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Native Plants
  • Home
  • Where to Begin
    • Ecological Introduction
    • Reduce Your Lawn
    • Reduce Negative Impacts
    • Plant Native Plants
    • Create Soft Landings
    • Leave the Leaves
    • Consider Signage
    • Dealing with HOA's
    • EcoRegion vs. Plant Zones
  • Native Plant Sources
    • United States
  • Video Resources
    • Natives and Cultivars
    • Moths and Butterflies
    • Birds, Bats and Bees
    • Lawn Conversions
    • Let's Talk Plants
  • Presenters
    • Doug Tallamy
    • Desirée L. Narango
    • Heather Holm
    • Rebecca McMakin
    • Drew Lathin
    • Uri Lorimer
    • Joey Santore
  • Resources
    • Garden Stories
  • News

Find Plants

There are 177 entries in this glossary.
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Term Definition
Native Meadows

Native meadows are areas planted or restored with grasses, wildflowers, and other plants that are native to a region, creating a low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly alternative to traditional lawns.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 41
Native Plant

A plant species that naturally occurs in a region and evolved alongside local wildlife.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 15
Native Species

A native species is a plant, animal, fungus, or other organism that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction. Native species evolved over long periods of time alongside other local species and environmental conditions.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 6
Synonyms - native species
Natural Landscaping

Natural landscaping is the practice of designing, planting, and managing outdoor spaces to mimic natural ecosystems while supporting local wildlife, conserving resources, and promoting ecological health. Natural landscapes often emphasize native plants, biodiversity, healthy soils, and sustainable maintenance practices.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 3
Synonyms - Natural landscaping
Nature's Best Hope

The concept that private properties can collectively restore biodiversity by providing wildlife habitat. Popularized by the book by Doug Tallamy.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 2
Nectar

A sugary liquid produced by flowers that serves as a primary energy source for many pollinators.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 11
Neonicotinoids

A class of systemic insecticides associated with negative impacts on bees and other pollinators.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 2
Nest

A structure built by birds for laying eggs and raising young.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 6
Nesting Habitat

Features that provide places for pollinators to reproduce, including bare soil, hollow stems, dead wood, and cavity spaces.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 2
Nestling

A young bird that remains in the nest and depends on parental care.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 2
No-Mow Lawn

A lawn alternative using low-growing grasses or native plants that require little or no mowing.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 2
Nocturnal

Active primarily at night; most moth species are nocturnal.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 2
Oak Savanna

An oak savanna is a unique ecosystem characterized by widely spaced oak trees growing over a diverse ground layer of native grasses and wildflowers. Oak savannas are considered a transition zone between forests and prairies, combining features of both habitats.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 6
Synonyms - Oak Savanna
Ocellus

A circular marking on a butterfly's wings that may deter predators.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 5
Synonyms - Eyespot
Oligolectic Bee

A bee that collects pollen from only one plant family, genus, or a few closely related species.

Author - tulamin
Hits - 4
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