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Plant to Grow

Knowing what to plant and where to plant makes all the difference! Whether you’re putting in a community pollinator garden or changing out a few features in your backyard, the choices you make can have positive impact on both the health of the ecosystem and the beauty of your surroundings. The resources below can help you find the best fit plant for your space.

Creating Habitats

Create a home for your local wildlife! From birds to butterflies to rare native bees the plants you choose can be a refuge for our wild neighbors. Learn more about habitats and attracting wildlife in the resources below.

Bring more birds to your home with Audubon’s native plants database
Delaware Native Plants for Native Bees
Gardening for Wildlife page
Plants for Butterflies & Moths
Pollinator Plants: Northeast Region
Selecting Plants for Pollinators

Community Connections

Grow together with likeminded people by joining a local interest group! These organizations are a great place to network with informed, and passionate people.

Delaware Master Gardeners Cooperative Extension
Delaware Native Plant Society
Outdoor Activities for Families

Get Certified

Receive recognition or simply learn more about what your planted spaces can accomplish by looking into garden and habitat certifications.

Become a certified Delaware Master Naturalist and provide a continuing commitment to nature! The Delaware Master Naturalist Program is a science-based natural resource training program jointly coordinated by University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware Nature Society.
National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certification
River Friendly Garden Certification
North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly garden certification
Create sustainable sites and resilient landscape with SITES
Own a business? Learn more about certification for professionals

Government Leads by Example

As the public learns more about the importance of ecosystem health so to have the efforts of our representatives shifted to address those concerns. Here are some examples of changes and programs across the US:

Delaware: Section 40 of the New Castle County Unified Development Code describes reforestation requirements in landscaping that emphasize use of native plants.
Pennsylvania: The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Lawn Conversion Program is available statewide and aims to support those who wish to convert excess acres of lawn to wood or meadow.
California: East Bay Municipal Utility District offers rebates for converting lawns spaces to water-wise gardens. Higher level rebates are offered for conversions that use majority native plants.
Maryland: The University of Maryland Extension provides guidance on and resources supporting lawn alternatives.
Minnesota: The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Lawns to Legumes program offers workshops, coaching, planting guides and individual support grant for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns.
Many states are addressing drought by providing landscaping rebates, see what your area offers.