March 1999
United States	Region 5	Illinois, Indiana,
Environmental Protection	77 West Jackson Boulevard	Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Agency	Chicago, Illinois 60604	Wisconsin
SEPA LANDSCAPING WITH
NATIVE PLANTS
Prior to the arrival of the first European settlers, the Midwestern landscape was made up of a variety
of ecosystems, including tallgrass prairies, oak savannas, woodlands, and wetlands. These
ecosystems were home to abundant birds, butterflies and other animals. Most of these areas have
been transformed into the agricultural lands, urban centers, and industrial sites we see today. Few
acres of the original landscapes remain. For example, approximately 65% of Illinois was originally
tallgrass prairie. Today, less than 0.01% of the original prairie survives in small, scattered preserves.
Other natural ecosystems have fared similarly.
After European settlement, people planted gardens with plants brought from their home country.
They were tiny, comfortable garden plots set in a huge wilderness. Today, however, the reverse is
true. Agricultural and garden plants introduced from all over the world dominate the landscape, while
native plants are managed in small preserves. In recent years, natural landscaping - using native
plants and plant communities in landscaping - has become more common.
What is a Native Plant?
Native plants (also called indigenous plants) are
plants that have evolved over thousands of years
in a particular region. They have adapted to the
geography, hydrology, and climate of that region.
Native plants occur in communities, that is, they
have evolved together with other plants. As a result,
a connriui iity of native plants provides habitat for a
variety of native wildlife species such as songbirds
and butterflies.
What is a Non-native Plant?
Non-native plants (also called non-indigenous plants, invasive plants, exotic species, or weeds) are
plants that have been introduced into an environment in which they did not evolve. Introduction of
non-native plants into our landscape has been both accidental and deliberate. Purple loosestrife, for
example, was introduced from Europe in the 1800's in ship ballast and as a medicinal herb and
ornamental plant. It quickly spread and can now be found in 42 states.
In general, aggressive, non-native plants have no enemies or controls to limit their spread. As they
move in, complex native plant communities, with hundreds of different plant species supporting
wildlife, will be converted to a monoculture. This means the community of plants and animals is
simplified, with most plant species disappearing, leaving only the non-native plant population intact.
For example, purple loosestrife colonizes wetland areas, replacing native plants unable to compete
for available sunlight, water, and nutrients. Wetlands infested with purple loosestrife lose as much
as 50% of their original native plant populations. This limits the variety of food and cover available
to birds and may cause the birds to move or disappear from a region altogether.

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Why Should I Use Native Plants?
Replacing Your Lawn
Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant,
low maintenance landscape while benefiting the
environment. Native plants, once established, save time
and money by eliminating or significantly reducing the
need for fertilizers, pesticides, water and lawn
maintenance equipment.
Native plants do not require fertilizers. Vast amounts of
fertilizers are applied to lawns. Excess phosphorus and
nitrogen (the main components of fertilizers) run off into
lakes and rivers causing excess algae growth. This
depletes oxygen in our waters, harms aquatic life and
interferes with recreational uses.
Native plants require fewer pesticides than lawns.
Nationally, over 70 million pounds of pesticides are
applied to lawns each year. Pesticides run off lawns and
can contaminate rivers and lakes. People and pets in
contact with chemically treated lawns can be exposed to
pesticides.
Native plants require less water than lawns. The
modern lawn requires significant amounts of water to
thrive. In urban areas, lawn irrigation uses as much as
30% of the water consumption on the East Coast and up to
60% on the West Coast. The deep root systems of many
native Midwestern plants increase the soil's capacity to
store water. Native plants can significantly reduce water
runoff and, consequently, flooding.
Native plants help reduce air pollution. Natural
landscapes do not require mowing. Lawns, however, must
be mowed regularly. Gas powered garden tools emit 5%
of the nation's air pollution. Forty million lawnmowers
consume 200 million gallons of gasoline per year. One
gas-powered lawnmower emits 11 times the air pollution
of a new car for each hour of operation. Excessive carbon
from the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global
warming. Native plants sequester, or remove, carbon from
the air.
Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.
Native plants attract a variety of birds, butterflies, and
other wildlife by providing diverse habitats and food
sources. Closely mowed lawns are of little use to most
wildlife.
Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship
of our natural heritage. In the U.S., approximately 20
million acres of lawn are cultivated, covering more land
than any single crop. Native plants are a part of our
natural heritage. Natural landscaping is an opportunity to
reestablish diverse native plants, thereby inviting the birds
and butterflies back home.
Native plants save money. A study by Applied
Ecological Services (Brodhead, Wl) of larger properties
estimates that over a 20 year period, the cumulative cost
of maintaining a prairie or a wetland totals $3,000 per acre
versus $20,000 per acre for non-native turf grasses.
•	Proper soil preparation is the most important factor in the
success of a native planting.
•	Use a sod cutter (which can be rented) to remove
sections of your existing lawn.
•	Do not turn over the exposed soil. Disturbing the soil will
expose weed seeds and encourage their growth. The
weeds will compete with new native seedlings for
nutrients, water, and sunlight.
•	If you choose to use herbicides to remove existing
vegetation, use a low toxicity, non-persistent herbicide
such as glyphosate (sold under various brand names).
Read the label and follow the manufacturer's instructions
carefully.
Seeding vs. Transplants
•	Sowing seeds is less expensive than landscaping with
transplants. However, native plants grow slowly from
seed, often not blooming until the third year. The first few
years are spent growing long, extensive root systems.
Weeds grow quickly. This is normal, so don't be
discouraged.
•	Transplants grow more quickly than seeds, often
blooming in the first year. Keep your costs down by buying
the smallest plants available. Space the plants one foot
apart and mark for later identification.
Maintenance Tips
•	Mulch with a weed-free material (e.g., clean straw) to
keep the weeds down.
•	Cut, rather than pull, weeds. Pulling weeds may damage
the roots of young native plants. Pulling also disturbs the
soil, encouraging weed growth.
•	If you use seeds, keeping your landscaped area cut to 6
inches during the first year will help control weeds. Most
seeded native flowers and grasses will not grow taller than
6 inches the first year.
•	In many Midwestern natural areas controlled burns are
necessary to clear away old vegetation and stimulate new
growth. Nutrients from the ash nourish the soil. In a home
landscape, however, fire is not advisable, and may be
illegal next to a building or in an enclosed garden setting.
Cutting and removing the debris from the area mimics the
natural fire cycle. It exposes soil to the warmth of the sun
and encourages growth. Cutting can be done in the spring
or fall,or skip a few seasons. Each techniques favors
different plants and encourages diverse plant growth.

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PLANT LISTS
If you are landscaping in the Midwest, you may want to consider plants from the following lists. These lists include
some of the species that are commonly available in nurseries and are relatively easy to grow. They are directed
towards individuals doing a modest first planting. For large projects, which can accommodate a wide variety of
species, you may want to consider consulting a professional with expertise in natural landscaping.
The herbaceous plant lists are divided into plants which thrive in full sun, partial sun and shade. A general rule
is that prairie species need full sun; savanna species will grow in partial shade (and many will grow as well, or
better, in full sun); and woodland species will grow in shade. It is very important to check catalogs and nursery
information before you buy, because plants also vary in their need for moisture.
FULL SUN
Grasses:
Big Bluestem
Little Bluestem
Sideoats Grama
Switch Grass
Indian Grass
Prairie Dropseed
Prairie Cord Grass
Porcupine Grass
Forbs (flowers):
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon scoparius
Bouteloua curtipendula
Panicum virgatum
Sorghastrum nutans
Sporobolus heterolepis
Spartina pectinata
Stipa spartea
Lead Plant
Pasque Flower
Heath Aster
Silky Aster
Cream Wild Indigo
Sand Coreopsis
Prairie Coreopsis
Pale Purple Coneflower
Rattlesnake Master
Prairie Smoke
Western (or Naked) Sunflower
False Boneset
Round Headed Bush Clover
Rough Blazing Star
Cylindrical Blazing Star
Pale Spiked Lobelia
Wild Quinine
Prairie Cinquefoil
Gray Goldenrod
Riddell's Goldenrod
Golden Alexanders
Amorpha canescens
Anemone patens
Aster ericoides
Aster sericeus
Baptisia leucophaea
Coreopsis laneeolata
Coreopsis palmata
Echinacea pallida
Eryngium yuccifolium
Geum triflorum
Helianthus occidentalis
Kuhnia eupatorioides
Lespedeza capitata
Liatris aspera
Liatris cylindracea
Lobelia spicata
Parthenium integrifolium
Potentilla arguta
Solidago nemoralis
Solidago reddeUii
Zizia aurea
FULL SUN-PART SHADE
Forbs:
Nodding Wild Onion
Prairie Thimbleweed
Butterfly Weed
Smooth Blue Aster
Sky Blue Aster
New England Aster
White Wild Indigo
Showy Tick Trefoil
Shooting Star
Purple Coneflower
Wild Bergamot (Beebalm)
Foxglove Beard Tongue
Obedient Plant
Black-eyed Susan
Ohio Goldenrod
Spiderwort
Heart-Leaved Meadow Parsnip
Allium cernuum
Anemone cylindrica
Asclepias tuberosa
Aster azureaus
Aster laevis
Aster novae-angliae
Baptisia leucantha
Desmodium canadense
Dodecatheon meadia
Echinacea purpurea
Monarda fistulosa
Penstamon digitalis
Physos tegia virgin iana
Rudbeckia hirta
Solidago ohiensis
Tradescantia ohioensis
Zizia aptera
Grasses:
Common Wood Reed
Canada Wild Rye
Virginia Wild Rye
Fowl Meadow (Manna) Grass
Bottlehrush Grass
Cinna arundinacea
Ely in us canadensis
Elymus virginicus
Glyceria striata
Hystrix patula

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SHADE
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Woodland:
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Wild Columbine
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Wild Ginger
Dutchman's Breeches
Yellow Trout Lily
Wild Geranium
Virginia Waterleaf
Virginia Bluebells
Mayapple
Solomon's Seal
Bloodroot
Trillium
Oak Savanna:
Aquilegia canadensis
Arisaema triphyllum
Asarum canadense
Dicentra cucullaria
Erythroniuim americanum
Geranium maculatum
Hydrophyllum virginianum
Mertensia virginica
Podophyllum peltatum
Polygonatum canaliculatum
Sanguinaria canadensis
Trillium spp.
Big Bluestem Grass
Little Bluestem Grass
Shagbark Hickory
New Jersey Tea
American Hazelnut
Purple Love Grass
June Grass
Rough Blazing Star
White Oak
Bur Oak
Black Oak
Indian Grass
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon scoparius
Carya ovata
Ceanothus americanus
Corylus americana
Eragrostis spectabilis
Koehleria cristata
Liatris aspera
Quercus alba
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus velutina
Sorghaslrum nutans
GENERALLY WET CONDITIONS
Marsh:
Swamp Milkweed
Blue Joint Grass
Sedges
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Common Boneset
Rice Cut Grass
Common Water Horehound
Dark Green Rush
Great Bulrush
Prairie Cordgrass
Common Cattail
Asclepias incarnata
Calamagrostis canadensis
Carex sp.
Eupatorium maculatum
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Leersia oryzoides
Lycopus americanus
Scirpus atrovirens
Scirpus validus
Spartina pectinata
Typha latifolia
Lake and Pond:
Hornwort
Common Rush
Rice Cut Grass
Small Duckweed
Pickerel Weed
Common Arrowhead
Ceratophyllum demersum
Juncus effusus
Leersia oryzoides
Lentita minor
Pontederia cordata
Sagittaria latifolia

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Which Plants Attract Birds and Butterflies?
There are several species of native wildflowers and grasses that will attract particular birds and butterflies.
For sona birds:
sunflowers*, blazing star*,
white prairie clover, compass plant,
prairie dock, big bluestem,
little bluestem, sideoats grama,
switch grass, prairie dropseed,
downy serviceberry, hackberry,
dogwood, juniper*, elderberry,
and hawthorn*.
For humminabirds:
columbine, jewelweed*,
native phlox*, native honey-
suckle, and cardinal flower.
For butterflies:
milkweed*, aster*, purple cone-
flower*, blazing star*, native
phlox*, black-eyed Susan*, dogbane*,
New Jersey tea, coreopsis*, joe-pye
weed*, goldenrod*, vervain*, and
ironweed*.
'All species
Helpful Hints
•	Draw your landscaping plan on paper.
•	Start out small, only do a little at a time. Consider
converting infrequently used areas of your lawn to native
plants.
•	Talk to your neighbors about what you are doing.
Relaying the benefits of natural landscaping may inspire
others to try it.
•	Consider putting up a sign (e.g., "Jane's Wildflower
Garden"), or putting a border around your native garden to
better define it. This will help neighbors feel more
comfortable with a different approach to landscaping.
•	Talk with local officials about landscaping ordinances
you should be aware of (e.g. restrictions on vegetation
height).
Questions to Ask When Buying Native Plants
1.	Are the native plants locally grown or shipped in? Native
plants which are locally grown are best suited to the re-
gional climatic conditions.
2.	Have the seeds been propagated in a nursery or
collected from the wild? Seeds from the wild need to be
protected so that we do not deplete our natural areas.
3.	Will the native plants grow best in sun or shade? Survey
your plot carefully.
4.	What soil type is required? Is it sandy or loamy, wet or
dry?
5.	Which native plants grow well together? Call your local
nature center or Heritage Program Office to find out about
plant communities.
Will Native Plants Aggravate Allergies?
Many native flowers, such as asters, goldenrods, and
milkweeds, are insect-pollinated, not wind-pollinated, and
do not cause allergies. It is the pollen in the air that triggers
allergic reactions. The plants responsible for many pollen
allergens are not native to the Midwest (e.g., Kentucky
bluegrass, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, redtop grass,
and timothy grass). Native ragweed is one native plant
which is highly allergenic.
Will Native Plants Attract Pests?
Unsecured garbage is the main attraction for most pests
such as rodents and raccoons. Native landscaping is not.
Native plants will attract butterflies and dragonflies; birds
such as purple martins, hummingbirds, hawks, and
swallows; mammals, including bats; amphibians such as
frogs and salamanders; and insects because they provide
shelter and food. In return, wildlife will help control pesky
bugs such as mosquitoes. A single bat can eat 3,000 to
7,000 insects per night. Canada geese, also considered a
pest in some regions, prefer short turf grass over taller
native grasses.
Weed Laws
Some municipalities have "weed laws" to prevent unsightly
or poorly maintained property. Natural landscaping does
not pose the hazards that the weed laws are intended to
address (e.g. problems with vermin). Fortunately, many
municipalities are responding to the current trend toward
natural landscaping. Some communities have modified
weed laws to allow natural landscaping, but require a
"setback" or buffer strip to make the landscape look
planned. A few municipalities actively promote natural
landscaping because of the environmental and economic
benefits. Check with your municipal officials regarding
weed laws in your area.
6. How long will it take seeds to germinate or plants to
mature? The key to growing native plants is patience.

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Case Studies
Everyone is planting natives: corporations, businesses,
schools, local, State, and Federal government agencies,
developers, and homeowners. Following are some
examples of natural landscaping in the Midwest:
Prairie Crossing, Grayslake, Illinois. Nearly 175 acres
of native prairies and wetlands are being restored
throughout this residential development. In addition to the
beautiful landscape and wildlife habitat provided, these
areas serve as part of an alternative stormwatcr
management system.
Oak Park, Illinois. Two adjacent homeowners share a
wildflower garden which fills their side yards and portions
of the front yards. The project was based upon a shared
interest in attracting wildlife, reducing the amount of turf
grass and the associated use of pesticides, and creating a
more diverse landscape.
Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, Wheaton,
Illinois. The high school is incorporating native
landscaping into its school grounds, initially planting 2.5
acres of upland mesic and wet prairies. The school's goals
are to reduce maintenance on unused lawn areas and time
demands on limited staff, improve overall aesthetics,
restore native habitats, and create a living laboratory for
hands-on environmental education.
Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, Illinois.
The club blends two 18-hole golf courses into a natural
setting of native woodlands and rolling topography with
large oak trees linking the fairways. Planting native trees
and shrubs from locally collected seed, removal of invasive
non-native species, reestablishing prairie and savanna
vegetation, and controlling erosion with native vegetation
are some of the programs in progress.
Lakeview Industrial Park, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Nearly 500 acres of this industrial park have been
dedicated to a large natural area along the Des Plaines
River. It includes extensive floodplain wetlands, oak
savannas, prairies, and the riverine system. The industry
has saved significant sums of money through use of native
landscaping. The ecological benefits have exceeded
expectations. The project has won wide acclaim for its
innovative approach to ecological resources and has
forged an important partnership among industry and
conservation groups.
Sears Corporate Headquarters, Hoffman Estates,
Illinois. Native plants have been incorporated into the
main features of this 780-acre property for ornamental as
well as functional reasons.
More Information
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Green Landscaping with Native Plants,
www.epa.aov/areenacres/ or 800-621-8431 (for IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, Wl).
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC). Under a U.S. tHA grant, NIPC developed a natural
landscaping tool kit for local officials which includes Natural Landscaping fur Public Officials: A Source
Book, 1997, a poster illustrating the benefits of natural landscaping and an annotated slide show. Call
NIPC at 312-454-0400, or U.S. EPA at 800 621 8431 to receive a nnpy of thn tnnl kit Thn Rnurco Rook
is available on U.S. EPA's Internet site.
National Wildlife Federation. The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program run by the NWF is an excellent
source of information at www.nwf.org/nwf/proa/habitats or 703-790-4434.
Wild Ones. A non-profit organization encouraging natural yards in harmony with nature. Contact
them at www.for-wild.org or 500-FOR-WILD. (There is a charge for this call.)
Prairie Nursery. Helpful information on planting with native plants is available at
www.prairienurserv.com/Quickauide.htm.
Think
Globally
Plant
Locally.
DISCLAIMER: The views and policies in the publications and Internet sites mentioned in this fact sheet are not necessarily the views or policies
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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