Native Plants

Native Plant FAQ

Why should I plant native plants?

Planting native plants in Indiana supports local wildlife, boosts biodiversity, conserves water, reduces maintenance (no fertilizers/less fuss), prevents erosion with deep roots, and creates beautiful, resilient landscapes that define Indiana's natural heritage. They're perfectly adapted to local climate, soil, and pests, providing essential food and habitat for native insects, birds, and pollinators, crucial for healthy ecosystems.

We visit beautiful places like Japan to see their native plant life, other visit us to see our native plant life. We should celebrate the plants that are meant to be here! Indiana is a very biodiverse area with many different plants to love.

What can native plants do for me?

When we give native plants a place around our home, we can be awarded with more visits from birds, mammals, and many different pollinators. "Native plants “help maintain or recreate ecological systems and food webs that have evolved over thousands of years to allow birds and biodiversity to thrive,” says Rodomsky-Bish of the Cornell Lab. “Those insects and their caterpillars are just not going to be there if they don’t have the right kinds of plants.”" (Excerpt from allaboutbirds.org)

Native plants are well adapted to our environment... they are kind of made to grow here! This means you can severely reduce your use of water and fertilizer when you grow native species in your landscape, versus cultivated species that are from thousands of miles away.

Native plants have deep and extensive root systems that can fight back many erosion problems.

There are so many more reasons! More reasons can be found here: indiananativeplants.org

Where can I buy native plants? Why are they are not available like many other cultivated species?

Unfortunately, sometimes native species can be difficult to find and buy. There has not been a huge interest or market for native species, because of this many nurseries do not focus on these. Now that there is a much larger effort for more to grow native species, they have become more common to find, but there is still a long way to go. You can buy many different species at local native plant sales, buy seeds online from reputable businesses, and even propagate your own with something as simple as collecting seeds.
You can find seeds from places like Prairie Moon Nursery, Wyatt Seed Company, Roundstone Native Seed, and more. Indiana Native Plant Society has a directory for buying native plants available here as well as our contractor list here. (Please note: This list is maintained solely as a service to local residents and businesses. This list does not represent an endorsement by the SWCD, the United States Department of Agriculture, or any other partnering agency. While an effort has been made to provide a complete and accurate listing, omissions or other errors may occur. Other available sources of information should also be consulted)

Native Plant FAQ

Landscaping with Plants Native to Indiana

MIPN Landscape Native Alternatives

Guide to Native Planting in HOA Communities

Landscaping Over Septic Systems with Native Plants

Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Wildflowers for Beneficial Insects

A Guide to NativeScaped Yards and HOA Sanction

Why Native Plants are Important