Native Plants
What exactly is a native plant?
Native plants are those that have occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction. So, in other words, they were here first!
Why plant natives?
Natives provide food and shelter for a diversity of insects, birds, and other wildlife. They thrive in the places that match their growing conditions, which means less watering and maintenance, and less pest problems that require the application of harmful chemicals. Native plants also help manage rain water runoff and maintain healthy soils as their root systems are deep and keep the soil from becoming compacted.
Want to plant natives, but you’re not sure where to start?
The National Wildlife Federation has a handy “Native Plant Finder“on their website. Just enter your zip code, and plants native to your area will appear! From there, it’s a matter of selecting those that fit your growing conditions (i.e., wet/dry soil, sun/shade, etc.).
The Indiana Native Plant Society website has a wealth of information on native (and invasive) plants.
USDA’s plant website, plants.usda.gov, has fact sheets, and various means to search (characteristics, growth habit, invasive, state, etc.) for suitable plants. Photos are provided.
Many Indiana plants also grow in Missouri, and the Missouri Plants site is an excellent source of photos. The site offers a variety of means to search for a plant: flower color and leaf arrangement, scientific name, common name, and family.
Native plants are those that have occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction. So, in other words, they were here first!
Why plant natives?
Natives provide food and shelter for a diversity of insects, birds, and other wildlife. They thrive in the places that match their growing conditions, which means less watering and maintenance, and less pest problems that require the application of harmful chemicals. Native plants also help manage rain water runoff and maintain healthy soils as their root systems are deep and keep the soil from becoming compacted.
Want to plant natives, but you’re not sure where to start?
The National Wildlife Federation has a handy “Native Plant Finder“on their website. Just enter your zip code, and plants native to your area will appear! From there, it’s a matter of selecting those that fit your growing conditions (i.e., wet/dry soil, sun/shade, etc.).
The Indiana Native Plant Society website has a wealth of information on native (and invasive) plants.
USDA’s plant website, plants.usda.gov, has fact sheets, and various means to search (characteristics, growth habit, invasive, state, etc.) for suitable plants. Photos are provided.
Many Indiana plants also grow in Missouri, and the Missouri Plants site is an excellent source of photos. The site offers a variety of means to search for a plant: flower color and leaf arrangement, scientific name, common name, and family.
Monarch caterpillar on native butterfly milkweed
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Where to purchase natives:
McCoy’s Nursery 8911 IN-62 Charlestown, IN 47111 (812) 256-4769 https://www.mccoysnursery.com/ Dropseed Native Plant Nursery 1205 S. Buckeye Ln. Goshen, KY 40026 (502) 439-9033 https://www.dropseednursery.com/ Stantec Native Plant Nursery 128 Sunset Dr. Walkerton, IN 46574 (574) 586-2412 https://www.stantec.com/en/services/native-plant-nursery |
Old Thyme Loghouse Gardens 8207 Old State Rd. 3 Otisco, IN 47163 (812) 256-7971 Old Thyme Loghouse Gardens Prairie Moon Nursery 32115 Prairie Ln. Winona, MN 55987 (866) 417-8156 https://www.prairiemoon.com/ Spence Restoration Nursery 2220 East Fuson Rd. Muncie, IN 47302 (765)286-7154 https://spencenursery.com/ |
