Native Plant Initiative

Want a gorgeous garden that practically takes care of itself? Trade in your mower and invasive flowers for low-maintenance native plants that help your local ecosystems thrive. Native plants typically require no fertilizer, no pesticides, and far less water than non-native species.

Have problems with flooding? Native plants do a superb job of absorbing stormwater and keeping your house and yard safe from flood water. You may even have native plants growing in your yard already without realizing it! To identify these plants, you can use free online databases or apps to determine whether they should stay or go.

While starting a native garden can seem overwhelming, getting started is often the hardest part. The most time-consuming step is researching and selecting plants that are well-suited to your local climate, soil, and growing conditions. Fortunately, the resources below can help you find garden designs, choose the right plants for your area, and answer questions throughout the process.

If you are an organization seeking to add native plants to your landscape, the Township of Lyons offers assistance. We have a first-come, first-served reimbursable grant program and our interns can help maintain the plants during the summer. Once you plant the garden, we will include you on our Township of Lyons native plant map! Contact our Sustainability Coordinator, Rose Naseef, at rnaseef@lyonsts.com to learn more.

Some Plants Native to Illinois

Resources for Getting Started

Illinois Native Plant Society  

  • You can find reliable apps to download and databases of native plants to help you determine which plants in your yard are already native. Seek and iNaturalist are great apps to identify plants; all you do is take a photo of the plant, and it tells you what it is.
  • Don’t know where to buy your plants? This website has a long list of local plant nurseries from which you can source your native plants.  
  • This society hosts educational events and advertises regional plant sales.

How to Plant and Maintain Native Plants

  • This Illinois Department of Natural Resources website lists the requirements and steps on how to plant several different types of native gardens. For example, you can learn how to build a pollinator garden in dry or medium soil, based on what plants you want.
  • It explains how to weed and prevent weeds in your gardens, depending on the location and types of plants.
  • Whether you are planting seeds, bulbs, shrubs, or even a tree, this resource explains how to maintain and plant them properly to ensure a long, healthy life for your plants.
  • Looking for inspiration? You can visit a local park near you or one of the Illinois state parks listed on this website to view their native plants.  

Native Garden Designs – Wild Ones                       

  • Instantly download expertly crafted, region-specific garden plans and detailed plant lists, taking the guesswork out of the initial research and design phases.
  • Follow a step-by-step interactive guide at your own pace through every season, and watch instructional videos led by professional landscape designers to learn how to plant and maintain your space.
  • Access customized, ecoregion-specific guides for metro areas like Chicago, Chattanooga, and Boston, and read inspiring stories/profiles of local gardeners who have successfully transformed their own yards.

Plant Databases/Manuals

Not sure if you have native plants? Don’t know which ones you want? These plant guides and data bases are filled with thousands of beautiful native plants to Illinois including trees, shrubs, flowers, berries, and so much more!

 

Back to top