Explore Plants

Welcome to EXPLORE PLANTS home of the Native Plant Information Network (NPIN). Our goal is to assemble and disseminate information that will encourage the cultivation, conservation and preservation of wildflowers and other native flora throughout North America. We are constantly making improvements to NPIN so let us know how we are doing by emailing the NPIN Director.
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Native Plant Database - Search 7,024 native plant records by traits or names.
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Regional Spotlight: Mid-Atlantic

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Native plant: Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted hairgrass, Tufted hair grass) The basal foliage clump of this cool-season, perennial grass is mostly evergreen with very fine-textured flower stalks rising 2-3 ft. The loose, open panicle is purplish-green to tawny at first but bleaches and remains effective in the landscape until late fall. Flowers have hair-like awns, thus the common name.
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Mr. Smarty Plants: What is an Exotic Species?
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Supplier: Adkins Arboretum (Ridgely, MD) Dedicated to promoting the conservation and appreciation of plants native to the Delmarva peninsula. Large selection of native trees, shrubs and perennials.
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Organization: Adkins Arboretum (Ridgely, MD)
ADKINS ARBORETUM is a new breed of arboretum, a place to discover the native flora of the Delmarva Peninsula. Located on the Tuckahoe Creek on Maryland's Eastern Shore, this 400-acre preserve includes portions of one of the region's most significant forested wetlands. The diverse naturalized areas contain various stages of maturing forests and meadows.
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Book: "Attracting Birds: From the Prairies to the Atlantic" (New York, Crowell) Out of Print--Limited Availability
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