Planning path

Native Plant Garden Planner

Plan native plant gardens from regional site fit, bloom and host-plant value, drifts, lawn conversion, nesting habitat, and source-backed native seed candidates.

Native plant planning checks

Match regionally native plants to the site

Use local native plant lists and match each species to sun, soil moisture, drainage, heat exposure, and available space before treating any native label as universally suitable.

Plan bloom and host-plant value

Combine nectar and pollen plants with species that support caterpillars, specialist bees, and beneficial insects so the planting supports more than adult pollinator visits.

Plant in noticeable drifts

Group repeat plants in visible clusters instead of scattering one of each species; drifts are easier for pollinators to find and easier for gardeners to maintain.

Keep soil covered and leave nesting habitat

Use dense planting, native groundcovers, leaf litter, bare-soil pockets, stems, and dead wood where appropriate so the garden provides food and shelter.

Phase lawn conversion

Convert turf or overgrown foundation beds in phases, starting near structures and high-traffic areas, while protecting new plantings from soil compaction and moisture stress.

Avoid invasive substitutions

Replace stressed or invasive ornamentals with locally appropriate native alternatives, and check cultivars or look-alike plants before assuming they provide the same habitat value.

Regional native plant checks

Pair native catalog entries with regional native status, bloom-period coverage, host-plant value, habitat structure, and non-exact species exclusions

• Xerces Midwest Native Pollinator Plant List Xerces checks Midwest native plant-list scope, bloom-period coverage, habitat structure, exact catalog species matches, and non-exact species exclusions

Native seed candidates

• Black-Eyed Susan Aster · 90 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Blanketflower Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Canada Goldenrod Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Dense Blazing Star Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Joe Pye Weed Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Lanceleaf Coreopsis Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• New England Aster Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Purple Coneflower Aster · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Little Bluestem Grass · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Common Milkweed Milkweed · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Swamp Milkweed Milkweed · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Clustered Mountain Mint Mint · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Eastern Bee Balm Mint · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost
• Foxglove Beardtongue Plantain · 365 days · High pollinator value · direct sow 14 days before last frost

Supporting planning paths

• Native Catalog 14 source-backed native entries
• Pollinator Garden Planner 14 native entries have high pollinator value
• Direct Sow Garden Planner 14 native entries can be direct sown
• Fall Planting Planner 14 native entries include fall timing
• Container Garden Planner 7 native entries fit containers
• Part-Shade Garden Planner 4 native entries tolerate part shade
• Planting Calendar Tool Map native direct-sowing, transplanting, and fall-window timing to local frost dates

Source basis

• Penn State plant factsheets 4 entries cite this source
• Penn State planting for pollinators 2 entries cite this source
• Penn State pollinator recommendations 1 entry cites this source
• UMD Extension native landscape designs Phased lawn conversion, plant diversity, soil testing, mulch depth, first-year moisture monitoring, and site-fit guidance
• UMD Extension pollinators and native plants Native plant food-web benefits, bloom succession, drifts, bare-soil nesting, leaf litter, and pesticide avoidance guidance
• UMN Extension native plants Native plant adaptation, low-care landscape fit, and native plant selection resources
• Xerces Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects: Midwest Xerces Midwest Native Pollinator Plant List regional native source
• Xerces pollinator-friendly native plant lists 7 entries cite this source