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
- Rain Gardens: A Guide for Homeowners and Landscapers
- Wild Ones native garden designs
Buy native plants
Native Plant Sales
- Friends of Wisdom Prairie (Holy Wisdom Monastery) and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance native plant sale (Middleton). Online pre-order March 21-May 5. Pick up on May 5.
- UW Arboretum Online Native Plant Sale (Madison) - Jan. 1 - March 31. Pick up during the week of May 6.
- Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Native Plant, Tree, Shrub Sale (Neenah). Online orders are now through March 31. Pick up on May 18.
- Wild Ones Root River Chapter Native Plant Sale (Mt. Pleasant). Online orders are now through April 1. Pick up on May 18.
- Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Native Plant Sale. Online orders are now until April 4. Pick up on June 15.
- Ozaukee County Pollinator Native Plant & Grass sale (Port Washington). Online orders are now through April 12. Pick up in mid-June.
- Friends of Wehr Nature Center native plant sale (Milwaukee). Online orders are now through April 25. In-person sale June 1-2, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Wild Ones Green Bay Chapter Pollinator Kits Native Plant Sale (De Pere). Online pre-order now through April 30. Pick up on June 1. Extra plants available for purchase on pick-up day.
- Beaver Creek Reserve native plant sale (Fall Creek). Order online May 1-8. Pick up on May 10-11.
- Elm Grove Native Tree, Shrub and Plant Sale (Elm Grove). Online pre-order now through May 11. Pick up on May 18.
- Friends of Horicon Marsh "Wildflowers for Wildlife" native plant sale (Horicon). May 18, 9.30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- UW Arboretum Native Plant Sale in the Tent (Madison) - May 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or until plants sell out
- Plant Dane Native Plant Sale (Madison) - Order online now through March 19. Pick up May 18.
- Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society Spring Plant Sale (Madison) – May 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Schlitz Audubon Nature Center native plant sale (Milwaukee), June 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Online pre-order details to come.
- Elm Grove Native Perennial Sale (Elm Grove). June 1, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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
- 5 Steps to Planting a Pollinator Garden in Wisconsin
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
- Tallgrass Restoration Handbook
Dig Deeper
Interested in more help with creating habitats for animals? Try these other resources.
- Birding and bird conservation
- DNR's native pollinator page
- The Field Museum’s Urban Monarch Conservation
- Xerces' Pollinator Plants Great Lakes Guide
- SOS Save Our Songbirds
- Wisconsin School Garden Initiative
- Wild Ones - Membership organization with chapters throughout Wisconsin, promotes landscaping with native plants