Native Plant Landscaping

The interest in native plant landscaping has been growing for many years.  Savvy gardeners and landscapers have always known that native plants provide a broad range of benefits for humans and other creatures, and academic research is catching up in recognizing how native landscapes can contribute to regional ecological health and improve living conditions for people, especially in urban settings. 

In this guide, we discuss a range of characteristics unique to native plant landscaping in urban settings, with an emphasis on central Oregon.  Although specific recommendations are presented for the semi-arid high desert region of central Oregon, the concepts presented apply to a broad range of environments.