Plants are the backbone of all life on Earth and an essential resource for human well-being. They also work in harmony with indigenous wildlife by providing ecologically rich habitats that sustain them. It is the responsibility of gardeners and landscapers to use plants that create these habitats and meet the needs of all who live in them. Heidi presents an array of new, unusual, and tried-and-true native ornamental plants that help achieve these goals. Discover which locally adapted species tolerate varying soil and light conditions, provide multi-season interest, help solve deer problems, and bring vibrancy to your garden.

Heidi Hesselein and her husband, Richard, both 4th generation nursery people, co-founded Pleasant Run Nursery in Allentown, NJ, in 1998. Their goal of growing rare, new, and unusual plants has resulted in the production of over 1700 species, including many native plants, that add beauty to the landscape and food or habitat for wildlife. Their commitment to sustainability led them to install a solar array that powers the entire nursery and their residence, and several bio-swales and rain gardens to manage storm water runoff.