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Botanical Bullies: Are weeds hiding in your garden or water garden? Illustrated pdf file from Washington Noxious Weed Control Board.

Bringing Nature Home- How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens. Douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press, 11/07, 288p. When native plant species disappear, or are replaced by alien exotics, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. By favoring native plants, gardeners can provide a welcoming environment for wildlife of all kinds.

Cal-HIP: California Horticultural Invasives Prevention. A collaborative effort to address the unwanted spread of horticultural plants into open spaces and wildlands. Friends of the Partnership Newsletter Fall 2005 and Summer 2006.

Control of Invasive Non-Native Plants. Designed for the mid-Atlantic region, but applicable elsewhere; suggests how to evaluate exotic plants for garden use, names many non-native invasive ornamentals, and suggests native alternatives (source: Maryland Native Plant Society).

Eat Those Invasives! Weed recipes from the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council's Garlic Mustard Cook's Challenge

Garden plants do not become invasive From Horticultural Myths at the Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington

Gardening from the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), a comprehensive page covering many topics, including Invasive Plant Species and Weeds.

Goats in the Garden (Word doc) Advice from a master gardener on using goats for weed control. From Master Gardeners of Tuolumne County Newsletter, July 27, 2004.

Home and Garden Information Center from University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. Includes Invasive Species Alerts and useful links.

Invasive Plants in Your Backyard Five problem species from The Nature Consevancy

Invasive Plants-What Every Gardener Needs to Know Info on plant selection and judging potential invasiveness from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Includes Ecology for Gardeners, outlining North American vegetation associations, functions of plant communities, and further reading.

Invasive Terrestrial Garden Plants from Saskatchewan Purple Loosestrife and Invasive Species Project. Identification and control; good pictures.

Jumping the Garden Fence (pdf)--Invasive Garden Plants in Australia and their Environmental and Agricultural Impacts, commissioned by WWF-Australia. Escaped garden plants were found to comprise 70 percent of Australia's total weed population; despite laws and publicity, "many serious environmental and agricultural weeds continue to be imported into Australia," and offered for sale.

The Landowners Guide to Exotic Plants | (Posted 14Oct09) - Stop the problem before it starts. Prevention is the most desirable means of control when dealing with invasive plants. There are a number of simple and easy ways to help prevent the proliferation of invasives.

Lawn Care without Pesticides Available from Cornell University Extension; suggests techniques for minimizing use of pesticides initially as well as for effectively coping with weeds, insects, and diseases.

Linking Ecology & Horticulture to Prevent Plant Invasions from Center for Plant Conservation.

The Organic Weed Management Website Informs organic gardeners about the biology of garden weeds since understanding the biology of weeds is critical to organic weed management.

Plants to Avoid in Your Garden from the USDA Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site.

Pocket guide for weed identification in nurseries and landscapes, by S.A. Gower and R.J. Richardson. Michigan State University IPM publication series. 172 pages; 2007; document E2982. See pdf page examples. Order from MSU Extension at http://www.emdc.msue.msu.edu.

Preventing horticultural introductions of invasive plants: potential efficacy of voluntary initiatives. 2007 article in Biological Invasions. Provides specific recommendations for improving participation in voluntary programs in the horticulture trade.

Retailers drop invasive species. Spring 2007 partnership between Meijer stores and TNC to label119  plants as "Recommended Non-Invasive" tag, along with the Conservancy's logo. The stores will also remove two invasives from their inventories: the Norway maple and Lombardy poplar.

Risk assessment for invasive species produces net bioeconomic benefits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jan 2;104(1):203-7.Epub 2006 Dec 26. Screening ornamental plants to prevent the introduction of invasive species can save billions of dollars in long-term control costs, according to University of Wyoming Economist David Finnoff, co-author of this paper.

Weeder Features. Compares various types of mechanical weeders (hand weeders, weed twisters, etc.) for those who want to avoid herbicides.

Weeds and the nursery industry. A newsletter from Nursery & Garden Industry Australia discussing the invasive plant problem and the role of the nursery industry in dealing with the problem.

What are Noxious Freshwater Weeds? from Washington Dept. of Ecology. Discusses plants introduced as ornamentals (purple loosestrife, giant hogweed), as water garden plants (parrot feather milfoil), and as aquarium plants (Eurasian watermilfoil, Brazilian elodea, fanwort).

Wildflower seed mixes include some wicked bloomers. From the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture.

Worst Invasives Used Horticulturally in the U.S. from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Yard and Garden Topics from King County (Seattle) Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks.

Alternatives to Invasive Garden Plants

Control of Invasive Non-Native Plants. Designed for the mid-Atlantic region, but applicable elsewhere; suggests how to evaluate exotic plants for garden use, names many non-native invasive ornamentals, and suggests native alternatives (source: Maryland Native Plant Society).

Don't Plant a Pest! Alternatives to Invasive Garden Plants. Educational brochures designed for California gardens, but suggests alternatives to many invasive plants common in the West.  The newest brochure outlines non-invasive alternative aquatic plants for water gardening (pdf).

Garden Alternatives to purple loosestrife. Excellent photos of several alternatives to purple loosestrife from CA Dept. of Food & Agriculture.

Garden Wise: Non-Invasive Plants for Your Garden Illustrated booklet created by the Washington Noxious Weed Control Board and the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. Dozens of alternatives, grouped by Herbaceous, Ground Cover & Vines, Aquatic & Wetland, Trees & Shrubs.

IvyOUT (Ivy Off Urban Trees). A comprehensive site from the Washington Native Plant Society; includes alternatives, info on ivy removal, and more.

The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center website has added a list of native alternatives to invasive garden plants provided by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden from the book Encyclopedia of Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants.

Native Alternatives from Virginia Cooperative Extension. Many of the species will be familiar in other parts of the country.  

Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guides. includes Encyclopedia of Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants, Native and Invasive Plant Q&A, Preventing Plant Invasions, and more.

www.PlantRight.org presents alternatives to invasives for California gardeners and promotes the Voluntary Codes of Conduct for the horticultural industry.

Some selected alternatives for five invasive ornamentals. Illustrated pdf file from Washington Noxious Weed Control Board.

Natives in the Garden

Bringing Nature Home, by Douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press, 11/07, 288 p. There is an unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife. When native plant species disappear, or are replaced by alien exotics, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals. . . gardeners have the power to make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity. By favoring native plants, gardeners can provide a welcoming environment for wildlife of all kinds.

Chesapeake Ecology Center Althugh the Center is located in Maryland, its website has useful articles on conservation landscaping, "rain gardens" as a better way to manage stormwater, and xeriscaping.

Gardening in Western Washington: Native Plants. From WSU Extension. Covers commercial sources, ethics of collecting native plants, propagation from seed and cuttings, dividing and transplanting, and more.

Gardening with Wildflowers, from USDA Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site. Covers basic info, landscape for wildlife, native alternatives, genetic consideration, and more.

Grow Native: Don't Plant a Pest Brochure and website from Arizona Native Plant Society, designed to educate newcomers about non-native invasive species threatening the Sonoran Desert and to suggest native alternatives. Spanish version forthcoming.

Grow Native! Plant Identification for Prairie Plantings. From the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. Photos of seeds, seedlngs, juvenile, and mature plants, and distinguishing characteristics.

Guidebook to the Seeds of Native and Non-native Grasses, Forbs, and Shrubs of the Great Basin (Available in pdf format). BLM, Boise, Idaho.

How to Go Organic, from the Organic Trade Association. An online collection of existing resources for anyone exploring how to go organic.

Information about Plants from Montana NRCS includes several documents on native plants and landscaping with native plants.

Landscaping with Native Plants of the Intermountain Region Comprehensive 47-page publication from Idaho BLM, available through free download (five pdf files). Also found on Idaho Native Plant Society website.

Let Them Eat Leaves. An NPR article (by Ketzel Levine, NPR correspondent) reviewing the book Bringing Nature Home which mentions the value of backyard native plants for supporting beneficial insects and other wildlife (11/07).

Native Alternatives from Virginia Cooperative Extension. Many of the species will be familiar in other parts of the country.  

Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants. Handbook from Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Lists hundreds of native trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous plants, and grasses, organized by plant type. "Attributes at a Glance" highlights each plant's most attractive features; includes growing advice. $8.95 from BBG.

Native Gardening and Invasive Plants Guide from National Wildlife Federation. Find native plants suitable for your state.

Native Groundcovers and native perennials from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Good advice for use in the garden; links to suppliers.

Native Plant Information Network, sponsored by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The goal of NPIN is to assemble and disseminate information that will encourage the cultivation, conservation, and preservation of wildflowers and other native flora throughout North America.

• Native Plants Database
• National Suppliers Directory

Native Plant Nurseries in Washington State compiled by the Water and Land Resources Division of King County, WA

Native Plant Resources for the Pacific Northwest provided by the Water and Land Resources Division of King County, WA.

Native Plant Salvage Program King County (Seattle) WA. Volunteers rescue plants from construction sites and later replant at locations around the County. Scroll down page for links to "Shrink your lawn with native plants" and more naturescaping info.

Native Plant Crossroads from the Canadian Musueum of Nature has a useful glossary and much more.

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. A gateway to great gardens. Includes Nebraska FloraSearch, a comprehensive database of Nebraska flowers and grasses. Supports successful gardening and landscaping efforts in Nebraska.

Sources of Native Plants and Seeds on CIPM's Restoration and Revegetation

Urban Forests under Siege. Series of articles on invasive plants in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. See also To free urban forests from invaders, some weigh ban on noxious plants.

U.S. Regional Guide to organic and sustainable resources. Links to a wealth of resources, from the Organic Trade Association.

"Using local seeds in prairie restoration." Gustafson, D.J., D.J Gibson, and D.L. Nickrent. Native Plants Journal, Spring 2005: 25-28.

Using native plants for gardening from Native Plant Society of Oregon

Wildlife Gardeners | (Posted 01Jun09) – Wildlife Gardeners promotes environmentally sound practices to preserve biodiversity by encouraging discussions of the preservation, restoration and establishment of native flora and fauna AND sustainable gardening practices

Wild Ones Native Plants, Natural Landscapes: promotes the establishment of native communities around homes and businesses, using ecologically sound practices.

Yard and Garden Topics from King County (Seattle) Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks.

Xeriscaping: Low-Water Gardening

Colorado WaterWise Council Xeriscape Colorado is a program of the Colorado WaterWise Council. Xeriscape promotes creative approaches to water conserving landscapes by helping people improve their landscapes and to reduce the need for water, maintenance and other resources. Defines xeriscaping, covers plan and design, low-water plants, and much more. Good links to resources and references.

Guide to Water Wise Gardening from the American Nursery and Landscape Association

Landscape Water Conservation: Xeriscape. From Texas A&M. Includes basic principles, and plant lists for Texas.

Waterwise Plants for Utah Landscapes From Utah.gov. Lists many native plants and sources.

Waterwise Landscaping from USU Extension.

Xeriscape Council of New Mexico. The Council's primary goal is to offer education and training about water conservation, primarily through efficient irrigation of xeriscaping utilizing native and other low-water plants.

Xeriscape Gardening. An extensive list of resources from Colorado State Extension Service. Includes plant lists, photos, plants for specific sites, and much more.

Xeriscape Misconceptions Corrected from BASIN (Boulder Area Sustainability Information Network), Colorado.

Xeriscape Plant Selections and Ideas from University of North Dakota Cooperative Extension.

Xeriscaping from California Integrated Waste Management Board. Concentrates on water and other resources that can be saved by xeriscaping. Covers landscape design, irrigation, soil preparation, and more.

Voluntary Codes of Conduct

(Excerpted from Center for Plant Conservation website) In 2001 and 2002, voluntary Codes of Conduct were proposed for government, nursery professionals, the gardening public, landscape architects, and botanic gardens and arboreta at a workshop designed to find ways to reduce the introduction and spread of non-native invasive plants. The entire workshop proceedings and codes of conduct can be found online, or summarized below. Certain findings and principles, known as the St. Louis Declaration, were agreed upon by the entire St. Louis assemblage.

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