Ask EcoBeneficial!

Helpful answers to readers' questions. Go ahead - just ask EcoBeneficial

Kim Eierman

Kim Eierman

Founder of EcoBeneficial!

Available for virtual and in-person landscape consulting, talks and classes.

Buy a copy of
The Pollinator Victory Garden!

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
_DSC0889

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!

Sources of Information on the Wildlife Value of Native Plants?

Question: Some areas near me have added native plants to their gardens and I want to demonstrate to the residents how much of an impact they have had on the environment in doing so.  Do you know of a resource that could explains which specific animals/birds/insects are supported by specific…

What Are These Bugs on My Butterflyweed?

Question: It’s September and I’m noticing a lot of bugs on my Butterflyweed.  What are they and should I do anything about them? Answer: Your Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) has a robust population of two types of insects, commonly found on milkweeds – Oleander Aphids and Large Milkweed Bug nymphs.  They…

My Clients Want to Support Wildlife, But Don’t Want a Messy Landscape

Question: My clients want to leave their landscape natural, to support wildlife, but don’t want it to look like a mess.  Help! Answer: Thanks for your question.  There can be a lot of confusion with clients about native landscapes and what they can or “should” look like.  First, as with…