Planting Natives in Northeast Kansas

​Planting Natives in Northeast Kansas is a unique collaborative effort between K-State Research and Extension - Douglas County (KSRE), the Grassland Heritage Foundation (GHF), and the Kansas Rural Center (KRC) to pull together information on and resources for integrating native plants into your landscape, whether it be in your backyard or back 40 acres. Interest in native plants is growing. Evidence for this appeal includes an increased number of native plant sales and selection of natives at garden centers, a flourishing industry of native plant nurseries and seed suppliers, and a swelling demand for information from the public.

In recent years, calls to our respective organizations for help and advice on planting native plants, creating pollinator habitats, or restoring prairie have multiplied. This publication is specifically designed for those in the northeast corner of Kansas who wish to plant natives but do not know where or how to start. While the plants, timelines, and resources mentioned in this guide are specific to northeast Kansas, the general principles and methods for planting natives apply not only to the entire state of Kansas but to the whole of the grassland biome in the United States.

View the Guides:

Gardening with Native Plants

Here you will find a guide to gardening with native plants, recommended species, how to find plants and seeds, and what public gardens to visit to view native plants.

Restoring Prairie Remnants

Follow the link above for the guide to restoring prairie remnants, viewing natural prairies in Kansas, and finding plants and seeds.

Landscaping with Natives

Find the guide to landscaping with native plants, recommended species, finding plants and seeds, where to see landscaping with natives, how to establish meadows and how to develop monarch gardens.

Establishing Native Cropland Borders and Buffers

This guide is designed to put necessary information all in one place – instructions, plant lists, plant and seed providers, available financial and planning assistance, reference gardens and prairies, and tips and advice from local landowners who have experience.

Reconstructing Prairies

Reconstruct a prairie by following along with this guide; additional resources include how to establish and manage native grasses, where to find seeds and plants, and where to view Kansas’s beautiful prairies.