Landscaping with Montana native plants
Where the Prairies Meet the Mountains: an introduction to using Montana native plants
Native plant landscaping references for: 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?
What’s the difference between native, non-native & invasive plants?
Sources of native plants – April 2024 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 to keep this list current. We try to update this list as new or changed information is discovered. Printed or locally stored versions may become outdated within a short time. Thank you for your interest in landscaping with natives.
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. For more info & to buy the book, click here.
“Germination of Wildland Collected Seed” by Mark Majerus, MNPS Landscape & Revegetation Committee, 2022 version.
Grasses
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. In 2022, the MNPS Landscaping and Revegetation Committee produced this document full of information valuable to anyone who wants a lawn better suited to the dryland conditions in Montana.
Native Grass Seed Mixture Recommendations PDF describing landscaping, reclamation & site-stabilization uses of primarily native-grass ground cover mixes, including recommended ground-cover grass mixes for various site conditions.
Using Native Bunchgrasses as specimen or accent plants in landscaping design. Prepared by the MNPS Landscaping and Revegetation Committee.
General articles
- Voluntary Guidelines for Selecting Horticultural Plant Material for Montana developed and posted by the MNPS Conservation Committee. The paper discusses non-native horticultural materials.
- Creating Native Landscapes This comprehensive guide was developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Bridger Plant Materials Center.
- Gardening in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), especially near Helena
- Waterwise, fire- and deer-resistant plants for Montana, from MSU extension
- Audubon at Home A website from the Audubon Society about the how’s and why’s of native plants, encouraging people to develop an awareness of their ecological footprint, and how their decisions can impact bird conservation and the environment.
- Growing Echinacea Background and guide to growing echinacea by Helen Atthowe of the Missoula County Extension office.
Pollinator links
Attracting pollinators is a rewarding goal for your native plant garden.
- Of Bees and Blooms: A New Scorecard For Selecting Pollinator-Friendly Plants in Restoration from USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station in Bozeman, about the best pollinator plants for Montana
- 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