How much does native plant landscaping cost compared to a conventional ornamental planting?

A professionally installed native plant landscape in Southeastern PA typically costs $2,000 to $15,000, which is comparable to a conventional ornamental planting of similar size, so the upfront cost difference is minimal. The long-term difference is significant. Once established after 1 to 2 growing seasons, native plantings require 50 to 70 percent less irrigation than ornamental plantings during the region's hot, humid July and August. Reduced pesticide and fertilizer inputs further lower annual maintenance costs, and across a 5-year comparison native plantings consistently outperform ornamentals on total lifecycle cost for most Southeastern PA residential properties. A free consultation with Blue Tree Outdoor Living includes a side-by-side cost-benefit breakdown for the specific property.

Which native plants perform best in Southeastern Pennsylvania gardens?

The strongest native performers for residential landscapes across the seven counties Blue Tree serves are Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo), Rudbeckia fulgida (black-eyed Susan), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), and Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) for upland, well-drained sites. For wet areas and the clay soils common in low-lying parts of Montgomery and Bucks Counties, Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower), Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), and Penstemon digitalis (foxglove beardtongue) perform reliably. All of these are rated for USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7, which covers the full Blue Tree service area from the 6b zones in northern Lehigh and Berks Counties through the 7a zones approaching Philadelphia.

What wildlife and ecological benefits does native plant landscaping provide in Southeastern PA?

Native plant landscapes in Southeastern PA directly support the regional ecological food web in measurable ways. Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) is the exclusive larval host plant for monarch butterflies, whose population has declined more than 80 percent over the past 20 years. Native asters, goldenrods, and Echinacea species support over 40 native bee species that are ground-nesters and require open, undisturbed soil. Panicum virgatum and Andropogon gerardii seed heads provide winter food for native sparrows and finches. Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive quarantine pest in all seven counties Blue Tree serves, is suppressed by increasing habitat complexity, which dense native plantings provide. A 2-to-3-year-old established native planting on a typical residential lot of 0.25 to 0.5 acres supports measurably greater insect and bird diversity than an equivalent ornamental planting.

What areas does Blue Tree serve for native plant landscaping?

Blue Tree Outdoor Living designs and installs native plant landscapes across seven Southeastern Pennsylvania counties: Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties. The company has planted natives in these conditions since 1983, sourcing from regional and PA-ecotype growers where available, and matches each native and adapted species to the documented performance range for this region.

Native Plant Landscaping in Southeastern PA

What Sets Blue Tree's Native Plant Landscaping Apart

Anyone can put a few natives in a bed. Designing a native landscape that actually works is harder, and it is what Blue Tree does. A degreed designer reads your site, sun, soil, moisture, slope, and deer pressure, then chooses natives and proven adapted species that fit those exact conditions and the look you want. The result is a landscape that establishes quickly, holds its structure through the seasons, and needs far less water, fertilizer, and pesticide than a conventional planting. Blue Tree has designed native landscapes across Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties since 1983, and the same team that designs the planting installs and can maintain it.

Written by Andrew Mattiola, a Blue Tree landscape designer with a Penn State degree in landscape contracting, and reviewed by senior designer Stephen Roehm.

Established

Lower

Water and Maintenance

70 to 90

Employees

Our Native Landscape Process, Step by Step

From the first site visit to the final walkthrough, one designer manages your native planting. Here is how it comes together.

Step 1: Free On-Site Consultation

A Blue Tree designer walks your property and reads the conditions that decide which natives will thrive: sun and shade through the day, soil and moisture, slope, and deer pressure. Then we talk through the look you want, from formal native beds to a naturalistic meadow. The visit is free with no same-day pressure. Timeline: 1 visit, about 60 to 90 minutes.

Step 2: Custom Design and 3D Renderings

Your designer builds a planting plan keyed to your site: native and adapted species, mature sizes, bloom sequence, and how the planting reads from the house and street. You review the design, often with 3D renderings, and refine species and placement before anything is ordered. Timeline: 2 to 4 weeks.

Step 3: Materials, Proposal, and Permitting

Your designer sources native stock from trusted regional growers, favoring plants already acclimated to Southeastern Pennsylvania, and prices the project as one itemized proposal. You see exactly which species and sizes you are getting before you sign. Timeline: 1 to 2 weeks.

Step 4: Professional Installation

Crews prepare and amend the soil, correct drainage, and set each plant for its mature size, then finish with mulch. Natives are placed for how they spread, so the planting fills in the way it should. Timeline: 1 to 2 weeks.

Step 5: Aftercare & Warranty

Every native planting ships with a watering guide for the critical first season, and all plant material is backed by a one-year, one-time replacement warranty from the date of installation. Ongoing bed care is available through Premier Outdoor Services. Timeline: ongoing.

Native Plantings for Every Part of the Yard

Native and adapted species do different jobs in different spots. These are the native plantings Southeastern PA homeowners ask Blue Tree for most, each chosen for the conditions it actually has to live in.

Native Perennial Beds

Coneflower, bee balm, switchgrass, and other natives layered for a long bloom season and food for pollinators.

Native Shrubs and Hedgerows

Itea, viburnum, winterberry, and other native shrubs for screening, structure, and four seasons of interest.

Shade and Woodland Plantings

Ferns, woodland phlox, and native groundcovers that turn dry shade under mature trees into a finished planting.

Rain Gardens and Wet Areas

Native plantings that handle standing water and runoff, turning a soggy low spot into a designed feature.

Pollinator and Meadow Plantings

Native grasses and wildflowers planned for pollinators, birds, and a softer, naturalistic look with less mowing.

Deer-Resistant Natives

Natives and adapted species deer tend to leave alone, for properties where browsing is a constant battle.

Built for Southeastern Pennsylvania's Native Range

Native means native to here, and that is the point. Southeastern Pennsylvania sits in USDA hardiness zones 6b and 7a, with clay-heavy soils, humid summers, cold winters, and heavy deer pressure in much of the region. Plants native to this range are adapted to all of it, which is why they establish faster and need less water, fertilizer, and spray once they take hold. Blue Tree's native plant palette for this region focuses on species with documented performance across Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties. Canopy and mid-story: Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), river birch (Betula nigra), serviceberry (Amelanchier species), and spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Perennial groundplane: black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis), Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum), wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), and native asters (Symphyotrichum). Grasses and sedges: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica). These selections also support native pollinators and song birds, which Chester and Montgomery County homeowners increasingly request as part of a complete landscape. Blue Tree has planted natives in these conditions since 1983, sourcing from PA-ecotype growers where available, and chooses proven performers over trend plants so the landscape holds up for decades, not seasons.

A curved stone walkway bordered by dark bricks winds through landscaped gardens with green shrubs, ornamental grasses, mulch, and solar path lights, leading to a patio area in a spacious yard.

Pair Native Plantings with the Rest of the Yard

Garden Design and Planting. Blend natives with ornamentals for a fuller, year-round planting. Explore garden design.

Drip Irrigation. Low-volume watering that gets natives through their first summers, then largely steps back. Explore drip irrigation.

Ongoing Bed Care. Seasonal mulching, editing, and maintenance handled by the same team through Premier Outdoor Services.

Part of Blue Tree's Planting Design and Installation services, available across Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties.

A landscaped area with green shrubs, large stone boulders, and a curved concrete pathway beside a beige stucco house with a window and decorative wall art. Blue sky with clouds is visible in the background.

Curated Transformations

Browse recent native and landscape projects from across Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties.

Everything Your Outdoor
Space Needs. One Team.

From the pool to the patio to the plants that frame it all. We handle the full picture so nothing falls through the cracks.

A luxurious backyard pool features stone walls with multiple cascading waterfalls, built-in lights, fire bowls, and surrounding lush greenery and flowers, creating an elegant and relaxing outdoor space.

Custom Pools & Water Features

Resort-style pools, spas, waterfalls, and grottos, designed for your property, not from a catalog

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A spacious outdoor patio features a built-in stone grill, bar seating, a dining table, wicker chairs, and a stone fireplace. The area is warmly lit and surrounded by lush green trees at sunset.

Patios, Walls & Outdoor Kitchens

Structures built to last generations by craftsmen who take pride in the details

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A well-maintained front yard features neatly trimmed grass, vibrant flower beds, shrubs, and small trees in front of a stone house, all bathed in warm sunlight.

Landscape Design & Planting

Native plants, seasonal color, and designs that thrive in Southeastern PA's climate

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A green fertilizer spreader sits on a neatly mowed lawn in front of a suburban house, surrounded by well-kept bushes and colorful flowers on a sunny day.

Lawn Programs

Science-backed fertilization, weed control, and aeration for the lawn your neighbors will notice

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A luxurious backyard at dusk features a glowing swimming pool, landscaped gardens, and warm path lighting, with a large house and outdoor seating area illuminated in the background, surrounded by tall trees.

Landscape Lighting

Professionally designed LED systems that add safety, security, and ambiance after dark

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A large, well-manicured green lawn in front of a stone house with landscaped flower beds, bushes, and small trees, surrounded by tall trees with autumn foliage.

Year-Round Care

Seasonal cleanups, pool service, and ongoing care that keeps everything looking its best

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Common Questions

A professionally installed native plant landscape in southeastern PA typically costs $2,000 to $15,000, which is comparable to a conventional ornamental planting of similar size. The upfront cost difference is minimal. The long-term cost difference is significant. Native plantings, once established after 1 to 2 growing seasons, require 50 to 70 percent less irrigation than ornamental plantings during southeastern PA's hot, humid July and August periods when average highs reach 88 degrees F. Reduced pesticide and fertilizer inputs further lower annual maintenance costs. When you factor in a 5-year cost comparison, native plantings consistently outperform ornamentals on total lifecycle cost for most southeastern PA residential properties. Your free consultation with Blue Tree Outdoor Living includes a side-by-side cost-benefit breakdown for your specific property.

The strongest native performers for residential landscapes across the seven counties Blue Tree Outdoor Living serves are Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo), Rudbeckia fulgida (black-eyed Susan), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), and Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) for upland, well-drained sites. For wet areas and Worsham series clay soils common in low-lying areas of Montgomery and Bucks Counties, Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower), Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed), and Penstemon digitalis (foxglove beardtongue) perform reliably. All of these are rated for USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7, which covers the full Blue Tree service area from the 6b zones in northern Lehigh and Berks Counties through the 7a and 7b zones approaching Philadelphia.

Several invasive species are extremely common in southeastern PA naturalized areas and must be removed before a native planting can succeed. The PA Invasive Plant Council identifies burning bush (Euonymus alatus), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), English ivy (Hedera helix), and lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) as high-priority removal targets, and all four appear regularly on properties throughout Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties. Japanese barberry is particularly problematic because it creates a soil microclimate favorable to blacklegged tick survival. Mechanical removal of established colonies often requires two to three seasons of follow-up to prevent re-sprouting from root fragments. Blue Tree Outdoor Living's site assessment identifies invasive presence and includes a removal plan before the native planting design begins.

Native plant landscapes in southeastern PA directly support the regional ecological food web in measurable ways. Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) is the exclusive larval host plant for monarch butterflies, whose population has declined more than 80 percent over the past 20 years. Native asters, goldenrods, and Echinacea species support over 40 native bee species that are ground-nesters and require open, undisturbed soil, not hive structures. Panicum virgatum and Andropogon gerardii seed heads provide winter food for native sparrows and finches. Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive quarantine pest in all seven counties Blue Tree serves, is suppressed by increasing habitat complexity, which dense native plantings provide. A 2-to-3-year-old established native planting on a typical southeastern PA residential lot of 0.25 to 0.5 acres supports measurably greater insect and bird diversity than equivalent ornamental plantings.

After the 1 to 2 year establishment period, a properly sited native plant landscape in southeastern PA requires roughly 50 to 70 percent less maintenance input than a comparable ornamental planting. Annual tasks include cutting back ornamental grasses and perennials in late February or early March before new growth emerges, mulching beds with 2 to 3 inches of shredded hardwood in spring, and spot-checking for invasive re-sprouts through the growing season. Irrigation need drops to near zero by year 3 for most natives matched to their site conditions, which is the critical variable. A common mistake is planting sun-loving natives like Echinacea and Rudbeckia in partial shade sites, which produces weak plants that require more intervention, not less. Blue Tree Outdoor Living designs specifically for your site's light, moisture, and soil so that low-maintenance outcomes are built into the plan rather than hoped for.

Blue Tree Outdoor Living sources native plant material from regional nurseries that propagate straight-species selections, not primarily cultivar selections. This distinction matters because cultivar selections (varieties bred for unusual flower color or compact habit) are often less genetically valuable to pollinators and wildlife than straight species. Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Xerces Society both recommend straight-species sourcing for habitat plantings, a standard Blue Tree follows. Regional nursery sourcing also means the plant material is acclimated to southeastern PA soils and winters, reducing establishment stress compared to plants shipped from production facilities in the mid-Atlantic or Southeast. Blue Tree's 43 years of landscape work in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties has built relationships with nurseries whose stock is validated for zone 6b through 7a performance.

Native Plant Landscaping in Southeastern Pennsylvania

What Sets Blue Tree's Native Plant Landscaping Apart

Our Native Landscape Process, Step by Step