Plant Native

One of the best ways to create habitat for wildlife is to focus on the plants. Not only do plants form the base of nearly all food webs, but they also provide important cover, places to raise young, and even help to better manage water in a space.

Discover how native plants are a central part of supporting local ecosystems for wildlife where you live. When you add all the habitat essentials to your garden or landscaped space, you can then certify your property or yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® and be on your way to helping wildlife and people!

An Eastern bluebird gathering nesting material.

CREDIT: ALAN CLARK

Habitat Essentials

Learn more about the habitat essentials that wildlife require to thrive (food, water, cover, and places to raise young) and requirements for sustainable practices to support healthy habitat. These are the core elements needed for wildlife habitat certification.

A monarch caterpillar, striped with yellow, black, and white bands, munching on green milkweed leaves.

CREDIT: HEATHER RUSSELL

Why Native

Discover the reasons why you should plant native and how to start introducing these amazing plants into your space.

A scenic view of a pond and garden featuring a stone crossing, a wooden pergola, table and chairs, surrounded by small trees and shrubs.

CREDIT: BARBARA BECK

Ecological Landscape Design

Consider going a step beyond just including native plants in your garden or property. Learn from the ground up how to incorporate a sustainable landscape into your space with layers of habitat that benefit soil, insects, the watershed, and people.

A closeup of the Certified Wildlife Habitat lawn plaque from the National Wildlife Federation set in front of a meadow mix of red, pink, orange and yellow flowers.

Certify Wildlife Habitat

Ready to certify your space as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® and become a wildlife champion?