After what seems to have been “the longest winter ever,” spring is finally here – warmer days, singing birds, ospreys gliding above, and bits of green popping up everywhere. Take a minute to breathe it in and enjoy.
If you are here, I’m guessing you are interested in making your backyard more inviting and supportive of the wildlife that shares your home – the bees, butterflies, birds, mammals, and all the other little critters that keep our ecosystems running. One of the best ways to do that is to add native plants to your landscape.
I am a big advocate for growing your own plants from seed; it’s not only inexpensive but fun! (Click here to see my post about native plants you can grow from seed in spring). But sometimes, you just need to buy plants that are ready to go in the ground. I am here to help by providing a list of places where you can source native plants.
A few suggestions before you head out to shop:
Make your list ahead of time
Although it’s fun to just browse and see what treasurers you discover at the nursery or garden center, the variety can be overwhelming. The native plants you find may or may not actually be “native” – click here for native plant definitions. Oh, they are probably native to somewhere in the US, but that may not include Cape Cod or even New England. By making a plan first, you can ensure you’re getting plants that will thrive in your specific yard while providing the best resources for wildlife and environmental benefits to the landscape. Check out my previous post if you need help: Right plant, right place: how to figure out which native plants are right for your Cape Cod habitat.
Use Latin names
Have you ever heard the slogan “Save the Monarchs, Plant Native Milkweed”? It’s a great call to action, but it can get confusing at the nursery. You might find Butterfly Milkweed, Common Milkweed, and Rose Milkweed—so which one is right? Should you get one of each?
Not so fast! Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) also goes by “Butterfly Weed” or “Orange Milkweed.” It thrives in dry, sunny spots and has a long taproot – not easy to transplant. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) also likes sandy, sunny spots, but it has aggressive, rhizomatous roots that like to spread… fast. This is a plant that needs plenty of room to roam! Then there is Rose Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), also known as “Swamp,” “Marsh,” or “Pink” milkweed, which prefers moist to wet soils.
You’ll find similar variety with many species, like Mountain Mint: is it Pycnanthemum muticum, P. virginianum, or P. tenuifolium? Even though they are in the same genus, different species behave differently in the landscape. It’s best to know exactly which one you’re buying so you don’t waste your time or money.
Avoid cultivars as much as possible
I won’t stay on my high horse too long here! Cultivars are fine if they are the only thing available, but research suggests it is best to stick with cultivars where only the plant’s form or size has been changed. Try to stay away (as much as possible) from cultivars where the flower or leaf shape and color have been modified, as these changes can sometimes make them less recognizable to pollinators. Learn more about Cultivars vs. Straight Species.
The closer the source, the better
There’s a whole hierarchy of ecological value when it comes to native plants, and it all ties back to where the plant was sourced and how it was grown. Simply put: the closer the source, the better.
For us, that means the best plants are those native to Barnstable County. The next best options are plants native to ecoregion 84, then Massachusetts, followed by those native to New England, and so on. This hierarchy includes both where the seeds originated and where the plants were physically grown. Most plants in local nurseries have traveled many miles. So even if they are technically “native,” they may struggle to adapt to our unique Cape Cod growing conditions.
Fall is Often Best for Planting
Because our native plants evolved here, they are incredibly resilient. They can handle almost anything our Cape Cod weather throws at them – though climate change is certainly testing that resilience. One reason they are so tough is that they prioritize establishing deep, strong roots before putting on a show above ground.
Because they focus so much on their roots, fall is actually the best time to plant, as the cooler weather allows them to settle in easily. There are exceptions, of course: native annuals or perennials that bloom in their first year can be planted in spring without a problem. The same goes for larger, 2nd- or 3rd-year plants that have already established a solid root system in their pots; these can handle a spring planting well, though they’ll still need a bit of extra watering as they settle into your soil.
The challenge is that the gardening industry has conditioned us to expect showy flowers by May. But here’s the thing: most of those early bloomers – like Daffodils, Tulips, and Pansies – are not native, and some, like Forsythia, can actually be quite invasive.
When you head to the nursery, you’ll likely see young native plants with modest leaves next to “loud,” vibrant non-natives. Don’t let that distract you! While you might wait a little longer for native blooms, the reward is a healthier habitat and a much stronger plant. If you see something now that you don’t want out on, just buy it and keep it in a pot until fall.
As inspiration, take a look at Claytonia virginica, Virginia Spring Beauty (below). I planted these bare roots last fall and waited. A few weeks ago, tiny leaves appeared, followed by buds, and finally, a beautiful first bloom… definitely worth the wait!
No Neonicotinoids (or any other pesticides) please!
According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: “Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides that are used widely on farms, as well as around our homes, schools, and city landscapes. Used to protect against sap-sucking and leaf-chewing insects, neonicotinoids are systemic, which means they are absorbed by the plant tissues and expressed in all parts, including nectar and pollen.“
You know what that means? If you buy a native plant intending to help wildlife, but it was grown with neonicotinoids, you are essentially setting a death trap. A bee or butterfly will visit the plant for resources, consume what is effectively poison, and die.
We don’t want that.
So, when you go shopping, if it isn’t on the label, ask whether the plant was grown or treated with pesticides – especially neonicotinoids (“neonics” for short). If the nursery staff is unsure and can’t find out, walk away. It’s better to get the plant somewhere else.
Learn more about neonicotinoids here.
Here are a couple of brands you might find at local Cape Cod nurseries:
American Beauties Native Plants – I’ve bought many plants from this brand in the past few years. They are great plants, and they are neonicotinoid-free, but keep in mind they are not grown locally. They were probably grown using non-local ecotype seeds in other New England states or the Southeast.
When you find this brand at the nursery, you’ll see a few straight species alongside a lot of cultivars. The specific cultivars sold by American Beauty are “selections” – naturally occurring plants chosen for unique qualities like disease resistance, cold hardiness, or distinct flower color. These aren’t genetically engineered; they simply popped up in nature looking a little different, and someone realized, “Ah! I can make money off of that!”
Below, you can see the Asclepias tuberosa ‘Hello Yellow’ butterfly weed next to the straight species, which is a beautiful, deep orange. While cultivars are selected to appeal to human aesthetics, remember that straight species have co-evolved with our wildlife for millions of years—pollinators are used to those specific flower shapes, leaf structures, and colors. There’s no need to mess with that! We can keep our Butterfly Weed orange and choose other native species if we want yellow flowers. We have sooooooo many awesome native plants with yellow blooms!
I’m not “knocking” the brand though – these are good plants when nothing else is available – but I at least suggest aiming for straight species whenever possible.
Wilder Natives by Judges Farm
Judges Farm is located in Old Lyme, CT and grows native plants local to that area, primarily to ecoregion 59. That’s a little outside our range but it’s better than say, the Midwest. Like the American Beauty Native Plants, they also carry some cultivars, but they are neonicotinoid-free and the places at which I’ve seen them on the Cape, sell them at pretty reasonable prices.
With all of that being said, please remember: don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of the “good (enough).” Get some pesticide-free native plants that were grown as close to the Cape as possible, plant them in the right spot, and watch them make a different in your yard. When you can, do it again. That’s how we build habitat – one plant at a time, using the resources available to us.
Without further ado, here’s the list:
On Cape Cod – retail nurseries that are not native-focused but carry natives
- Bayberry Gardens, Inc., Truro, MA
- Ponderosa Market Place & Garden Center, Eastham, MA
- Crocker Nursery, Brewster, MA
- Cape Coastal Nursery, South Dennis, MA
- Agway of Cape Cod, Orleans, Chatham, and Dennis, MA
- Cape Abilities Farm, Rt 6A, Dennis, MA
- Green Spot Garden Center, South Yarmouth, MA
- Hyannis Country Garden, Hyannis, MA
- Mahoney’s Garden Center, Osterville, and East Falmouth, MA
- Soares Nursery, East Falmouth, MA
- Scenic Roots, Sandwich, MA
Off Cape Cod – Nurseries that specialize in native plants
- Blue Stem Natives, Norwell, MA – women-owned business that carries only straight species (no cultivars!). You can browse and shop there or preorder online for pickup.
- Native Plant Trust, Framingham, MA – all grown from seed for great genetic diversity! You can usually preorder for pickup starting in April.
- Tree Talk Natives, Rochester, MA – Great selection of native trees and shrubs plus a small collection of native perennials.
- Sylvan Nurseries, Westport, MA – Ok, they don’t “specialize” in natives but do have an enormous selection of native trees, shrubs, and perennials that are well-suited for coastal environments.
Seasonal Native Plant Sales
- Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), Dennis, MA – Their native plant sale (usually in June) is a major local event for native plant enthusiasts.
- Grow Native Massachusetts, Waltham, MA – Their spring sale (usually late May) is highly anticipated and offers a massive variety.
- Rhode Island Wild Plant Society (RIWPS) – Offers two sales a year (May and September), which is perfect if you’re following my advice to plant some species in the fall!
Online native plant nurseries
- Prairie Moon Nurseries – small seedlings, and bare roots grown in the Midwest.
- Izel Native Plants – Order small and deep native plant plugs in trays of 10, 36, 50 and more. They also sell plants in small pots with a minimum order of 8.
Native Plant Seeds
- Northeast Seed Collective – native plant seeds. Buy ecoregion 84 seed when available.
- Wild Seed Project, Maine – native plant seeds from the Maine region.
- Ernst Seeds – native plant seeds by the pound from PA.
- Prairie Moon Nurseries – native plant seeds from the Midwest.
Last but not least, I’m excited to share that I am growing quite a few native plants myself this season! – see pictures below. And, since I’m growing more than I have room for – including some “experiments” I just wanted to try out, you know… for science – I might host a micro native plant sale of my own in late spring or early fall.
All proceeds will go directly toward funding my own backyard habitat restoration – helping me clear out more invasives and get even more native diversity into the ground. Stay tuned for more details!
Happy native plant dreaming!
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