Are you looking to add more native plants to your landscape? We’ve complied some resources below!
IDEALLY you will be able to source straight species of native plants grown from seeds that were collected not too far from home (“local ecotype”). These plants should be perfectly suited to where you are planting them. However, that is not always possible. Below is a list of resources for purchasing native seeds, native plants, and plugs (small plants generally sold in bulk). Please avoid ‘cultivars’ where possible. Cultivars are not genetically diverse plants and are problematic for several reasons. Read more about that here.
That being said… mail-order native plants from an area with similar seasons are usually a better choice than non-native plants grown near your home!
Our preferred source for Native Plants on the South Shore:
Blue Stem Natives • plants and seeds Norwell, Massachusetts. Founded by some of our former chapter officers, Blue Stem Natives is the place to go for native plants on the South Shore. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about our native flora!
Other native plant and seed suppliers:
Native-only plant and seeds sources
- Wild Seed Project • seeds
Portland, Maine - Garden in the Woods • plants
Framingham and Whately, Massachusetts - The Monarch Gardener • annual sale and ongoing
Ipswich, Massachusetts - Helia Native Nursery
West Stockbridge, Massachusetts
- Prairie Moon Nursery • seeds, plugs, and bare root plants
Winona, Minnesota (but they carry plants native to New England) - Prairie Nursery • seeds and plugs
Westfield, Wisconsin (but they carry plants native to New England - Northeast Pollinator Plants • plants
Fairfax, Vermont - Wing and a Prayer Nursery • plants
Cummington, Massachusetts
Native annual plant sales – Check with each organization to confirm dates of sales. If you know of any other native plant sales, please let us know so we can update the list.
- South Shore Natural Science Center
Norwell, Massachusetts - Grow Native Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts - Mass Audubon
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Native-mostly wholesale sources
(some open to the public with large minimum orders)
- North Creek Nurseries
Landenberg, Pennsylvania
Local nurseries that carry BOTH non-native and native plants. You will have to do your own research to determine which is which.
- Cochato Nursery
Holbrook, MA - Thayer Nursery
Milton, MA - Weston Nurseries
Hopkinton, Chemlsford, and Hingham, Massachusetts - Kennedy’s Country Gardens
Scituate, Massachusetts - Seoane’s Garden Center
Abington, Massachusetts - Van Berkum Nursery (wholesale)
Deerfield, New Hampshire