Learn About Natives
The first step to “Bringing Home the Natives” is learning why, how and where natives will provide the most benefit. Disturbed and developed areas such as parks, backyards, campuses and street sides provide a perfect opportunity to landscape with native plants.
Avoid planting rare, endangered, and threatened plants. Instead, choose native plant species that grow commonly throughout the state. These hardy and adaptable plants do well in a wide variety of conditions and have a much better chance of success in gardens.
Get started with this database of trees, shrubs, perennials and ferns. These are just a few, but there are plenty more you can discover through field guides and credible websites. Click here for more resources.
These brochures provide information on native species, plus include a chart of several of the more common species:
 Sunny/Dry |
 Shady/Dry |
 Sunny/Moist |
 Shady/Moist |
View pictures of native plants and gardens from across the state planted by people just like you. Join our gallery.
Attending a native planting event, seminar, workshop, or plant sale can also help you learn more about natives. Try our calendar of events for some ideas.
Do you have larger property you are tired of mowing and would like to convert to fields or forests? We are here to help those gardeners who have larger lands to manage.
© 2007 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources