Maryland Natives

Native Plants

Native plants are the foundation of healthy and biodiverse ecosystems. Native plants occur naturally in a habitat, have co-evolved with other species, and have adapted to physical conditions over time. 

Maryland's Best Native Plants

The Maryland’s Best Native Plant Program is a voluntary certification and marketing initiative that helps consumers locate and support nurseries offering true Maryland native plants, identified and promoted via a distinctive logo based on the Commercial Maryland Native Plant List  . Its purpose is to educate the public, growers, and retailers about the importance and benefits of native plants—particularly their vital role in supporting local pollinators—and to encourage their availability and use through coordinated outreach and visibility efforts.

The Commerical Maryland Native Plant List now serves as the basis our Native Plant database and is used throughout the Maryland Pollinator Atlas.

Learn About of Maryland Native Plants

Here at the UME Native Plant resources.

Local Nativity

To coin a phrase “all nativity is local”. Plants evolved to their local environments over millennia with gradual changes due to climate shifts, ice ages and other changes in the local environments such as flooding, evolution of forests and prairies to name a few. As Master Gardeners, we strive to recommend the ‘right plant for the right place’ – which normally means the right sun exposure, soil moisture, soil composition and terrain. We also ask you to consider local nativity when selecting and recommending plants.

Learn About of the Local Nativity of Maryland Native Plants

Here at the UME Local Nativity of Maryland Plants resources.