Natural Resources Conservation Service

Plant Materials Program

United States Department of Agriculture

NRCS Plant Guides Help Landowners With Their Planting Projects

Plant Guides provide valuable information to conservation planners, researchers, and others using plants in natural resource conservation projects. Over 500 plant guides are available through the NRCS PLANTS Database.

Desert Globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua.

Establishing Gliricidia Trees

Establishing trees in and arid environment has proven to be a challenge in the Pacific Islands Area. The USDA-NRCS Hoolehua Plant Materials Center in working to develop an establishment technique for Gliricidia sepium to be utilized in agro-forestry practices.

Gliricida seedlings 60 days after planting.

Cool-Season Grasses for Saline Soils

Establishment of perennial cool-season forage grasses is a better alternative to annual cropping for addressing soil salinity problems that are now impacting over 10 million acres of cropland in the Northern Great Plains.

Image of Carrington, ND saline site 6 years after seeding cool-season perennial grass species with greater saline tolerance

Maximizing Conservation Plantings with Grazing Management

The ultimate goal of any conservation planting is to protect our natural resources. For most farmers & ranchers, the success of these plantings depends on making the right management decisions so that these areas can be utilized while protecting the soil and providing wildlife habitat.

Eastern Red Cedar, making it a friend instead of foe

Taking advantage of cuttings from male eastern red cedar and adventitious rooting helps produce seedlings that provide the many conservation benefits without the negative drawbacks.