To qualify for Nature Neighbors certification, your habitat area must be at least 50 square feet and comprised of at least 80% native species. We calculate this by the total number of species, not the number of individual plants. For example, if you have 10 plant species, at least 8 of them should be native. To calculate your percentage of native species, count how many native species of plants you have, and divide this by the total number of plant species present in your habitat. If the number is above 80, you’re good to go!
You must include at least EIGHT of the plant types listed in the Certification Requirements in your habitat. Each plant may only count as ONE type, even if it actually serves many purposes in the ecosystem. This is to encourage you to plant as many species as possible to build diversity and landscape resilience!