Build a wildlife garden by function: a native plant and habitat checklist

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Build a wildlife garden by function: a native plant and habitat checklist

A plant can provide flowers, host foliage, fruit, shade, or cover, but those functions are not interchangeable. Start with the wildlife or landscape goal you care about, identify the resource that goal requires, then check whether that resource fits your region and site. A flower list by itself will not show whether a garden also has nesting places, winter cover, or food at the time it is needed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s story on how plant choices shape deer and pollinator lives gives a broader example of plant choices and wildlife, while the USDA NRCS yard habitat assessment guide offers a structured way to review habitat features.

Wildlife Habitat on NativeYardAtlas.com

Build a wildlife garden by function: a native plant and habitat checklist

Build a wildlife garden by function: a native plant and habitat checklist