Audubon Center for Native Plants
At Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
"...I
have great faith in the seed.
Convince me that you have a seed
there,
and I am prepared to expect wonders."
--Henry David Thoreau
Plant Sales
The next Native Plant sale will take place Saturday, May 3,
2008, 9 am to 2 pm.
Download list of species expected to be available. (PDF) All plants will be discounted and ACNP staff will be on hand to help
you select plants. Plants will also be available for purchase at regular prices
during Audubon Nature Store hours after the sale day;
assistance from ACNP staff with plant selection and questions is available
Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
List of Plants Native to Allegheny County (173K PDF)
ACNP Native Plant Culture & Use Guide, by species (800K PDF)
About the ACNP
The Audubon Center for Native Plants (ACNP) was dedicated in May 2000, thanks to a grant from Dominion Peoples, a Dominion company. We have expanded our native plant nursery with a new greenhouse and additional education, retail and growing spaces. The ACNP allows us to increase the promotion, protection, and propagation of native plants, and to integrate native plant education into our current programming at ASWP. The ACNP is located at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, at the northern end of the main parking lot.
The new building uses environmentally sustainable
building materials and exemplifies energy efficiency. The building design
features the use of passive solar energy and lighting, locally-grown straw bale
insulation, rainwater collection for plant irrigation and a variety of recycled
and reused materials. Work is continuing with plans for increased propagation
areas and demonstration gardens.
The ACNP grounds are open year-round. The ACNP building itself is open for tours by appointment or during periodic native plant workshops and sales. Check the ASWP Events calendar, call 412-963-6100, or email for more information. The volunteers meet Tuesday mornings at 10 AM in season to work. Stop by for a look or to help out!
ACNP Mission
The ACNP of Audubon at Beechwood seeks to:
- Nursery-propagate an array of native plants grown from local seeds collected under Western Pennsylvania Conservancy guidelines.
- Cooperate with local environmental organizations to serve as a clearinghouse for information on the wise use and preservation of these plants.
- Work with schools and other community groups restoring public lands and school grounds.
- Educate the general public about landscaping with native plants through adult classes.
Why Garden with native plants?
Home gardeners can serve as important links to the increasingly fragmented wild lands that surround us. The compelling beauty of western Pennsylvania's diverse assortment of native plants can educate us as well as enrich our lives and landscapes. Gardening with native plants is one way to do your part in preserving our local environment. When purchasing native plants, always insist on "nursery propagated plants." This ensures that the plants were grown from seed, rather than collected from wild populations.
Native Plants...
- Provide years of beauty
- Properly chosen, can flourish on any site
- Attract and nourish native wildlife
- Reduce the need for insecticides and chemical products
- Add grace and informal charm
How Do I Know What Plants to Use
Our online native plant selection guides can be a good place to start. You may also contact us with your inquiries.
If you are in the neighborhood, visit the ACNP and discover:
- Natives for difficult sites and conditions
- Plants for naturalizing and restoration
- Intriguing additions for your borders
- Ways to bring nature to your landscape
Volunteer at the ACNP in the following ways:
- Landscape designing
- Education programs
- Plant propagation
- Seed collection
- Sales
Books on Native Plants
We recommend the following books on native plants. Some speak specifically to use in landscaping; others to general identification. The books listed here are available at the Audubon Nature Store, either in stock or we can order them for you. Many titles are available in the ACNP reference library in the ACNP building.
- Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians by Scott Weidensaul
- The Native Plant Primer by Carole Ottesen
- Landscaping with Native Trees: The Northeast, Midwest, Midsouth, and Southeast edition by Guy Sternburg and Jim Wilson
- The Plants of Pennsylvania, an Illustrated Manual, by Ann Fowler Rhoads & Timothy A. Block. The definitive botanical guide to PA species, and the most accurate identification of native and non-native species
- Wildflowers of Pennsylvania, by Mary Joy Haywood and Phyllis Testal Monk
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb. A thorough field guide with an easy to use key system for identification
Native Plant Links
The Audubon Center for Native Plants staff and volunteers recommend these sites as places to start for those who are interested in learning more about native plants and wildflowers.
- Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Plant Conservation Alliance: A consortium of federal agencies and non-federal Cooperators representing various disciplines within the conservation field.
- New England Wildflower Society
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
- The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
- Western Pennsylvania Wildflowers: A website of pictures and descriptions of local wildflowers.
- Pennsylvania Wildflower email listserv: A Yahoo email group dedicated to news and discussion of Pennsylvania Wildflowers