Growing Native Plants for Biodiversity
Take the Pledge and join our growing community
We are thrilled to introduce our pledge program, “Grow Native Plants for Biodiversity”, along with the option to purchase a beautiful yard sign to compliment your landscape. This program aims to assist everyone in learning the basics of native plants, their impact on biodiversity, and why they are crucial for inclusion in our landscapes. By taking the pledge, you commit to transforming your yard into a living landscape brimming with diverse native plants, which will attract birds and butterflies back to their natural habitat. We encourage you to share your journey with others and consider purchasing our yard sign designed by local artist Ann Geise to showcase your efforts.
Showcase Your Commitment
By displaying your “Growing Native Plants for Biodiversity” sign, you are showing your pledge to making your landscape a nature-friendly environment. It’s a great conversation starter with your friends and neighbors. The more connected “living landscapes” planted with native plants, the more positive the impact on biodiversity. Download our pledge program (below) and share it with your neighbors and friends!
About the Yard Sign
Made of lightweight aluminum polymetal, this sign measures 6.5″ x 9″ and comes with two pre-drilled top and bottom holes for mounting. Screws are not included.
The yard sign sells for $25.00 plus $5.00 postage if mailed within the U.S. You can purchase your yard sign at most of our events or online directly from the artist.
How to Order
Click here to purchase your yard sign from our partnering artist
Ann E. Geise.
Please allow up to two weeks for delivery.
Plant and Wildlife Artwork for the Monarch Butterfly Yard Sign
Pledge Program
What exactly are Native Plants?
Native plants are those that occur naturally within a defined area. They evolved over thousands of years, shaped by the local climate conditions, geology, flora, and fauna. Native plants include trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, and perennials.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words “biological” and “diversity”. It refers to all the variety of life that can be found on Earth (plants, animals, fungi, and micro-organisms). Ecosystems are comprised of all these organisms interconnected in a complex, stable, and sustainable network of life. The more biodiverse an ecosystem the better it’s able to withstand change and negative impacts.
Why care about Native Plants?
Not only are native plants fascinating, beautiful, and evolved to thrive in the local landscape, they serve an essential role in biodiversity. Besides providing nutritious leaves for countless herbivores, they serve an essential role by providing nectar, pollen, and specific host food for native insects and their larvae, which in turn, sustain local and migrating birds, bats, and other wildlife. Native plants are the foundation of biodiversity!
How many Native Plants do I need to make a difference?
Studies tell us that every time that you add a productive native plant to your landscape you improve your local food web. Moreover, woody plants (trees and shrubs) support more wildlife species than herbaceous plants but nectaring plants are necessary for pollinators. The important thing is to get native plants of all types into your landscape. Since most of our suburbs contain around 90% lawn that provides neither food nor shelter, even small additions of native plants can quickly make a big difference.
Remove Invasive Species
Habitat loss and invasive plants are the leading causes of native biodiversity loss. Invasive plant species spread aggressively and can displace native plants, create monocultures, and provide little benefit to wildlife. Never introduce exotic plants that are known to be invasive. More information can be found on the Ohio Invasive Plants Council website at: https://www.oipc.info.
Native Species — Straight and Nativars
It’s always best to grow plants that are native to your region or nearby. For example, if you live in southern Ohio, Michigan native species may not be as beneficial as those found closer to your region. Always consider specific growing requirements such as sun/shade tolerance, soil moisture, soil pH, etc.
Cultivars of native plants are often termed “nativars” (usually a ‘catchy’ name is listed after the species name). They are propagated for aesthetic characteristics such as unique flower and foliage color, flower density, or size. These adaptations, however, may reduce their value as a food source by insects. When purchasing plants to create a food web that supports biodiversity we recommend using straight native species when possible.
How Do I Start
Creating a biodiverse landscape with native plants is a rewarding step-by-step process. Start planting a few natives at a time. Remember it is a work in progress. As you add more plants they will begin attracting butterflies, moths, birds, and more! The important thing is to get started. According to author Dr. Doug Tallamy in his latest book, Nature’s Best Hope, planting “keystone” species (plants that have a “disproportionately large effect on the abundance and diversity of other species in an ecosystem”) is a successful way to start or to add to your native landscape palette.
The National Wildlife Federation has a website that provides keystone species for your area just by entering your zip code at https://www.audubon.org/native-plants
Download the Pledge Program
Download the program PDF and share it with your friends and neighbors!
The Pledge Program Yard Sign and content are the property of Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc., and can not be used or changed without permission.