Landscaping with Montana native plants
Here we have gathered a number of native plant landscaping references. Some are general, for the whole state of Montana, and others are specific to various regions of the state.
Represented regions include: Flathead Valley, Helena area, Bozeman & south-central Montana area, and the Missoula & west-central Montana area. Click on the region you are interested in. Don’t feel limited to reading about your area only– much of the information is applicable to multiple regions.
Where can I obtain native seeds and plants?
Sources of Native Plants – March 2023 edition
Here is a statewide guide listing businesses and organizations throughout Montana where you may obtain native plant material (seeds or plants) for your gardening and landscaping projects. A committee of Montana Native Plant Society volunteers works on keeping this list current. We try to update this list as new or changed information is discovered. It’s in PDF format. Printed or locally stored versions may become outdated within a short time. Thank you for your interest in landscaping with natives.
What’s the difference between native, non-native & invasive plants?
Seed germination
The Magic of Montana Native Plants: A Gardener’s Guide to Growing Over 150 Species from Seed by Sheila Morrison was first published in 2003. The Clark Fork Chapter has reprinted the book and you can buy it from them. For all the information and to buy the book, click here.
“Germination of Wildland Collected Seed” by Mark Majerus, MNPS Landscape & Revegetation Committee, 2022 version.
General articles
Water-Wise Grasses: Alternatives to Kentucky Bluegrass Turf Here is a thorough analysis of alternative species and mixes of turf grasses that may be used in Montana to reduce water demands for lawns. The MNPS Landscaping and Revegetation Committee produced this document in the winter of 2022. It is full of valuable information for anyone who would prefer a lawn more suited to most of the dryland home sites in Montana.
Where the Prairies Meet the Mountains: an introduction to using Montana native plants This PDF file requires Adobe Acrobat, which you can download for free from adobe.com
Guidelines for Selecting Horticultural Plant Material for Montana These guidelines for avoiding introductions of invasive species were developed by the Montana Nurseryman’s Association and the Montana Native Plant Society. This is a PDF file and requires Adobe Acrobat, which you can download for free from adobe.com.
Native Grass Seed Mixture Recommendations PDF describing landscaping, reclamation, site stabilization uses of primarily native grass ground cover mixtures including recommended ground cover grass mixtures for various site conditions.
Using Native Bunchgrasses as specimen or accent plants in landscaping design. A PDF prepared by the Montana Native Plant Society, Landscaping and Revegetation Committee regarding the use of native bunchgrasses as single specimen or accent plants in Native Landscaping designs for Montana.
Creating Native Landscapes This comprehensive guide was developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Bridger Plant Materials Center.
Audubon At Home A website from the Audubon Society about the How’s and Why’s of native plants. The goal of this site is to encourage people to further develop an awareness of their ecological footprint and the impact each of their decisions can make on bird conservation and the environment at large.
Growing Echinacea Background and guide to growing echinacea in a garden or farm environment – written by Helen Atthowe, Missoula County Extension.
Pollinator links
Attracting pollinators is a rewarding goal for your native plant garden. Here are some links with more information on pollinators:
- Pollinator Friendly Plants for Montana from the USDA and NRCS – Lists Montana native plants visited by pollinators
- U.S. Forest Service’s Celebrating Wildflowers Pollinator Page – Includes a section on gardening with native plants
- Ecoregional Planting Guides from the Pollinator Partnership – Includes links to comprehensive pollinator information
You may also be interested in a document on Voluntary Guidelines for Selecting Horticultural Plant Material for Montana developed and posted by the MNPS Conservation Committee. The paper discusses non-native horticultural materials.