Plant native plants to help nature
Native plants support the entire food web by providing food for insects, birds, bats, small mammals and other wildlife. This is particularly important now that scientists are documenting global declines in insect populations. Used in a rain garden, native plants help minimize flooding and filter out pollutants. The variety of colors, shapes and sizes adds beauty to any property. Get started with the resources below.
Planting basics
- Native plants for beginners
- Plant for monarchs
- Plants for birds
- Step-by-Step Native Landscaping Guide
- DNR's Native Plant Recommendations for Landscaping [PDF]
- Rain Gardens: A Guide for Homeowners and Landscapers
- Wild Ones native garden designs
Buy native plants
Native Plant Sales
- Friends of the Monarch Trail - Pre-orders due April 1, 2022. Plant Sale is Saturday, May 7, noon – 4pm and Sunday, May 8, 11am- 2pm.
- Friends of Lac Lawrann (West Bend) Plant Sale - May 7.
- UW Friends of the Arboretum Plant sale May 14.
- Friends of Horicon Marsh Plant Sale - May 21.
- Riverside Park Urban Ecology Center (Milwaukee) - Both in-person shopping day of sale (May 22) and pre-orders through Prairie Future Seed Company available (May 12-19).
- Farmshed's Growing Collective annual plant sale (Stephens Point)- May 24-28.
- Friends of Wehr Nature Center - Plant sale is June 4 and June 5.
- Schlitz Audubon Nature Center (Bayside) - Both in-person shopping day of sale (June 5) and pre-orders through Prairie Future Seed Company available (May 26-June 2).
- Wild Birds Unlimited (Mequon) - Fundraiser for Milwaukee Audubon Society. Both in-person shopping day of sale (June 11) and pre-orders through Prairie Future Seed Company available (June 5-9).
- Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center (Milwaukee) - Both in-person shopping day of sale (June 18) and pre-orders through Prairie Future Seed Company available (June 10-16).
Native Landscaping Webinars
- Wild Ones Menomonee River Area – See their monthly events calendar
- The Ohio State University's Tending Nature Series – This 6-session webinar series focused on the ecological roles of native plants and some of the creatures that depend on them.
- Wild Ones Native Plant webinars
Garden Tour Videos
Take a garden tour with DNR conservation biologist Amy Staffen as she showcases her native plants and provides a few tips and tricks for maximizing your yard for Wisconsin wildlife.
Ecosystem restoration
For broader-scale projects, please see the resources below to help with your project.
- Prairie Primer
- Plant Species Composition of Wisconsin Prairies: An Aid to Selecting Species for Plantings and Restorations
- Restoration contractors
- Xerces’ Pollinator Meadow Installation Guide and Checklist [exit DNR]
- Tallgrass Restoration Handbook
Dig deeper
Interested in more help with creating habitat for animals? Try these other resources.
- Birding and bird conservation
- DNR's native pollinator page
- The Field Museum’s Creating Monarch Habitat in Your Midwestern Garden
- Xerces' Pollinator Plants Great Lakes Guide
- Wisconsin School Garden Initiative
- Wild Ones - Membership organization with chapters throughout Wisconsin, promotes landscaping with native plants.