Learning about the trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, ferns and grasses native to our Northern Virginia region is a journey worth all the time you can give to it. They are wonderful for their beautiful colors and forms but when you see how much more life they bring to your property you will be hooked.
We highly recommend these native plant guides as wonderful resources about our very local native plants that benefit wildlife, are beautiful, easy to maintain, and getting easier to acquire. Both guides have provide Right Plant in the Right Place section guide you to the right plant in the right place given the plants growth habit, and the amount of sunlight and moisture available with a section. Starting on page 30 of this guide there is a section on plants best suited for dry shade, small spaces, roadside conditions, wet places and even containers.
and the Plant NoVA Natives Campaign cover Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. The related Plant Finder app lets you search plants featured in the guide by characteristics such as wildlife attraction, bloom time, moisture, sunshine and deer resistance.
and the companion Piedmont Native Plants Database covers Fauquier and Rappahannock counties our program serves as well as the City of Charlottesville and Culpeper, Madison, Orange, Greene, Louisa, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Nelson and Buckingham counties.
Need information for other regions of Virginia? See Virginia Native Plant Guides.
Other resources to search for and learn more about plants native to Northern Virginia are:
Keystone Native Plants - Eastern Temperate Forests for Ecoregion 8. Lists the most ecologically valuable plants as hosts for Lepidoptera and as food for specialist and generalist native bees - NWF.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database offers details on each plant with a search by state and habit, by common and botanical name.
Plant this to attract that
More resources to help your yard attract and support native wildlife.
How to Create a Hummingbird-Friendly Yard (from the National Audubon Society)
Native Plants for Specialist Bees (from the Virginia Native Plant Society)
Top 10 Lists for Northern Virginia
The following are lists compiled to introduce you to some of our favorite plants for their wildlife value and other benefits.
Compiled by Alonso Abugattas, Natural Resource Manager for Arlington County Parks and Recreation
Where to find native plants
Visit Plant NOVA Natives website for the latest list list of native plants sales and vendors in our area.
The Plant NOVA Natives website maintains a list of native-only plant sellers and updates its list of seasonal native plant sales in our 4-county region. A growing number of local garden centers are adding natives to their inventory and we encourage you to ask about them to help get the message to plant suppliers that native plants are in increasing demand. If you are having trouble finding native plants please contact your Audubon At Home Ambassador or Regional Coordinator for more information. Be sure the plants you buy haven’t been treated with neonicitinoids that are harmful to our native bees and caterpillars.