Native Plant References

• Bringing Nature Home - Doug Tallamy  Click on links for further info on Dr. Tallamy's research.  His book well delineates need to replace suburban lawns with native plants to increase biodiversity. 90% of song birds depend on insects to feed their young. Beneficial insects are dependent on specific native plants for various life phases. Click here for link to interview with Dr. Tallamy on the Allegany Front radio.
• Center for Plant Conservation - Dedicated solely to preventing the extinction of U.S. native plants. Network of more than 30 leading botanic institutions. Founded in 1984, operates only coordinated national program of off-site (ex situ) conservation of rare plant material. Mission is to conserve and restore the rare native plants of the United States

  Landscaping with Native Plants of PA - pamphlet pub. by DCNR.  Pamphlet form available at DCNR and Penn State County Extension offices.  Brief info.
• Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed - pub. by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Click on links or Scroll to bottom of page to download 5.3 MB PDF format of actual booklet.  Hard copy at The Public Library of Union County. 

• Email Mary_Cordovilla@fws.gov  to receive free copy of Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. Unknown how long booklet supplies will last. 

• Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: a guide to using, growing, and propagating North American woody plants - William Cullina, pub. by New England Wildflower Society. Wealth of info on woody plants. Highly recommended for a native plant gardener's library.

• Online Tree Fact Sheets by Dendrology at Virginia Tech. Excellent photos and information on trees and shrubs.  Enter common or botanical name or use family names listed at site and click PA state option. Once you click on Display Matching Species be sure to scroll entire page to see all info and further info options.

• Planting Noah's Garden: Further Adventures in Backyard Ecology - Sara Stein, pub. by Houghton Mifflin Co., available through used bookstores and online. Detailed info on replacing lawn with native plants, establishing plants, all aspects of gardening, entertaining as well. Highly recommended for a native plant gardener's library. If you only buy one book this is the one to own.

• Trees of the Northern United States and Canada - John Laird Farrar, pub. by Iowa State Press. Excellent photos and sketches for identification of native and introduced species. Informative text.

• Wildflowers: A Guide to Growing and Propagating Native Flowers of North America - Willaim Cullina, pub. by New England Wildflower Society. Wealth of info on native wildflowers. Highly recommended for a native plant gardener's library.

• Wildlife Publications - Penn State University Wildlife Publication series:  42 online publications.

Best resources to determine what plants are native to PA:

• The Plants of Pennsylvania - Ann Rhoads, pub. by U. of PA, detailed reference to all plants of PA. Some sketches. Hard copy to check out and in Reference section at The Public Library of Union County. Newest edition published in 2007.

• Wildflowers of Pennsylvania - Mary Joy Haywood. Sold at Ned Smith Nature Center for Nature and Art, Millersburg. Photos and text.

• Online PA Native Plant Database -  search by species, county, or watershed. Text only, no photos.

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network - Use Native Plant Database to search for state native plants by any/all of the following: general appearance, bloom time/color, light requirement, soil moisture, common or scientific name. Scroll page to see all categories.

Use these resources to help identify invasive plants so you know what plants to avoid buying and to remove from your property:

• Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States: Identification and Control 
  Full text/photos available online at link. Free CD available through site includes Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. Scroll down page to all links.  The one labeled Plant Invaders lists/shows alternative native plants to grow when you click on invasive plant.
  Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas -  pub. by National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Plants to avoid and remove from your property.  Native alternatives included.  Excellent photos and brief write-ups.  Full text/photos available at online link. Click on book cover or title to access material. Be sure to scroll down entire page of each plant.  Hard copy at The Public Library of Union County.  Email Mary_Cordovilla@fws.gov  to receive free copy of Plant Invaders booklet. Unknown how long booklet supplies will last. 
  Invasive Plant information available in full text, photos, sketches online by New England Wild Flower Society.

Links to other gardening info on our website:

Composting

Gardening Questions and Answers

Horticultural Categories

Native Plant Landscaping includes Gardening for Wildlife, Creating a Healthy Yard, Butterflies and Moths, Honeybee Alert, Project Budburst.

Native Plant Sources

Planting for Bluebirds

Rain Barrels

Row Covers