We consider a plant species “native” (or indigenous, endemic) to a certain area when we know that it has been growing there for a very long time - often for tens of thousands of years or more. Because of this, these plants are often well-adapted to their native range, and have come to support many other organisms (e.g. pollinators and birds!) that have come to rely on them in that time. This is in contrast to most of the ornamental garden plants, which were introduced to this continent in just the last hundred years. These support fewer species and typically require more particular care to thrive. Read more about the power and beauty of native plants.

Yes, you absolutely can install these plants yourself! Following our planting guide and with just a little preparation, you should have little trouble getting these young plants into the ground. Check out our guides on site preparation and plant installation if you’d like to learn more!

Never. Period. We screen all of our awesome growers - both local and regional - to ensure that our plants are grown using organic or otherwise systemic-free methods. Learn more about the problems with systemic pesticides.

Sounds weird right? Rest assured! Our shipment-ready growers are experts in the practice of safely shipping the plants they’ve grown. (A quick reminder as well: most if not all of the plants you buy at the garden center were originally shipped there, too!). Learn more about how My Home Park plants get from our growers’ greenhouses to your garden.

Having things shipped directly from a larger grower means greater convenience with less regional specificity: with one click, healthy plants native to your particular ecoregion will arrive when ready to ship. If you are mostly interested in getting the species and keeping things easy, this is the choice for you! Picking your plants up from a grower local to your area means you are helping build another small business while meeting a local native plant expert who can give you more tips on how to care for your plants and your yard. Local growers are also far more likely to carry plant ecotypes that are specific to your neck of the woods! Check out our additional resources if you’d like to learn more about local and regional growers as well as how to identify and support your Ecoregion.

We could go on and on, but in just a few words: native plants are - on average - highly drought tolerant, deep rooting, long blooming, perennial powerhouses that have evolved to interact with and support the regions in which they are normally found. This means that by planting even a few species of native plant, you are stabilizing soil, sequestering carbon, reducing water usage, and supporting hundreds of pollinators, birds, and other beneficial organisms that keep your yard - and your environment - healthy and beautiful.

No! Pollinators drawn to your plants are focused on gathering nectar and pollen to provision their nests. Although some of these creatures certainly can sting, they are saving this as a very last resort, not a first defense. We encourage you to document whatever buzzing buddies should show up with the confidence of knowing that if they’re snacking they’re not attacking! Learn more about how to take on the mantle of Stay-at-home Steward.

Your plants will be growing continuously from before your order until well after you’ve gotten them into the ground. On average it takes about 2 years for most of these plants to reach full maturity, but many will show off their blooms in their first year. It’s important to remember that perennial plants live from their roots - and will seem to die back in the Fall as they consolidate energy in their roots. Once established, you will be able to enjoy their re-emergence and blooming like the return of a dear friend. Learn more about the power and life cycle of some of North America’s most prolific native perennial plants.

Yes! Where available, some or all of our combos can be picked up from a certified and expert local grower. Just as with our shipped offerings, your plants will have been grown with great care using sustainable methods. Ordering local brings many benefits, including seeing the growing operation for yourself, getting plants with closer ecotypes to your region, and meeting amazing and highly knowledgeable botanists in your community. To pick up locally, simply select this option if available when adding a combo to your cart. Learn more about the importance of ecotypes and how we ensure all of our growers meet our rigorous standards for native plant health.

Less than you’d expect, and not as much as a lawn. We estimate that most of our combos will require less than 6 hours of care per year to keep your plants looking great. When you first install your plants from My Home Park, extra care is recommended to allow the plants to root and establish. Keeping the ground moist and removing weeds will help improve the chances for thriving until there is enough ground cover and growth to crowd out weeds and keep the soil moist. Once your plants are developed, maintenance may include a few minutes of weeding weekly. At the end of the season you may want to cut the plants down or leave them for winter interest. In the spring a short clean-up may take less than 30 minutes to set the table for the season.

Native plants have a tendency to grow rapidly. If planted alone, a single plant could become a gawky misfit. In a garden, a small seedling can grow tall enough to block many plants. My Home Park fixes this challenge by designing plant combinations that are structured to work together. Taller plants in the back, ground cover in the front. Ground cover is important to crowd out weeds and keep the soil moist - similar to mulch, but native, natural and long-lasting. Middle plants are largely perennials that bloom at coordinated times to have a constant source of food for pollinators and beauty for you. Structure is provided by native grasses and taller strong-stemmed perennials. Additionally, if you sign up we will send you periodic maintenance reminders to keep your plants looking great all seasons.

Mid spring and mid-to-late fall are the optimal times to plant. Exact dates depend on your region. Reach out at info@myhomepark.com or consult with your local Master Gardeners for specific information.

For areas that experience strong seasonal shifts in temperature, we ship plants during two key windows: Spring (between April 15 and June 15), and Fall (between Sept. 1 and Oct 15). Planting in these windows ensures that your plants will establish well in your yard. We accept orders throughout the year and recommend that you order early due to high demand.

We source our plants from best-in-class growers who develop strong root systems and ship plants only when ready. We ship plugs, which are the healthiest state for planting. We control the shipping conditions so plants arrive ready to grow. Finally, we only ship plants that are native to your region, which means they come prepared to face the heat, cold, drought or other climatic challenges unique to where you live. Our replacement guarantee is for 1 year from purchase, and is unlimited with an annual subscription.

We provide a plant count and bloom chart in the additional information section of all of our combos (this example will open in a new tab). Click on "additional information" on your favorite combo's product page to learn more. We are currently developing an even more in depth system to share this information.