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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!
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