The Des Moines Federal Courthouse landscape—which is on target to be LEED and SITES certified—is home to over 17,000 native plants. This 2 acre site in the heart of downtown Des Moines is comprised of three plant communities: the woodland, the meadow, and the wetland. Each mirrors typical plant communities mapped at the EPA Level III ecoregion and includes carefully selected plants that naturally occur within 200 miles of the site.

Native plants add to the resiliency of the site: they require less water, are more adaptable to their environment, help prevent erosion, reduce air pollution, and promote habitat.