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Home My WebLink AboutITEM IV - Native Plant Brochure_2023Email: sab@ci.oshkosh.wi.us City of Oshkosh Native Plant Information This brochure contains information relating to native plants. Its purpose is to provide resources about native plants, to help the public understand what native plants are, the reasons why using native plants makes sense, and the city of Oshkosh municipal code relevant to native plants within a private property. CITY OF OSHKOSH SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD Plant Native Plants for Beautiful Landscapes and To Protect Nature Native plants are species that grew naturally in a region before European settlement. Native plants are well adapted to the environmental conditions in each region and have co-evolved with the wildlife in its region. In addition to providing food and habitat for pollinators, birds and other wildlife, native plants filter water pollutants and store carbon. Since native plants are adapted to their surroundings, native plants are more tolerant of drought and poor soil, and more resistant to native insects and diseases. Someone choosing to plant species native to Wis- consin can choose among many attractive flowers, grasses, sedges, bushes and trees that are adapted to the particular conditions on their property. There are many online resources for using native plants in landscaping. Native plant nurseries will help you identify plants that will be successful for a particular purpose and specific conditions found in a yard or garden. Whether or not a plant is a native to a region does not determine if it is a weed. It is unfortunate that certain native plants have "weed" in their common names. An example is milkweed (genus Asclepias) which are the required host plants for monarch but- terfly caterpillars. Many native plants are listed as endangered or threatened by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It is important to use native plants that are propagated and not gathered. Gathering native plants disrupts native plant communities. Reputable nurseries will answer your questions about the source of their plants. The City of Oshkosh supports the use of Native Plants. RAIN GARDENS AND STO RM- WATER CREDITS Stormwater credits for installation of a rain garden are available. A rain garden is a shal- low depression typically planted with native plants that collects and filters rain falling on hard services. Municipal Code Section 30-255 describes Standards for Rain Gardens and Bioswales. Contact Public Works at 920-236- 5065 if interested. NATIVE LANDSCAPING A REAS Native Landscaping Areas is described in Sec- tion 17-44.2 of the Municipal Code. This sec- tion describes the process for receiving ap- proval of a native landscaping area within the City of Oshkosh. Native landscaping areas are also known as maintained prairies or mead- ows. Contact Native Plants Caption describing picture or graphic. EXEMPTIONS TO WEED CUT- TING REQUIREMENTS Section 17-44D of the Municipal Code lists several exemptions to weed cutting and lawn care requirements. Among the exemptions are vegetation on steep slopes that would be unsafe to mow, vegetation in natural wooded lots, vegetation near water, and approved Native Landscaping Areas. Contact Public Works at 920-236-5065 if interested. NATIVE LANDSCAPING AREAS Native Landscaping Areas is described in Sec- tion 17-44.2 of the Municipal Code. This sec- tion describes the process for receiving ap- proval of a native landscaping area within the City of Oshkosh. Native landscaping areas are also known as maintained prairies or mead- ows. Contact the Planning Department at 920 -236-5059 to get this process started. EXEMPTIONS TO WEED CUTTING REQUIREMENTS Section 17-44D of the Municipal Code lists several exemptions to weed cutting and lawn care requirements. Among the exemptions are vegetation on steep slopes that would be unsafe to mow, vegetation in natural wooded lots, vegetation near water, and approved Native Landscaping Areas. Online Native Plant Resources\ Plant native plants to help nature | | Wisconsin DNR - Guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Re- sources on native plants Wild Ones Fox Valley - Local chapter of national non-profit group that “promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to increase biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities” USDA Plants Database - Information on plants including whether a plant is a native or introduced species to regions within the United States Pollinator Conservation Resources: Great Lakes Region | Xerces Society - Includes lists of native plants and infor- mation on creation of pollinator habitat. Plants for Birds (audubon.org) - Includes a native plant data- base to find native plants that will bring more birds to a yard or garden. Weeds of Wisconsin | USDA PLANTS - Covers invasive, introduced and noxious weeds. Some invasive species may take over an area and prevent growth of desired native plants. Wisconsin's endangered and threatened species list - In- cludes an explanation of Wisconsin law. Home - Pl@ntNet, Seek by iNaturalist, PictureThis are phone apps useful in identifying the plants species already present. When planning a native plant garden, it is useful to know if native plants are already present, and if there are any invasive species that should be removed. https://healthylakeswi.com/ - provides information on creat- ing wildlife habitats on shoreland property and is a source of grants for projects that benefit a collective of shoreland owners.