Where to Buy Plants
Note: When purchasing native plants, ask for "straight species", as opposed to cultivars. A cultivar is a genetic variety that has been selected or modified by humans to produce a different flower color, size, leaf color, or height than the plant typically shows in the wild. While attractive to humans, such changes can decrease plant benefits to pollinators. To read in more depth about cultivars and how their ecology differs from the wild version, read this article. Cultivars are easily recognizable on plant tags: if the plant name contains quotes after the species name (e.g., Penstemon digitalis “Husker red” is a cultivar of the straight species Penstemon digitalis); whereas straight species will list only the species name.
Nurseries that Carry Native Plants
Nearby Larger Nurseries
Native Plant Trust, Framingham. Excellent selection of native plants, many grown at their own nursery, Nasami Farm, in the Connecticut River Valley. Good source for New England wildflowers.
Bigelow Nurseries, Northborough. Large selection of native plants suitable for both homeowners and landscape professionals. The nursery grows many of its own plants. Inventory includes many cultivars.
Russell’s Garden Center, Wayland. Conveniently located near Lexington and has a large native plants section. Many of their plants are sourced from Van Berkum Nurseries, which does not use neonicotinoid pesticides on their stock. Inventory includes many cultivars.
Other nearby nurseries such as Mahoney’s (Winchester and Concord), Weston Nurseries (multiple locations, including Lincoln), and New England Nurseries (Bedford) offer a large selection of plants, some of which are native. Just ask for the location of the native plants when you visit.
Smaller and Specialty Nurseries
Blue Stem Natives, Norwell, MA
Bagley Pond Perennials, Warner, NH
Oakhaven Sanctuary, Reading, MA. Phone: (978) 270-0151; by appointment only.
Helia Native Nursery, West Stockbridge, MA
Tree Talk Natives, Rochester, MA
Earth Tones Native Plant Nursery, Woodbury, CT
Foundwell Farm, Pembroke, NH
Search their websites for plant offerings, current inventory, hours of operation, and directions.
Mail Order Nurseries & Seeds
Wild Seed Project, Portland Maine. Sells seeds of many species of wildflowers, ferns, grasses, and shrubs. All seeds are collected in Maine. Publications include the Wild Seed magazine.
Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN. Offers native plants and seeds, including many that are native to eastern US. Their website provides helpful information directed to the novice gardener.
Prairie Nursery, Westfield, WI. Offers seeds, individual plants, and custom plant kits. A "Native Range" filter on their website helps you select plants that are native to our area.
Ernst Conservation Seeds, Meadville, PA. Largest native seed producer and supplier in eastern United States. Sells seed, seed mixes, and individual plants for use in restoration, beautification, and conservation projects.
Toadshade Wildflower Farm, Frenchtown, NJ. Well-known mail order nursery that sells perennial seeds and plants native to eastern North America. All plants are propagated and grown at the farm from seed, cutting, or division.
Local Native Plant Sales of Note
One of the largest local plant sales is run by Grow Native Massachusetts and, as of 2024, is held each spring right here in Lexington.
In spring 2024, Lexington Living Landscapes will again collaborate with the Lexington Conservation Division for our fourth sale of native pollinator plant kits.
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust has a spring plant sale that includes many species recommended by Professor Robert Gegear (UMass Dartmouth) to support at-risk native bumble bee species.
Other Resources with Suggstions for Buying Native Plants
We’ve listed here just a few of the retail and mail order nurseries that offer native plants. For even more options, check out the lists maintained by:
National Audubon Society's Native Plants Database--search on your zip code and then click the “Local Resources” tab.
The Massachusetts Pollinator Network has a great page on sources of native plants and seeds here.
