Plant Resources
Tips and references for planting native plants, controlling invasive species, and managing prescribed burns.
Why Native Plants
Virginia Working Landscapes is dedicated to promoting the conservation of native biodiversity.
But you may ask…
What is ‘native’? Native to where… local, regional? Why are native plants important? What happens as species start disappearing?
We are continuously working to answer these questions through the sharing of resources, research, and information.
VWL Resources
Meadow Restoration: Where to Begin
This handout provides landowners who are interested in establishing a native meadow on their property with helpful tips and resources.
Suggested Species List for Meadow Plantings, Northern Virginia
This is a comprehensive list of species that we recommend for use in native meadow plantings in the 16-county region surrounding Shenandoah National Park.
Thistles in Virginia: Identification Guide
An illustrated guide to thistles in Virginia.
This pamphlet provides tips on how to protect natural and semi-natural grasslands, and presents an overview of 10 native grassland plants in Northern Virginia.
Live staking is a low-cost, easy way to establish woody shrubs onto your property by cutting stems from established trees and inserting them directly into the ground.
2022 TEDx Talk | “A Wilder Way: How Plants Can Guide Our Future” by Charlotte Lorick
Watch Conservationist and Naturalist Charlotte Lorick’s TEDx talk about how paying closer attention to plants in our local environment can lead to profound ecological benefits
Resources from Other Agencies and Organizations
Service Providers, Seed, and Native Plant Nurseries List
Invasive Plants
Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (VDGIF)
Blue Ridge PRISM Invasive Plant Factsheets
Invasive Plant Species of Virginia
USDA Invasive Plants Field and Reference Guide
Prescribed Burn Management
Prescribed burns are an ideal management tool for keeping grasslands and old fields in early successional states. These early successional states provide the right mixture of plant species diversity and plant density to support many grassland wildlife species such as quail and sparrow species.
Beyond the Bonfire: A Primer on Prescribed Fire for Virginia’s Private Landowners
SUPPORT VWL
VWL is supported 100% by grants and donations and our work is made possible by the generous contributions from our community.
The Smithsonian Institution is a 501(c)(3). All contributions are tax-deductible.
GET IN TOUCH
Virginia Working Landscapes
Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
1500 Remount Road, MRC 5537
Front Royal, Virginia 22630
SCBIVWL@si.edu
540-635-0035
