A Monarch butterfly perched on purple and yellow wildflowers in a grassy field.

Native Plant Resource Hub

Explore our curated guides, plant lists, and expert tips to learn about native landscaping and our process from consultation to maintenance.

Colorful wildflowers with purple, orange, and yellow blooms grow amidst tall green grass.

FAQs

  • Native plants are species that evolved in our region and have co-evolved with local insects, birds, and wildlife. They provide the necessary food and habitat for pollinators and birds. They also need less water once established, reduce erosion, and support healthier local ecosystems.

  • Maximizing natives is best (some experts recommend ~70% natives), but a small percentage of non-natives that provide nectar or pollen (like some annual flowers or edible herbs) can be part of a healthy ecosystem.

  • Native plantings focus on root establishment first. Expect: Year 1 — open look while roots establish; Year 2 — filling in and reduced weeds; Year 3+ — a stable, resilient planting.

  • We select species matched to your site conditions (sun, soil, moisture), the ecological role you’d like (pollinator host, shrub layer, screening), and your aesthetic preferences. We have extensive knowledge about regionally appropriate choices that do well in home landscapes, and consider species that support caterpillars and birds.

  • Plants typically include a one-year warranty unless otherwise noted. The warranty does not cover damage from pets, construction, vehicles, extreme weather, deer browsing (unless specified), or lack of maintenance/watering.

  • Any newly installed landscape, whether traditional or native, will require more weeding in the early stages (we recommend brief checks for weeds at least every 3–4 weeks in Year 1). As native plant landscapes fill in and mature, they form a “green mulch” and maintenance drops to a few seasonal check-ins by Year 3, much less than a traditional landscape. We offer maintenance packages (mulch, pruning, weeding, replacements) if you decide you want any assistance managing your landscape.

  • Yes — leaving seedheads and stalks through winter supports wildlife, protects roots, and builds soil health. If you prefer a tidier look for certain areas, we can adjust cutback timing and style to suit your preferences without sacrificing ecological function.

  • No — yard fogging products kill many non-target insects (butterflies, bees, fireflies and other beneficials). There are more effective strategies (“mosquito bucket of doom,” removing standing water, welcoming predators to the landscape such as bats and dragonflies) that are far less harmful to pollinators. See our blog post for more details.

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson