Use native plants when you are planting on your property

We encourage you to plant native plants in your yard or on your property to benefit the environment. Here at RVF we are partnering with the Virginia Master Naturalists on habitat restoration projects. Master Naturalists and community volunteers are removing invasive plants and planting native trees, shrubs, and perennials to restore the ecosystem, increase biodiversity and prevent invasives from coming back. There is signage at the Camille Memorial Trailhead to describe the work we have done there.

The following organizations have excellent resources about Virginia natives to help you know what plants will work best based on the conditions in your yard or property (e.g., sunny, shady, wet, or dry).

-The Virginia Native Plant Society has  resources in addition to regional guides to help you learn about Virginia’s native plants.

 -The Virginia Division of Conservation and Recreation has an online searchable data base – the Virginia Native Plant finder – that allows you to search for plants that are appropriate for the location where you want to plant (e.g, sunny and dry or shady and wet) and for your locality.

–Plant Virginia Natives has information about the benefits of native plants, where you can purchase them and where you can get landscaping guidance.

There are an increasing number of local nurseries that sell plants that are native to Virginia. We have sourced plants for our habitat restoration work at RVF from The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen, Little Bluestem Nursery, and Silver Run Forest Farm. The Virginia Native Plant Society provides a list of Virginia nurseries that sell native plants.