Indiana Native Plant Society

Amorpha canescens, lead plant flowers

Amorpha canescens, lead plant leaves

Leadplant is a small native shrub whose roots can reach up to 15 feet deep. Thriving in dry soils, this species is a host plant for the silver-spotted skipper and the eastern tailed-blue.

#nativeplants #gardensky #plantconservation #bloomscrollings #gardensky #plantconservation #bloomscrolling

Pycnanthemum virgianum, Virginia mountain mint

Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum) species are a wonderful sensory experience, with minty-scented leaves and blooms that attract an impressive array of insects, including the blue winged wasp.

You can read about mountain mints on the INPS Native PlantFinder.

#nativeplants #gardensky #bloomscrolling

You might reach out to Woody Warehouse. It's a little outside Indianapolis, but they have a pretty wide selection of native shrubs. They're not a place you can shop retail, but if they have it, you can order it and pick it up.

What part of the state are you in?

Bombus spp. on Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed.

Bombus spp. on Asclepias sullivantii, Sullivant's milkweed

Battus philenor, pipevine swallowtail, in A. incarnata, swamp milkweed

Megachile spp., leafcutter bee, on A. tuberosa, butterfly weed

Native milkweeds support more than just monarch butterflies.

From bees to butterflies to beetles, the genus Asclepias provides pollen, nectar, and seeds to nourish a variety of native insects.

#pollinatorgarden #milkweed #bloomscrolling #nativeplants #plantconservation

Big, Beautiful Swallowtails Swallowtails are the flamboyant rockstars of the butterfly world! They are large, colorful and frankly spectacular butterflies in the family Papilionidae which contains around 580 species. Some have b...

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🦋 🌱

No matter if you have 10 acres of undeveloped land, 1/10 acre urban yard, or 10 square feet of patio space that can house containers, you can help native wildlife by adding native plants.

#nativeplants #plantconservation #gardening #gardensky #pollinators #pollinatorgarden

Native roses are keystones that support over 100 caterpillar species.

The shown species, swamp rose (Rosa palustris), thrives in full sun to part shade in medium-wet soils, can be grown as a hedge, and attracts a variety of pollinators.

#nativeplants #plantconservation #pollinators

Yes!

Yellow pipe-shaped flower of wooly pipevine

Pipevine swallowtail on swamp milkweed flowers

Two pipevine swallowtail caterpillars on a partially chewed pipevine leaf

Recognize this unusual species? This is the flower of wooly pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa), a vining species looks great on a trellis and is the larval host plant for the beautiful pipevine swallowtail in the eastern US.

#nativeplants #plantconservation #pollinators #plantnative #gardensky

There are many native plants well-suited to rain gardens, such as those featured in the "water’s edge palette" on our website, so your rain garden can be both beautiful and beneficial.

#nativeplants #nativeplantgarden #indiananature #plantconservation #raingarden #pollinatorgarden #plantnative 🌎

Small residential rain garden with small native plants

Does today's downpour have you thinking about installing a rain garden? ☔

Made by creating a recessed area, diverting your downspouts, and planting deeply rooted, moisture-loving plants, rain gardens help collect rainwater from your roof and allow it to soak into the ground. (1/2)

Indiana invasive-free nurseries and designers: indiananativeplants.org/landscaping/...

Partridge pea in bloom

Looking to add natives to your Indiana yard this year and don't know where to start? We have a directory of invasive-free sellers, seasonal sales, and designers across the state. 🔗 in comments.

#nativeplants #pollinatorgarden #pollinators #plantnative #plantconservation #gardening #gardensky 🌎

Learn more and join as a team, or fill out a form as an individual to be matched to a team:

indiananativeplants.org/inps-sponsor...

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) blooms

Our Florathon is a fun annual event where teams go out to see how many flowering native plants they can ID in 24 hours.

This year, the event supports the Sam Shine Matching Grant program for rare plant monitoring.

Info and join 🔗 in comments.

#nativeplantmonth #nativeplants #plantconservation

ID guide 🔗: www.illinoisplants.org/confusing-ru...

false rue anemone (Enemion biternatum)

Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)

If you confuse false rue anemone (E. biternatum) with rue anemone (T. thalictroides), you wouldn't be alone. While often rue anemone has a 6+ "petals", both can have five.

Our friends at the IL Native Plant Society have a guide to ID. Link in the comments below. 🌎

#nativeplants #conservation

Like several other spring ephemerals, ants are an important part of the propagation of these plants, lured by a structure on the seed called an elaiosome, which provides a reward in the form of food in exchange for their seed dispersal services.

#plantconservation #nativeplantmonth #gardensky

squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis) in bloom

Dutchman's breeches (D. cucullaria) in bloom

If you've hiked in Indiana recently, you've likely seen these two and may have thought they were the same species. The first is squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis), whose flowers form a heart. The second is Dutchman's breeches (D. cucullaria), whose flowers look like pantaloons.

#nativeplants

The Four Ecologically Crucial Things You Should Do in Your Garden (Gift Article) The ecologist Douglas Tallamy says your landscape can help manage the watershed, support pollinators, bolster a viable food web, and sequester carbon.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/r...
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Macro shot of the common blue violet, background obscured

A moment of appreciation for the common blue violet (Viola sororia). Found across a range of habitats, this species provides early season nectar and is a larval host plant for 27 species of caterpillars, including the great spangled fritillary butterfly. 🌎

#nativeplants #conservation #pollinators

Allegheny serviceberry!

You got it! This one is Allegheny serviceberry, Amelanchier laevis.

"Bloomscrolling" - so relaxing!

Softly pointed white closed buds on a green stem with background obscured

Can you guess the native plant?

This keystone species hosts 90+ caterpillars, and its fruit is eaten by at least 40 birds and several mammals. Perhaps you've had the chance to enjoy it yourself in a jam or a pie!

#nativeplantmonth #nativeplants #keystonespecies #plantconservation #conservation

White blooms of American plum, with small bright green leaves emerging in several places. Background is blurred.

Want an early spring bloomer? American plum (Prunus americana) is a native tree that brightens the landscape with its white blooms. Compared to its invasive lookalike, Callery pear, it has a sweet scent and is a keystone species--a host for over 300 caterpillar species.

#conservation #nativeplants

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), a delicate white flower with a yellow center, emerging from mulched ground.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), a delicate white flower with a yellow center, shown from the top.

Today for #nativeplantmonth, we're highlighting Bloodroot, a spring ephemeral named for the red juice found in its stems and roots. Our ephemerals provide critical early season food for pollinators, such as Mason and carpenter bees.

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#conservation #plantconservation #pollinators

a yellow flower with a green background is being shown ALT: a yellow flower with a green background is being shown

From Indiana Native Plant Society, “How Native Plants Stabilize Ecosystems.” Prepare for spring with this helpful information about native gardening. 🌍🧪🌷

indiananativeplants.org/the-science-...

Join a native plant group: attend a meeting, volunteer, or make a donation to a group that supports native plant conservation in your area.