chesapeake bay trust

Native plants are recommended for use in restoration projects such as living shorelines, rain gardens, bioretention areas, stream restoration, and buffer plantings.  Finding sources of native plants can be tricky, as most commercial nurseries carry only a few varieties.  This information is designed to help you choose species of plants to use in your restoration project and find sources of these plants.

• Native plants for all regions of Maryland 
• Native wildflowers and grasses list
• Other native plant guides

Native Plant Resources

• Adkins Arboretum: This Eastern Shore arboretum also sells native plants.
• Irvine Nature Center: Provides native gardens for schoolgrounds in Baltimore City; leads other native plant programs and has regular native plant sales.
• Local Forestry Boards: County by county phone listing for the state Forest Service offices.
• Maryland Cooperative Extension: This site hosts a comprehensive list of suppliers of plants and seed.
• Tree-Mendous Maryland Program: A list of native shrubs and trees including brief descriptions of each, as well as information on how to order through Tree-Mendous for reasonable prices.
• Sylva Native Nursery: Native plants for native places.
• Elk Ridge Nature Works: A source for native plants and habitat boxes in Grantsville, MD.

Sources of Wetland Plants

• CHESPAX: Created by Calvert County Public Schools, this is a resource only for schools within that system.
• Environmental Concern, Inc.: Located on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Schoolyard Habitat and Bayscaping Guides

• U.S Fish & Wildlife Service: Contains most of the information you would need to get started creating your own schoolyard habitat.
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: This site provides a brief description of BayScaping, plus a number of helpful homeowners guides, including one for designing your property.

General Planting Technical Assistance and Information

• Maryland Cooperative Extension Service: This site provides access to helpful information for the home and garden and contact information for the Master Gardeners service.
• Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission: A bi-county agency, MNCPPC manages parks in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
• Soil Conservation Districts and Regional Natural Resources Conservation Service: This site provides information by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Wildflower Center: Native plant information network.
• PLANTS Database