Tiny Habitats evokes the splendor and resilience of nature by showcasing the beauty and diversity of native plants. 

Our mix of native plants includes host plants for pollinator specialists and a range of flower shapes, sizes, and phytonutrients, all of which provide exceptional pollinator habitat value. Our container garden designs feature a colorful mix of drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plants for sunny spots and a woodlands-inspired mix of shade-tolerant species for shadier areas. We source plants from nurseries specializing in ecological landscaping and from local native plant nurseries that sustainably source local eco-types and responsibly collect plants from natural populations.

The diverse mixture of plants in our tiny habitats support pollinators who are wildlife specialists—meaning those who require specific flower shapes, sizes, and phytonutrients.

Below are some of our favorite plants. We combine plants in such a way as to provide a rich mix of seasonal blooms that offer food and shelter to small wildlife throughout the year and support pollinators at especially critical times. Some examples include:

Native plants as pollinators

Why are native plants so important as pollinator habitat? The relationships between pollinator species and the plants on which they depend for food have evolved over a long time, and many wildlife species are “specialists” that rely exclusively on certain species of plants for sustenance at different stages of their lives. Generalist wildlife are more adapted to a greater variety of plants and may be less susceptible to environmental changes caused by habitat loss and, increasingly, by climate change.

Native plant design

Our work is inspired by ecological designers who are adapting plant communities found in nature to create “novel” designed plant communities. We apply principles found in ”New Perennial” planting design, which involves densely planting a combination of species that can co-exist to create a rich, long-lasting matrix and provide great visual interest through all seasons. Designers such as Claudia West, Adam Woodruff, Piet Oudolf, and Noel Kingsbury offer great inspiration, as does the work of entomologist and wildlife ecologist Doug Tallamy, whose book “Bringing Nature Home” created a groundswell of popular support for using native plants in home gardens and ornamental landscapes to “bring back” habitat in the face of alarming rates of biodiversity and habitat loss.