soil_Science_Wiki
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