Native Plant Resources
USE THESE RESOURCES TO FIND AND BUY NATIVE PLANTS AND LEARN ABOUT YOUR ECOSYSTEM
Plant Finders to Get You Dreaming
Plants do best when matched with their conditions, so look first for plants suitable for your region. You can check whether a plant is native to your county by using the Digital Atlas of Virginia or the USDA Plants Database, listed at the bottom.
Plant SWVA Natives: The best site for list of plant native to Southwest Virginia and their growing conditions
https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plantswvanatives/native-plants-of-southwest-virginia
Virginia Native Plant Finder: Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping: Searchable site by plant characteristic
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/native-plants-finder
Virginia Native Plant Guides: A list of native plant guides for regions around the commonwealth
https://vnps.org/virginia-native-plant-guides/
Native Plant Finder
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Plants
Plant the ‘Super 9’ for Pollinators
https://loudounwildlife.org/2019/08/super-nine/
Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists
https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-friendly-plant-lists
Where to Buy Native Plants in the Roanoke Region
These nurseries all specialize in native plants. Also check with your local garden centers and ask them to carry native plants.
The Natural Garden, Harrisonburg, VA
Wild Plant Nursery at Earth Sangha, Springfield, VA
Hummingbird Hill Native Plant Nursery , Charlottesville, VA
Monticello Garden Shop, Charlottesville, VA
Wood Thrush Natives, Floyd, VA
Hill House Natives, Castleton, VA
Other Sources for Native Plants
Your local Master Gardener Association or Native Plant Society may hold plant sales in the spring and fall. Check out the Virginia Native Plant Society Plant Sale List.
Numerous native plant nurseries sell through the internet. Check the reviews to order only from quality growers. If possible, buy from the seller closest to you: those plants will be better adapted to your climate. Here are a few options to get you started.
Virginia Native Plant Society Nursery List
https://vnps.org/native-plant-nursery-list/
Virginia Native Plant Society Plant Sale List
https://vnps.org/native-plant-sales/
Native plant gardens for purchase with design and care information
https://www.gardenforwildlife.org/s/
Wild Ridge Plants
Native Plant Ecological Resources
Interested in learning more about the ecology of your region? Dive into these resources.
USDA Plants Database
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home
Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
Ecoregions of North America
https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions-north-america
The Natural Communities of Virginia: Classification of Ecological Groups and Community Types
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/
Overview Of The Physiography And Vegetation Of Virginia
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/document/ncoverviewphys-veg.pdf
Native Plant Trust