Native plants evolved in your region over thousands of years, developing deep relationships with local soil, climate, insects, birds, and fungi.
## Why Go Native?
### Water Savings
Deep roots (10-15 feet) make natives drought-tolerant. 50-75% less water than lawn.
### Wildlife Support
- Support 10-100x more insect species than non-natives
- 96% of birds need insects to feed young
- Native oaks support 500+ caterpillar species
### Low Maintenance
Once established: no fertilizer, no pesticides, minimal watering, no mowing.
### Climate Resilience
Adapted to local extremes that kill non-native plantings.
## Finding Your Local Natives
1. NWF Native Plant Finder (zip code search)
2. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center database
3. Your state Native Plant Society
4. iNaturalist for local wild plants
5. Native plant nurseries (avoid big-box cultivars)
## Getting Started
### Step 1: Start Small
Replace a lawn strip, convert a garden bed, plant a hedgerow. Aim for 70% native.
### Step 2: Kill Lawn (Sheet Mulch)
1. Mow short
2. Overlapping cardboard
3. 4-6 inches compost or wood chips
4. Wait 2-3 months
5. Plant through decomposed cardboard
### Step 3: Prepare Soil
- Don't amend heavily (natives prefer native soil)
- Remove invasives completely
- Test drainage
- Match plants to conditions
### Step 4: Plant in Layers
- Canopy: small native trees
- Understory: shrubs
- Herbaceous: perennials and grasses
- Ground cover: low-growing natives
## Starter Lists by Region
### Northeast (Zones 4-6)
Purple coneflower, New England aster, wild bergamot, switchgrass, red maple, serviceberry
### Southeast (Zones 7-9)
Black-eyed Susan, butterfly weed, blazing star, dogwood, redbud, wax myrtle
### Midwest (Zones 4-6)
Prairie coneflower, lead plant, big bluestem, bur oak, wild indigo, Joe-Pye weed
### Pacific Northwest (Zones 7-9)
Douglas aster, yarrow, tufted hairgrass, vine maple, sword fern, salal
### Southwest (Zones 7-10)
Desert marigold, penstemon, deer grass, palo verde, desert willow, agave
## Planting Tips
1. Plant in fall or early spring
2. Water deeply first year (1 inch/week)
3. Mulch with shredded hardwood
4. Leave seed heads for birds
5. Avoid fertilizer
6. Be patient: Year 1 sleep, Year 2 creep, Year 3 leap
## Common Mistakes
1. Too few of each species (plant 3-5 together)
2. Over-amending soil
3. Only showy bloomers (include grasses and foliage)
4. Ignoring bloom sequence
5. Buying cultivars with reduced ecological value
