Guidelines on Use of Native Plants for Gardening

Introduction

Have you walked through a meadow and been impressed with the colorful array of native wildflowers? Do you enjoy the beauty of natural areas that you visit in Oregon? Do you like watching birds or butterflies use plants for the different resources they provide? Are you interested in protecting or enhancing natural areas in your community? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you may also be interested in incorporating native plants into your home garden.

Growing natives in your garden is a great way to gain familiarity with native plants. In addition, using native plants in your garden is a logical extension of your concern for preserving some of Oregon's natural heritage. In your garden, you can provide habitat for native plants and the great array of animals and other organisms that depend on them.

The Native Plant Society of Oregon (NPSO) encourages you to grow Oregon native plants in your garden. However, while there are several hundred plants native to Oregon that make good garden plants, not all are native to your area of Oregon. The purpose of this document is to outline guidelines that the NPSO hopes you will follow to maximize the ecological and practical benefits of native plant gardening.