Why Native Plants?

• Stormwater Management – When it rains, stormwater sheets and flows over lawns carrying excess nutrients from yards and ultimately out into the Chesapeake Bay where they cause large detrimental algal blooms that choke life in the bay. Native plants have evolved in our region for hundreds of years and are accustomed to local soil, sun, and climate. Also, native plants typically have deep root systems and grow tall and in clusters. By replacing portions of your yard with native plants, you can decrease the amount of fertilizer and chemicals needed to maintain your yard, decrease the amount of water needed to keep the plants alive, and slow down stormwater flow and increase infiltration, mitigating harmful erosion and flooding.
• Wildlife Benefits – Our local wildlife have evolved alongside our native plants for hundreds of years and are reliant on the ecological benefits they provide. Some evolutions are so co-dependent, that only one species of pollinator has the appropriate adaptation to pollinate a specific plant. By adding native plants to your landscape, you can provide food and shelter for local wildlife and help increase biodiversity in our region.
• Saves You Money – Native plants need less intensive care than lawns or ornamental plants. They need less fertilizers, less pesticides, and less watering all while creating a dynamic and attractive addition to your landscape.

Please review this Native Plant List for ideas of plants you can add to your landscape! This list is comprised of some less well known native plants that are beneficial to local wildlife. For more comprehensive lists, visit the links below.

Local Native Plant Nurseries

Chesapeake Natives - Upper Marlboro, MD

Lauren’s Garden Service - Columbia, MD

Meadow Sweet Native Plant Farm - Spring Grove, PA

Patuxent Nursery - Bowie, MD

Izel Native Plants -  Online Plant Nursery 

Go Native Trees - Lancaster, PA

Keystone Wildflowers - Robesonia, PA

Hill House Native Farm and Nursery - Castleton, VA

Kollar Nursery - Pylesville, MD

Wakefield Nursery - New Windsor, MD

Sevenbends Nursery - Winchester, VA

Native Plant Nursery Finder

Additional Resources

Chesapeake Bay Native Plant Center

Maryland Native Plant Society

Maryland DNR

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service