Native Plants for Wildlife Habitats
Native plants are the single highest-impact change you can make for backyard wildlife. Here's how to choose and plant them for your region.
Why native matters
The difference native plants make
Native plants evolved alongside the insects, birds, and mammals of your region. A single native oak can support over 500 species of caterpillar — the primary food for nestling songbirds — while a non-native ginkgo supports zero. Every swap matters.
Feed the food chain
Native plants support native insects, which feed native birds. That's how ecosystems work.
Lower maintenance
Native plants thrive in local soil and rainfall. Less watering, less mowing, less fertilizer.
Year-round value
Well-chosen natives offer nectar, berries, seeds, and shelter in different seasons.
Getting started
How to choose plants for your yard
- Start with your region — use the Audubon Native Plants database or your state's native plant society
- Match plants to your sun exposure (full sun, part shade, full shade) and soil drainage
- Pick a mix that blooms across the seasons — early spring, summer, and late fall — so something is always providing nectar
- Include all four layers: ground cover, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Diversity in structure means diversity in wildlife
- Leave dead stems standing through winter — native bees and beneficial insects overwinter in them
- Avoid pesticides and "treated" plants from big-box stores. Neonicotinoid residues kill the very pollinators you're trying to attract
See who shows up
Once you've planted, add a camera to your habitat and let EverydayEarth track the species that start visiting your new garden.
Connect a camera