Certified action
Plant a real native garden — and certify it.
A certified Rhizome garden is a real planting of verified native species, documented with evidence and reviewed by a person. Approved gardens earn a Rhizome Certified Planter certificate with the ERA co-certification mark and a pin on the national map.
Planting guide
Six steps to a garden that survives
Choose species for your ecoregion
Start with your ecoregion, not a national plant list. Confirm each species through a trusted regional source before you buy, and ask nurseries about provenance.
Assess your site
Spend a week watching the spot: hours of direct sun, how fast water drains after rain, soil texture in your hand, slope, and what already grows there.
Start small and expand
A well-maintained 60 sq ft bed beats a neglected 600 sq ft one. Get one area established, then expand outward each season — expansion is its own badge.
Plant in the right season
In most regions, fall and early spring plantings establish best. Match planting time to your region's rainfall and frost pattern.
Document from day one
Photograph the bare site before you dig. Log species, counts, sizes, and dates. Certification requires before-and-after evidence, and you cannot go back for a 'before' photo.
Water through establishment, then step back
New plantings need consistent water through the first season. After establishment, the whole point is that they largely take care of themselves.
A Note on Soil
Dig down six inches before you buy anything. Is it sandy, clay-heavy, or loamy? Does water drain quickly or pool after rain? Most native plants prefer lean unamended soil similar to what they evolved in. Match your plant selection to your actual conditions rather than trying to change your soil to fit the plant. Your local cooperative extension office offers free or inexpensive soil testing if you are unsure.
Right plant, right place, right region.
Start from a trusted regional source.
Native plant finder
Use trusted regional databases
Rhizome does not copy outside databases. We point you to the best available regional sources and, in future releases, local partner nurseries.
NWF Native Plant Finder
Search native plants by zip code, ranked by the caterpillar species they support.
Open databaseAudubon Native Plants Database
Native plants for your area, with the bird species each one supports.
Open databaseWildflower Center Plant Database
Detailed species records, growing conditions, and regional recommended species lists.
Open databaseNative status varies by region. Always confirm suitability through a trusted regional source before planting. Space is reserved here for Rhizome local partner nurseries.
Open the full plant finderThe national live map
Watch the network grow
Every approved garden becomes a pin. Filter by ecoregion to see where the movement is strong and where it needs you. Locations show town or county level only.
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