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Freedom251 › Blog › ecoregions

How to Choose Native Plants That Support Grasshoppers and Other Local Wildlife

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

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Choose plants in this order: identify what is native to your ecoregion, match those plants to your garden’s light, soil and moisture, then buy responsibly propagated stock with the closest practical provenance. This approach supports local insects and other wildlife without pretending that one nationwide plant list will attract every grasshopper.

Grasshoppers are usually general feeders, so “support” means providing locally appropriate food and structure while accepting some herbivory—not guaranteeing that a named plant will draw or sustain a particular species.

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What “native” means at garden scale

The U.S. Forest Service definition quoted by Virginia Tech describes native plants as “indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat.” The important words are particular region, ecosystem, and habitat. A plant native somewhere in your state may be absent from your county, ecoregion or the specific habitat your yard represents.

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That geographic scale changes the buying decision. A prairie species may be native to a broad state but poorly suited to a coastal marsh, mountain cove or dry interior valley in the same state. Conversely, a plant sold as “native” may have been collected hundreds of miles away and differ genetically from populations adapted to your climate. Treat a state label as a starting point, not proof that a plant belongs in every local landscape.

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Why local origin matters for wildlife

Native insects often have long associations with plants from the same region. Some species eat a broad range of foliage; others use particular host plants for feeding or reproduction. Native plantings can therefore provide food, shelter and seasonal structure, but no single native plant supports all insects. A diverse, locally appropriate planting is more defensible than a short list of fashionable ornamentals.

Virginia Tech cites Doug Tallamy’s 2004 work as showing that 90 percent of native insects are specialists feeding on three or fewer plant families. Virginia Tech published that attribution on July 28, 2026. The statistic concerns native insects generally, not grasshoppers specifically, and it should not be read as a guarantee that every native plant hosts a specialist in your yard.

Start by identifying your place

Do not begin with a seed packet or a plant photo. Begin with your location and the habitat you are trying to recreate.

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  1. Record your state, county and ecoregion. County-level information is useful where a flora database provides it; otherwise, use the finest regional boundary supported by a reliable local source.
  2. Check a local flora database. Virginia readers can use the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora and regional Plant Virginia Natives guides. Oregon readers can consult Oregon Flora and Native Plant Society of Oregon (NPSO) local chapters. Other states have comparable state floras, extension offices and native-plant societies.
  3. Look for habitat matches, not just species names. Filter for prairie, woodland edge, wet meadow, coastal scrub, desert wash or another habitat that resembles your site.
  4. Confirm the plant’s native range at the smallest practical scale. If a source lists only a large region, note that limitation instead of assuming county-level occurrence.

There is no valid single United States-wide shopping list for this purpose. The same common name can cover different species, and a plant appropriate in Oregon may be absent from the natural flora of Virginia or vice versa. Regional examples from NPSO include milkweeds, lupines, Roemer’s fescue and Oregon sunshine; they are Oregon examples, not nationwide recommendations.

Audit the garden before choosing species

Native status does not override site conditions. Virginia Tech notes that a plant native to a region may still fail in altered soil, and recommends testing soil pH and nutrients. Construction, imported fill, compaction and concrete can create conditions unlike the surrounding natural habitat.

Map the physical conditions

  • Sun: Observe the bed through the day and across seasons. Record full sun, morning sun, dappled shade and deep shade rather than relying on a catalog label.
  • Moisture: Mark places that stay wet after rain, dry quickly, or receive roof runoff. Irrigation can create an artificial moisture regime that differs from the wider yard.
  • Drainage and slope: A sunny slope may still be drought-prone; a level depression may remain saturated. Note erosion, standing water and runoff paths.
  • Soil: Test pH and fertility. Also check texture and compaction. Filled or compacted soil may need remediation before any planting can thrive.
  • Built surfaces: Concrete, masonry and recent construction can raise alkalinity or alter drainage near a bed. Treat those edges as a separate microhabitat.
  • Disturbance: Mowing, foot traffic, pets, snow storage and repeated digging determine whether a plant can complete its life cycle.
  • Wind and exposure: Open, windy sites dry foliage and stems faster than sheltered gardens, even when both receive the same rainfall.

Write these observations down. A plant that is both locally native and suited to the measured conditions is a stronger candidate than one that is merely attractive or labeled for your state.

Build a shortlist that serves wildlife and the site

After identifying place and conditions, compare candidates using the same questions. The framework below is a practical decision aid, not a published scoring system.

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Decision question What to verify Why it matters
Is it native here? Ecoregion and, where available, county or local habitat records Prevents a broad state label from substituting for local evidence
Will it grow here? Sun, moisture, drainage, soil texture, pH, fertility and disturbance tolerance Healthy plants provide more reliable food and cover
What wildlife relationship is documented? Food, host-plant or habitat information for locally relevant species Separates evidence-based wildlife value from general “pollinator” claims
Where did the material originate? Seed collection region, nursery source and whether propagation was documented Closer provenance can better reflect local adaptation
Can the planting tolerate herbivory? Mature size, replacement cost, and whether some foliage loss is acceptable Wildlife support may include visible feeding damage
How does it fit the planting? Seasonal height, spread, structure and compatibility with neighboring plants Wildlife habitat depends on a functioning plant community, not one specimen

If a seller cannot provide a native range, habitat preference or seed origin, mark that information as unknown and seek another source rather than filling the gap with assumptions.

Food, host plants and habitat are different claims

A plant may offer edible foliage to an adult insect, serve as a larval host, provide shelter at ground level, or contribute seeds and flowers for other animals. Those are distinct functions. Ask which function is documented for the species you care about and in which region. A general statement that a plant is “good for wildlife” is not equivalent to evidence of a grasshopper host relationship.

Choose local provenance and ethical propagation

Ask a nursery or seed seller four direct questions:

  1. Where was the seed or parent material collected?
  2. Was the plant propagated in a nursery, or was it dug from the wild?
  3. Can you identify the ecoregion or collection area?
  4. Is the listed plant the same species and local form described by the regional flora?

Virginia Tech suggests considering local ecotypes sourced within approximately 100–200 miles. That distance is a practical consideration, not an ecological law or a guarantee of adaptation. NPSO advises choosing material from your ecoregion, or closer when possible. In a fragmented landscape, a reputable regional nursery with transparent records may be preferable to a nominally closer seller who cannot explain propagation practices.

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Do not remove whole plants from wild populations. Wild digging can reduce local populations, damage associated soil organisms and produce plants that transplant poorly. Choose growers that propagate their stock and can describe collection and production methods. For seed, read the collection region and any “source identified” or “source unspecified” designation; do not treat a generic national mixture as local merely because it contains native species.

How to support grasshoppers without overpromising

Most grasshoppers are general feeders. UC Integrated Pest Management (UC IPM) describes them as feeding on many plants, with preferences for some young green growth; during major outbreaks they may consume almost any green plant. That information comes from a California pest-management context and should not be converted into a national recipe for attracting grasshoppers.

“Support grasshoppers” can reasonably mean allowing some native herbivory, maintaining suitable vegetation and leaving sheltered ground or stem structure. It does not mean trying to maximize grasshopper numbers in every bed. Grasshoppers are part of food webs, and their presence may benefit birds, reptiles and small mammals, but a surge can also damage vegetables, seedlings or prized specimens.

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The eastern lubber example is species-specific

University of Florida IFAS reports that eastern lubber grasshoppers use at least 100 plant species from 38 plant families. That broad host range illustrates why one plant cannot be treated as a universal grasshopper magnet. It is a statistic about eastern lubbers, not all grasshoppers, and Florida feeding behavior should not be generalized to other regions or species. Some plants listed in that extension material can be damaged; the list is not a wildlife-garden recommendation.

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Design for tolerance and structure

  • Use several locally native species that occupy different heights and seasons rather than one heavily promoted ornamental.
  • Include plants whose documented wildlife value matches your local priorities, while accepting that evidence may be stronger for birds, bees or specialist caterpillars than for grasshoppers.
  • Leave some stems, leaf litter or low vegetation where local conditions permit; these features can provide cover without requiring a single “grasshopper plant.”
  • Place plants likely to receive herbivory where minor damage is acceptable, and protect high-value crops separately.
  • Avoid pesticide decisions based solely on seeing a few grasshoppers. First identify whether damage is significant and whether the insects are part of the intended habitat.

A step-by-step selection workflow

  1. Define the wildlife goal. Decide whether you want general insect habitat, food for birds, specialist host plants, tolerance for grasshopper feeding, or a combination. Record what “success” means before shopping.
  2. Locate authoritative regional lists. Start with a state flora, extension service, native-plant society or local chapter. Save the source’s scientific names and habitat notes.
  3. Survey the bed. Map sun, shade, moisture, slope, drainage, wind, structures and disturbance. Take soil samples for pH and nutrients where appropriate.
  4. Filter by site fit. Remove plants that conflict with measured light, moisture, drainage or soil conditions, even if they are attractive or broadly native.
  5. Check wildlife evidence. Prefer candidates with documented food, host or habitat relationships for species found in your region. Keep the claim specific to the relationship and location.
  6. Compare mature form. Note height, spread, seasonal structure and how much foliage loss the planting can tolerate.
  7. Verify provenance. Ask for collection region and propagation details. Favor ecoregion material or, where practical, stock within the approximate 100–200-mile local-ecotype range suggested by Virginia Tech.
  8. Buy propagated material. Reject wild-dug whole plants and sellers who cannot explain their source. For seed, read the origin before considering price or packet size.
  9. Install in a small trial area. Plant a manageable group, label each species and observe survival, flowering, herbivory and soil moisture through a full growing season.
  10. Adjust based on observations. Replace failures caused by site mismatch, not by immediately adding more water or fertilizer. Expand the combinations that survive and provide the desired habitat.

How to compare two candidate plants

When two plants appear equally native, use a side-by-side decision record. The entries below show the questions to answer; they do not assign unsupported scores.

Criterion Candidate A Candidate B
Native range at ecoregion or county scale Record the local flora’s wording Record the local flora’s wording
Sun and moisture fit Compare with your site map Compare with your site map
Soil and drainage fit Use test results and habitat notes Use test results and habitat notes
Documented food, host or habitat value Name the local relationship, if documented Name the local relationship, if documented
Seed or nursery provenance Collection region and propagation status Collection region and propagation status
Herbivory tolerance and mature size Assess acceptable damage and available space Assess acceptable damage and available space

If one column contains “not stated,” treat that as missing information rather than a positive or negative score. A plant with less marketing language but clear local provenance and site fit is often the more responsible choice.

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Common mistakes and how to correct them

Using a state list as a universal answer

Problem: A state can contain several ecoregions and habitats.

Correction: Narrow the list with county, ecoregion and habitat information from a flora database or local native-plant organization.

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Choosing for wildlife before checking the soil

Problem: Compacted fill, alkaline concrete edges or saturated soil can defeat an otherwise appropriate plant.

Correction: Test pH and nutrients, inspect drainage and select species that match the actual conditions. Improve the site only when the remedy is practical and does not create a new disturbance.

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Assuming “native” means “supports every insect”

Problem: Wildlife relationships range from highly specialized to broadly generalist.

Correction: Identify the specific food, host or habitat evidence for the local species you hope to support.

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Buying a generic seed mix

Problem: A mixture can contain species or source populations that do not belong in your ecoregion.

Correction: Read the complete species list and collection origins. Buy regionally appropriate native seed only after confirming both.

Digging plants from nearby public or private land

Problem: Removal harms wild populations and may be illegal or prohibited by land managers.

Correction: Use nursery-propagated plants or identified seed from a reputable regional supplier.

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Treating grasshoppers only as pests—or only as desired wildlife

Problem: Either extreme ignores the difference between occasional feeding and damaging outbreaks.

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Correction: Decide which plants can tolerate herbivory, monitor actual damage and protect food crops separately when necessary. Do not infer national pesticide guidance from the older, California-specific UC IPM discussion.

Buying regionally appropriate plants and seed

Once the regional list and site requirements are clear, local native-plant nurseries, extension plant sales and native-plant society events are usually better starting points than a generic online marketplace. They may provide collection regions, propagation details and advice for local microhabitats. Verify those details before purchase; a seller’s location alone does not prove that every item is locally sourced.

For seed, compare the species list, ecoregion, collection distance and propagation or cleaning information. A higher packet count is not an advantage if the mix is ecologically inappropriate. If origin is not stated, ask the seller; if the answer remains unavailable, choose a source with transparent provenance.

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Monitor the planting as habitat, not a display bed

During the first season, record establishment, flowering, foliage use, bare soil, litter and moisture. Photograph the bed at regular intervals and label plants so volunteer seedlings are not removed accidentally. Look for a balance: some chewing can indicate that foliage is being used, while complete defoliation, repeated collapse or soil erosion signals a design problem.

Adjust mowing and cleanup timing where local rules and safety allow. Leaving every stem and leaf indefinitely is not required; retain enough seasonal structure to provide cover, then remove material when it creates a disease, fire or access problem. Reassess after weather extremes, construction or irrigation changes because the site may no longer match the original plant choices.

What a successful choice looks like

A strong candidate is locally native at the finest scale your sources support, fits the measured light and soil, has a documented food or habitat relationship relevant to your wildlife goal, and comes from transparent propagation or seed collection. For grasshoppers, success is a resilient plant community that can tolerate some feeding and provide structure—not a promise that one species will attract a predictable number of insects.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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