Native Plant Nursery News
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
The latest from our local, independent businesses!
The business of selling plants seems to have returned to more of a steady state after a significant boom in gardening during the pandemic years. That gardening boom coincided with the work of so many on a national level like Dr. Doug Tallamy and horticulturalist Rebecca McMackin, state and local advocates and our local nursery owners to successfully encourage gardening with native plants and it worked! With so many new native plant aware gardeners about, new retail sources for native plants with regular hours continue to grow. Here are some updates from the middle of the Chesapeake watershed. If you know of others missed here, please do add in the comments!
Nurseries with New Retail Hours:
Hill House Farm & Nursery
Hill House Farm & Nursery in Woodville, Virginia has added regular retail hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. You may have come across Hill House Farm at the various markets and festivals they have been selling plants at for some time. That's how I found them. The most striking thing about their offerings is the high quality of the plants. No recently potted up plugs here! Hill House also offers quite a range of plants. You can check their on-line availability list here.
Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change Nursery is one program of the multi-faceted Howard County Eco-Works, a non-profit working to promote sustainability and create green jobs through workforce development programs. The plants are well loved and cared for. The small nursery is open by appointment and, with no appointment, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The entrance looks like a private drive - turn in and follow the signs! Seeds of Change is just getting started in this new location and we can look for it to grow.
Swamp Rose Coop
Many readers have recommended Swamp Rose Coop and I am so glad you did. The Coop recently moved to a more permanent space in Silver Spring. The nursery is small but mighty. The plants are robust and the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. Their location has abundant parking too.
The Perennial Farm
The Perennial Farm in Glen Arm has been growing native perennials for many, many years, In 2025, the Perennial Farm opened its doors to retail customers on Saturdays during the growing season. You can check for updated information here. The Perennial Farm also has an on-line marketplace.
Garden Center Updates
American Plant
American Plant (the nearer to DC location) has significantly increased the space allocated to native perennials. Regular customers will remember the corner of the perennial pavilion devoted to natives. This year, the perennials have taken main stage.! The range of varieties has greatly expanded and plugs are now regularly available.
Sun Nursery
Sun Nursery in Howard County is carrying a number of native plants and cultivars of native plants. If you are looking for trees or a number of shrubs this may be a good bet. None of the local native plants are labeled and they are mixed in with the vast array of plants native to other regions of the world. It may help to go with a list and ask the staff for assistance.
Earlier Profiles of Native Plant Nurseries
Many of these nurseries involve interesting stories and talented people who have started and shepherded the businesses to where they are today. Here are a few of those stories.
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Heartwood Nursery (just over the MD state line in PA)
Virginia
Washington DC and Maryland
Shopping for Native Plants
If you are new to shopping for native plants, this post has tips and this post explains about neonicotinoids. All good to know before you do your shopping, whether on-line or in person! I do my best to keep this page updated with nurseries and garden centers that reliably stock native plants and have consistent retail hours or sell on-line and ship. This list continues to grow. I have on my list to check out: Native Niche in Greencastle, PA, Lady Fern's Native Plants in Norfolk, VA, Arlington Native Plants and Edibles in Arlington,VA, Colesville Nursery in Ashland, VA and Sandy's Plants in Mechanicsville, VA. If you know of a native plant nursery you think should be on the list, please do let me know in the comments!
There are loads more places to get really high quality native plants. One day spring and fall plant sales, at public gardens like Adkins Arboretum, Mt. Cuba Center and others and through native plant organizations, events and symposiums are just a few ways to find your plants.
As always, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the people who are growing and selling native plants. As we all know, plants don't take a day off. They require daily care and nurturing. We are fortunate to have so many places to buy quality native plants!
Happy Gardening.
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