Wisconsin Native Plant Program
Your Lawn Could Be a Prairie
Wisconsin homeowners are replacing grass with native wildflowers — reducing flooding, feeding pollinators, and cutting lawn care costs. Qualify for up to $500 in native plants to get started.
See If You Qualify →Max plant rebate per household
Native species available
Less water needed vs. turf
Why Make the Switch
Three Reasons Your Lawn
Deserves Better
Native Wildflower
Roots reach 15 ft deep
Turf Grass
Roots reach 6 inches
Deep Roots That Drink the Rain
Native prairie plants send roots 10–15 feet into the soil — creating natural channels that absorb stormwater fast. Turf grass roots barely reach 6 inches, leaving rainwater nowhere to go but your basement or your neighbor's yard. Wisconsin DNR data shows native plantings can reduce runoff by up to 90%.
A Habitat, Not Just a Yard
Native plants support 17× more pollinators than turf. Monarch butterflies, native bees, and songbirds depend on plants like wild bergamot and coneflower that have co-evolved with Wisconsin wildlife for thousands of years.
Mow Less. Spend Less.
Once established, native wildflowers need no fertilizer, no irrigation, and mowing just once a year. Wisconsin homeowners report saving $400–$800 per year in lawn care after transitioning.
Backed by Wisconsin Research
Wisconsin DNR
"Native plantings can reduce stormwater runoff by up to 90% compared to conventional turf lawns."
Stormwater Management Guidelines, 2022
UW–Madison Extension
"Residential native plant gardens support 17 times more native bee species than traditional lawns."
Urban Ecology Research, 2021
Milwaukee Homeowner
"We haven't mowed since 2022. Our basement hasn't flooded since 2021. The butterflies showed up the first summer."
Bay View neighborhood, Milwaukee
The Process
From Grass to Prairie
in Four Steps
Submit Your Application
Fill out our short form with your address, lawn size, and goals. Takes under 5 minutes.
Get Your Assessment
We review your yard's sun, soil, and drainage to recommend the right native plant mix.
Receive Your Plants
Approved applicants receive up to $500 in Wisconsin-grown native wildflowers and grasses.
Watch It Thrive
Plant in fall or spring. By year two, your meadow is self-sustaining — and stunning.
Limited Availability
Ready to Transform Your Lawn?
Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying Wisconsin homeowners. Submit your application today to see if you qualify for up to $500 in native plants.