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Links to Plant Information Resources

Native Plant Information

Delaware Native Plant Society (DNPS) http://www.delawarenativeplants.org
Information on field trips, meetings and native plants of Delaware.

East Coast Native Azaleas http://www.tjhsst.edu/~dhyatt/azaleas/
Species study group of the Middle Atlantic chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Information about and photos of native azaleas.

Flora of Delaware http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/floraform.pdf
McAvoy, W.A. and K. A. Bennett. 2001. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Dover

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's Native Plant Bibliography http://www.wildflower2.org/NPIN/Bibliography/Bibliography.html
This bibliography contains over 950 books about all aspects of North American native plants and can be searched by region, author name, keyword or subject.

Maryland Native Plant Society (MNPS) http://www.mdflora.org/
This web site has a tremendous number of useful links along with access to MNPS publications (Plants for Maryland Landscapes, Control of Invasive Non-native Plants).

Plant Conservation Alliance http://www.nps.gov/plants
Useful site with information on federal plant conservation programs, including funding for restoration projects.

PLANTS Database http://plants.usda.gov
The US Dept. of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service has put together one of the best sources of practical plant information. Their VegSpec system allows you to find plants based on specific site considerations (native and non-native). Information on native grasses includes cultivars.

Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS) http://www.vnps.org
Many photographs of wildflowers and information on Virginia native plants, invasive plants of Virginia.

Native Plant Identification

Charlie’s Mid-Atlantic Plant Identification Guide http://www.bcpl.net/~cadavis/cmapig/initialpage.html
Information on plant identification, plant names for the Mid-Atlantic region. Lots of good references.

Flora of North America http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/FNA/
Identification keys and line drawings for North America’s flora.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System http://www.itis.usda.gov/plantproj/itis/index.html
The ultimate resource for determining what a current latin name is for plants and animals.

US Department of Agriculture Forest Service Silvics Manual http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm
Extensive information on tree species with identifying characteristics, photos, references.

Virginia Tech’s Dendrology web site http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/idit.htm
On-line keys by leaf or twig for identifying woody plants.

Landscaping

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Program, BayScapes http://www.acb-online.org/

A Primer on Native Plant Ecology and Gardening by Master Gardener Louisa Thompson http://www.agnr.umd.edu/howard/mg/natprim.htm
An excellent introduction to basic concepts relating to native plant use. Provides practical information on site preparation, plant profiles and a very fine bibliography.

Bayscapes Program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.chesapeakebay.fws.gov/Bayscapes.htm
Extensive information on conservation landscaping techniques and plants to use.

Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council http://www.chesapeakelandscape.org
Dedicated to researching, promoting, and educating the public about conservation-based landscaping practices to benefit the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes by Rick Darke
http://www.Livable-Landscapes.com
Innovative design reference that sets a standard for inspired, sustainable use of grasses. Contains photos taken in national parks, private gardens, garden centers, nurseries, and botanical gardens, including Adkins Arboretum.

Environmental Protection Agency's Green Landscaping with Native Plants http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/
Brochures, fact sheets, links, lots of information on conservation landscaping.

Global Restoration Network http://www.GlobalRestorationNetwork.org
A project of the Society for Ecological Restoration, this web site includes information on restoration projects around the world, current news, and links to funding sources and articles on ecological restoration.

Maryland Home and Garden Information Center (MD Cooperative Extension). Great resource for learning how to grow plants, diagnosing plant diseases. http://www.hgic.umd.edu/

Maryland Seeding Association http://www.marylandseeding.org
John Krouse has included a terrific set of planting guidelines (on-line) and appropriate species for dry and wet meadows in the MSA Guideline Specifications for 1999 & 2000. Mike O’Hare 410/320-4126.

Missouri Botanic Gardens Plantfinder http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder
Information on plants used in horticulture.

Native Grass Manuals http://www.ducks.ca/
Ducks Unlimited manuals: Vegetating with Native Grasses in Northeastern North America (best for the mid-Atlantic), Native Grass Seed Production Manual, Rebuilding Your Land with Native Grasses and Revegetating with Native Grasses.

Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration & Landscaping (including grassland plants) http://www.state.va.us/~dcr/dnh/native.htm
Virginia’s Dept. of Natural Resources has put together terrific pocket guides of common plants readily available from nurseries, with information on appropriate uses, light and moisture requirements, regional habitat (mountain, piedmont and coastal plain) or ecotype, including grasslands! You can use the web tables or get free copies by mail.

Native Plants Network http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/network/
Shares propagation information on native plants.

Natural Resource Sciences Dept. and Paint Branch Turf Research Facility, University of Maryland
Dr. Thomas Turner, Dr. Harry Swartz, John Krouse and David Funk can provide technical support regarding planting strategies, cultivars and seed mixes. Samples of many species are growing for public display on campus and/or at the Turf facility. 301/405-4356 or 403-4234.

NWF's Backyard Habitats Program http://www.nwf.org/habitats/
Find out how to get your yard certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

Plant Materials Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),
Provides technical assistance regarding seed availability and establishment strategies for native grasses, as well as harvesting and seed cleaning procedures. NRCS is currently selecting native grass seeds for distribution to regional growers. Plant data sheets are available for several of the most common species, particularly those promoted for conservation plantings. 301/504-8175.

The Wild Ones http://www.for-wild.org
An organization of natural landscapers.

Native Plant Nurseries

Native plant nurseries in Maryland http://www.mdflora.org/publications/nurseries.html

Nurseries in the Mid-Atlantic Region with Native Plants http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2996/nurseries.html

Native Plant Sales

Adkins Arboretum, May & Sept., 410/634-2847. http://www.adkinsarboretum.org

Cullowhee, NC, July, 800/928-4968.

Delaware Native Plant Society, November. http://www.delawarenativeplants.org/

Green Spring Gardens Park May & Sept., (VNPS) 703/642-5173.

Historic Bartram’s Garden (Phil., PA) May, 215/729-528. http://www.bartramsgarden.org/

Irvine Natural Science Center, Stevenson, MD, August 410/484-2413.

Millersville, PA, June, 717/872-3030.

National Cathedral, May, 202/537-6200.

Invasive Plants

Delaware Invasive Plants list http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/gis/dists/documents/SpeciesList.pdf

Federal government http://www.invasivespecies.gov
Federal efforts related to invasive species, National Invasive Species Council, legislation links.

Forests pests and pathogens http://www.americanlands.org/forest_pests.htm
Information on pests and pathogens affecting forests in the US.

Invasive Plant Guide http://www.invasiveplantguide.com
Information about invasive species issues and the field guide, Invasive Plants, by Sylvan and Wallace Kaufman and updates on new invasive plant findings in North America. 

Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) http://www.mdinvasivesp.org/
Lists invasive plants, animals, insects and diseases for Maryland. Fact sheets, links to resources.

Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council http://www.ma-eppc.org
Regional information and links to other EPPCs.

Native alternatives, northeast http://www.mnla.com/
A list of native alternatives to invasive plants.

St. Louis Codes of Conduct http://www.mobot.org/invasives/codesN.html
Voluntary codes of conduct related to invasive plants.

The Nature Conservancy's Invasive Species Initiative http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu
Information summaries on many invasive species with control information and photos.

Virginia Invasive Plants list http://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/invlist.htm

Weeds Gone Wild (National Park Service, Plant Conservation Alliance) http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien
International lists of invasive plants, fact sheets.

Plant Conservation

Convention on Biological Diversity http://www.biodiv.org
International conservation of biodiversity.

National Biological Information Infrastructure http://www.nbii.gov
Data on US biological resources.

Plant Conservation Alliance http://www.nps.gov/plants
An alliance of government and non-governmental organizations working towards plant conservation.

Pollinators

Julia Kelley, Good Earth Botanicals http://www.goodearthbotanicals.com. Julia Kelley keeps several beehives at Adkins Arboretum at the Nursery. She is a clinical herbalist and beekeeper.

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign http://www.nappc.org/
Information on pollinators of all kinds and projects for protection of pollinators in North America.

The Xerces Society http://www.xerces.org/home.htm
Their pollinator conservation pages have extensive information on solitary native bees, gardening for pollinators, and fact sheets.

Associations

American Public Gardens Association http://www.publicgardens.org

American Horticultural Society http://www.ahs.org

Area Attractions

Adkins Arboretum Nearby Attractions http://www.adkinsarboretum.org/attractions.html