Ask EcoBeneficial!
Helpful answers to readers' questions. Go ahead - just ask EcoBeneficial
I’d like to start some native seeds this spring. Where can I buy some?
I’d like to start some native seeds this spring. Where can I buy some?
Answer:
Native plant seeds can be hard to come by, but are an extremely economical way to plant. Many of our native seeds need some sort of pretreatment, but many do not. A great resource to learn about the requirements of specific native seeds is: Wildflowers: A Guide to Growing and Propagating Native Flowers of North America, written by William Cullina. Bill is the Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum, and the author of several excellent books on native plants.
Here are some reputable suppliers of native plant seeds to help you:
Prairie Moon Nursery (excellent cultural guide on seed germination)
Wild Seed Project
Ernst Conservation Seeds (species by the pound)
Prairie Nursery
Shooting Star Native Seeds (bulk orders)
Toadshade Wildflower Farm
Roundstone Native Seed Company
Good luck and happy planting from Kim Eierman!
More from Ask EcoBeneficial!
Winterizing Plants in Pots
Hi Kim, I attended one of your classes at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I hope you don’t mind my asking you a question. Just returned from traveling in South America and missed timely wrapping the fig tree growing since this summer on my terrace in a pot. In the meantime…
Compacted Soil
We just had an addition put on our house and the soil in the surrounding area is now very compacted and full of debris. I want to plant there. What can I do to help the soil? Answer: You are facing a common problem after construction. The movement of heavy…
Birds in Winter
How can I help birds in winter? Answer: One important step in supporting birds is to provide them with a water source. Water is often the hardest thing for birds to find for themselves at any time of year, but especially in the winter. I use a heated birdbath that…