Finding & Learning About Native Plants
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
There are four primary online databases I use to learn about native plant habits and requirements. LBJWC, PMN, MBG, IW.
Prairie Moon Nursery
Especially useful because of germiantion code for seed and seed counts per ounce (if you are making a custom mix).
Missouri Botanical Garden
A massive plant database.
Illinois Wildflowers
I appreciate the info on growing habitats as well as fauna relationships.
BONAP
One stop shopping for range maps as well as ecoregion data (where the plant grows in the wild -- eg soil type).
EPA Ecoregion Maps
If you're gardening by USDA hardiness zone please stop and garden by ecoregion.
Plant Native
A slightly-out-of-date index of native plant nurseries and professionals by state.
Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska and the Great Plains
A truly in depth guide whose plants stretch to the east coast, for all intents and purposes.
Native Plants of the Midwest
Print guide that's another useful reference, especially for beginners.
Native Plants for New England Gardens
Ditto.
The Southeast Native Plant Primer
Ditto ditto.
Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest
Ditto ditto ditto.
Native Plant Societies
A complete listing.
Wild Ones
An influential organization whose member chapters are active via newsletters and events.
There are four primary online databases I use to learn about native plant habits and requirements. LBJWC, PMN, MBG, IW.
Prairie Moon Nursery
Especially useful because of germiantion code for seed and seed counts per ounce (if you are making a custom mix).
Missouri Botanical Garden
A massive plant database.
Illinois Wildflowers
I appreciate the info on growing habitats as well as fauna relationships.
BONAP
One stop shopping for range maps as well as ecoregion data (where the plant grows in the wild -- eg soil type).
EPA Ecoregion Maps
If you're gardening by USDA hardiness zone please stop and garden by ecoregion.
Plant Native
A slightly-out-of-date index of native plant nurseries and professionals by state.
Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska and the Great Plains
A truly in depth guide whose plants stretch to the east coast, for all intents and purposes.
Native Plants of the Midwest
Print guide that's another useful reference, especially for beginners.
Native Plants for New England Gardens
Ditto.
The Southeast Native Plant Primer
Ditto ditto.
Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest
Ditto ditto ditto.
Native Plant Societies
A complete listing.
Wild Ones
An influential organization whose member chapters are active via newsletters and events.
Designing With Native Plants
California Native Landscapes
A guide on working in the diverse climates of California complete with plants lists.
The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden
Instructive for beginners to intermediate gardeners, this book provides blueprints for matrix gardening.
Planting in a Post Wild World
Probably the #1 book you need to have right now to get a handle on the larger conversation, but it can read more for advanced folks.
Garden Revolution
The wisdom of Larry Weaner, a Midwest and Northeast meadow maker (often from seed).
Sowing Beauty
The persepctive is from the UK but the insights are internationally applicable on designing and managing a garden from seed.
Gardening for Butterflies
Not just a book on butterfly gardening, it's a how-to on supporting wildlife through purposeful design.
Naturalistic Planting Design
A primer on what is meant by naturalistic design, from theory to application.
Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning
The best guide I've ever read on how to shape and heal woody plants.
Planting: A New Perspective
From Piet Oudolf himself, a peak into how to plan and create highly artistic landscapes.
Attracting Beneficial Bug to Your Garden
What garden management and design practices you can put into place to eliminate chemical inputs like insecticides.
Weeds of the Great Plains
Over 400 narratives of weeds you'll find around most of the country at a clearance price. Incredible resource.
The Science & Ecology of Native Plant Gardening
Principles of Ecological Landscape Design
An in-depth look at the why, from science and ecology to how it all applies practically.
Pollinators of Native Plants
Highlighting native plants and insect interactions so you know who to support and how.
Our Native Bees
A narrative and scientific exploration on why native bees are critical to agriculture and gardening.
The Bees in Your Backyard
A comprehensive field guide to identifying and learning about all the bees you may see out back.
Bringing Nature Home
I don't think I need to say why this is the foundation text for this group heading.
Prairie: A Natural History
This one is here for more context about a very large region of the US. There is a lot here that goes beyond prairie.
An in-depth look at the why, from science and ecology to how it all applies practically.
Pollinators of Native Plants
Highlighting native plants and insect interactions so you know who to support and how.
Our Native Bees
A narrative and scientific exploration on why native bees are critical to agriculture and gardening.
The Bees in Your Backyard
A comprehensive field guide to identifying and learning about all the bees you may see out back.
Bringing Nature Home
I don't think I need to say why this is the foundation text for this group heading.
Prairie: A Natural History
This one is here for more context about a very large region of the US. There is a lot here that goes beyond prairie.
