Native Plant Information | NJ/PA/DE Resources | Stephen Coan Garden Design

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Native Plant Resources

This is a curated list of trusted native plant resources for the Philadelphia tri-state (NJ/PA/DE), including references for plant selection, habitat value, regional ecology, and responsible sourcing. Use it to choose plants that match real site conditions and support resilient, refined, plant-forward landscapes.

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BRINGING NATURE HOME - by DOUG TALLAMY

"Chances are, you have never thought of your garden - indeed, of all of the space on your property - as a wildlife preserve that represents the last chance we have for sustaining plants and animals that were once common throughout the U.S. But that is exactly the role our suburban landscapes are now playing and will play even more in the near future."

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NWF NATIVE PLANT/BUTTERFLY FINDER

Bring your garden to life! Enter your zip code to discover the best native plants, attract butterflies and moths, and support birds and other fauna. An indispensable tool, based on the research of Dr Douglas Tallamy of the University of Delaware and in partnership with the United States Forest Service.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY - GARDEN WITH NATIVE PLANTS

Native plants are adapted to native soils; they don’t need chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

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THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER

Lady Bird Johnson, our former first lady, and actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes. First as the National Wildflower Research Center and later as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, this special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants.

MORRIS ARBORETUM

The Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania is the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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DELAWARE VALLEY FERN & WILDFLOWER SOCIETY

The purpose of the DVFWS shall be to encourage the enjoyment of ferns and wildflowers by cultivating and propagating them in the home garden; by studying them in their wild habitats, gardens, and conservatories; by promoting their conservation and preservation, and by providing a forum for the exchange of information and expertise.

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Why Use Native Plants? Choosing native plants allows developed landscapes to coexist with nature, rather than compete with it. Increasingly, gardeners are choosing native plants.

We promote establishment of communities of native plants around homes, schools and businesses, using ecological practices.

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PlantNative is dedicated to moving native plants and naturescaping into mainstream landscaping practices.

USDA - NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.

THE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY

New Jersey's diversity of habitat, in concert with four distinct seasons, blesses our state with botanical variety. From the stirrings of spring ephemerals through the forest litter, to the abundance for summer pollinator plants, to the turning of deciduous leaves, and then to the berries of winter, each season adorns Jersey with a wonderful display of flora.

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THE XERCES SOCIETY

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. They have a lot of resources, downloads, and books.

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