Native Plant Gardening | Conservancy Program | Fraser Valley Conservancy

What Are Native Plants?

Native plants are those indigenous to a geographic area. These plants have evolved to thrive in the local climate and require little support if planted in the right conditions.

Wildlife in the Fraser Valley has evolved alongside the native plants that grow here, their life cycles are tied to how the native plants can support them. Every insect, bird, mammal, fungus, and bacteria is linked to the beautiful and diverse range of native plant species in our valley.

Why Choose Native Plants?

Require little maintenance once established

Contribute to reduced water use

Use minimal fertilizer and grow pesticide free

Feed birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

Reduce erosion along streambanks and wetlands

Increase backyard beauty year-round

It is tempting to garden only for beauty, without regard to the many ecological roles our landscapes must perform. All too often, such narrow gardening goals result in a landscape so low in ecological function that it drains the vitality from the surrounding ecosystem.

Douglas W. Tallamy, Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard

Native Plant Gardening Guide

Our most popular resource on native plants is available for download, free.

Download

Where to Find Native Plants

You can purchase high-quality, locally grown, native plants through our spring and fall plant sales. Visit our Grow for Good store for the latest plant sale dates and selections.

Follow these tips for selecting and purchasing native plants:

Check the scientific name of your plants. Many plants advertised as native may actually be similar species imported from elsewhere. These plants may look the same but they do not offer the same kind of features for local wildlife as true native species.
Beware of native plant cultivars that are frequently found for sale at nurseries. For example, red-flowing currant, known as Ribes sanguineum, with cultivar names such as ‘King Edward VII’ or ‘White Icicle’. These plants may not offer the same features for our wildlife as the wild or locally sourced varieties.
Do not collect plants from the wild as they often do not survive transplantation, and their removal can negatively affect the ecosystem they came from.

Gardening Webinar

Check out this 10-minute webinar on selecting the best native plants for your garden.