Resources

Native plants, those that grew wild in your area prior to European settlement, are the best choice for a wildlife-friendly garden for several reasons.

• Native plants are adapted to local conditions so will thrive better without the need for harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
• They are better suited to meet the needs of wildlife.
• Some wildlife species are entirely dependent on the availability of certain native plants. The Karner Blue Butterfly, for example, is endangered because of the disappearance of its larval host plant, wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). By choosing plants native to your region you support local wildlife.

Native plants should never be dug from the wild. Many are becoming threatened through habitat destruction and collection. We should not be adding to this pressure. The best source for your plants is a good local nursery with plants native to your region, grown by the nursery, and not collected from the wild. To help in the search for such suppliers we have compiled this source list.