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Native species have evolved over hundreds or thousands of years in a region or ecosystem. Planting native species should always be your first choice when designing your landscape.
Their ability to survive long winters and adapt to local environmental conditions allows them to thrive in our mountain climate, making them both a sustainable and practical choice for protecting and beautifying your home.
Native plants are naturally suited to local climate, soils, and weather extremes.
Once established, native plants typically require far less water than non-native species.
When properly selected, spaced, and maintained, native plants can support Firewise principles.
Native plants thrive without chemical inputs, helping protect soil health and nearby waterways.
Once established, native plants typically require less mowing, pruning, and replacement than non-native species.
Native plants provide food, shelter, and breeding habitat for birds, pollinators, and wildlife.
Healthy plant communities help produce oxygen and filter pollutants out of rivers and streams. Deep root systems reduce runoff and erosion.
Thoughtfully designed native landscapes are beautiful, functional, and increasingly valued for sustainability.
A noxious weed is a plant designated by federal, state, or local authorities as harmful to agriculture, wildlife habitat, recreation, property, or public health. These species spread quickly, outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and can be difficult and costly to control once established.
Unlike native plants, noxious weeds disrupt ecosystem balance and provide little benefit to local wildlife. In Montana, landowners are legally required to manage listed noxious weeds and prevent their spread.
Learning to identify and remove noxious weeds is an important part of protecting your landscape, supporting local ecosystems, and preserving the health of the Greater Yellowstone region.
Want to learn more about native plants? Visit Grow Wild’s website for additional resources.
What are keystone plants? These native plants form the backbone of our local ecosystem. They are highly productive, supporting the highest number of species and playing a critical role in maintaining or restoring native biodiversity. Landscapes that don’t have one or more of these keystone plants will not have a thriving food web, resulting in imbalances in its ecosystem.
Help support the Big Sky ecosystem by incorporating one or more of these native plant species into your landscape while also reducing fire risk and water use.
* Please note that specific species are given as examples, but selecting any species within the genera that is native to Big Sky is a good option.
(Prunus virginiana – Prunus)
(Pseodotsuga menziesii -Pseudotsuga)
(Echinacea pallida – Echinacea)
(Echinacea pallida – Erigeron)
(Lupinus sericeus – Lupinus)
(Penstemon procerus – Penstemon)
(Helianthella uniflora – Helinanthus)
(Solidao missouriensis – Salidago)
Download our detailed spreadsheet of the best plants for local landscapes in Big Sky with specifics on their care, benefits, and growth patterns.
Detailed information on everything from how to get started to how to maintain a thriving fire-safe, water-wise and ecosystem-friendly Big Sky landscape.
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