At Blue Thumb, we love sharing tools that make native planting more approachable and successful. That’s why we’re excited to highlight our partner and sponsor Prairie Restorations and their new online tool: PRESTO.
PRESTO helps take the guesswork out of choosing native plants. By combining site conditions with historical ecological data, the tool generates a tailored list of plants that are likely to thrive in your space, whether you’re starting your very first pollinator garden or planning a larger restoration project.
We recently spoke with Taylor Oswald, PRESTO Manager at Prairie Restorations, to learn more about how the tool works and what inspired its creation.
What is PRESTO?
“PRESTO is an ecological tool that will help people find what native plants are best for their property based on historical data,” Taylor explained.
The name itself is a playful combination of “Prairie” and “Restorations,” created by Prairie Restorations founder Ron Bowen. But behind the playful name is a concept years in the making.
“Ron first had the idea 20 or so years ago,” Taylor shared. The concept sat on the shelf until recently, when Taylor was hired to help bring the vision to life by working with developers, managing plant data, and refining the user experience.
Today, PRESTO is available for projects located in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
How does it work?
Using PRESTO feels a bit like having a native plant expert guide you through your site conditions.
Users answer a series of questions about their planting area, including sun exposure, soil type and moisture, desired plant community, and plant types they’d like to include. The final step is entering the planting location.
“The most important part is giving your address and planting location,” Taylor said, “because that is what we cross reference with our historical data.”
That historical data comes from decades of research and plant observations, including records collected by botanists, researchers, and horticulturalists over the last 100 years. Prairie Restorations compiled this information into what Taylor described as “dot map data,” helping connect native plant presence with site conditions.
Once your information is entered, PRESTO generates a ranked plant list customized to your site.
Why does “historical presence” matter?
One of the most unique parts of PRESTO is how it ranks plants by “historical presence and adaptability.” In other words, the tool looks at what plants naturally occurred in your area and how well they are suited to your specific site’s conditions.
“Native plants have evolved to adapt to our weather patterns, soil types, and other plants and insects that live here,” Taylor shared. “If you are planting plants that naturally evolved in the area, you will naturally have more success.”
That approach can help gardeners save time, reduce trial-and-error, and ultimately create landscapes that better support water quality, pollinators and wildlife.
PRESTO also encourages diversity in planting design. While many people are drawn to colorful wildflowers, the tool recommends including grasses, shrubs, and other plant types to create a stronger habitat structure.
A tool for beginners and restorationists alike
One thing we appreciated while testing PRESTO was how accessible it felt. The questions are beginner-friendly, with helpful explanations for identifying soil texture, moisture conditions, and plant communities.
At the same time, the recommendations are grounded in ecological knowledge, making the tool useful for more experienced gardeners and restoration professionals.
Beyond helping people choose plants, Taylor hopes PRESTO also encourages people to think differently about the history of their landscape.
“Just the idea of thinking about how your land was before settlement is eye-opening and interesting,” Taylor said. “Was this a forest? Was this a prairie? What kinds of plants were here in the past, and how can I bring some level of that ecosystem?”
If you’re planning a native planting project this season, PRESTO is a fun and informative place to start exploring what belongs in your landscape.
Try PRESTO here: Prairie Restorations PRESTO Tool
Thank you to Prairie Restorations for supporting Blue Thumb as a partner and sponsor, and for helping make native planting more accessible across the Midwest.