Where to Buy
Native Plants
Maryland Native Plants
Virginia Native Plants
Chesapeake Bay Native Plants
Nurseries with Native Plants
These central Chesapeake Bay watershed nurseries reliably make native plants easy to find. Nurseries carrying only natives include Herring Run Nursery in Baltimore and Nature By Design in Alexandria; and the others listed have a native plant section or a good selection of natives that are marked and/or knowledgeable staff who can assist. During the pandemic, many of these nurseries are offering curbside pick-up. Please check websites or call for the most current status before heading out!
Maryland Retail Nurseries
American Plant
Bethesda MD
American Plant has a selection of native perennials and sometimes shrubs and small trees. There are two River Road locations: Bethesda and the Beltway. (visited 2/21)
Sell a few straight species natives, some native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Chesapeake Natives Inc.
Upper Marlboro, MD
This volunteer run nursery uses the grounds at the historic Mt. Airy Mansion to grow Chesapeake ecotype plants. They grow over 100 different plants and offer quart size perennials, small shrubs and saplings. The Nursery will open March 28th, 2021 for on-line sales with curbside pick-up. (visited 4/19)
Sell straight species natives.
Ecoasis Garden Center
Bowie, MD
This small independent garden center is a five minute drive from Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville. Ecoasis has a selection of native shrubs and trees in beds in an open field marked "native plants" and prices are competitive. This nursery also sells organic fertilizers and stone products and runs a hardscaping business. They expect to be fully restocked by mid-April. (visited 3/21)
Sell straight species natives, native cultivars and ornamentals.
Herring Run Nursery
Baltimore MD
Herring Run offers a comprehensive selection of perennials, shrubs, and trees. It is the best local source we know of, and may seem a bit off the beaten track but it is totally worth it. The nursery is located on the edge of a golf course. Sales benefit the non-profit organization, Blue Water Baltimore. The website also shows you where to park – at the head of a gravel road. You walk about a 1/4 mile to the nursery. (visited 11/19)
Sell straight species natives and native cultivars.
Homestead Gardens
Davidsonville, MD
This full service garden center usually carries a small selection of native perennials and some shrubs and trees. There is a "Maryland Natives" table section for perennials. Native shrubs and trees are mixed among ornamental plants. (visited 5/21)
Sell a few straight species natives, native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Kollar Nursery
Pylesville, MD
Kollar is a family owned nursery nestled in a dell in Harford County, just below the PA – MD line. Stan and Sharon Kollar have been growing native plants since the 80s, grow most of their own stock and maintain a website with inventory. They have a very good selection of native plants including some harder to find. Many shrubs and trees are available in a range of sizes. The nursery is one with their garden so you can view mature natives in a beautiful setting. The website modestly says if you are in the area, stop by. I’d say it is worth the drive, and a beautiful drive it is, once off the highway. (visited 8/20)
Sell straight species natives, native cultivars and ornamentals.
Lauren’s Native Plant Nursery
Glenwood, MD
This boutique nursery is an accessory business to the landscape design service. The plants are good quality. The nursery carries a small selection of perennials, shrubs, trees and containers. An up to date inventory list is posted to the website. If you are in Howard County, this is a nearby resource. The Nursery re-opened on April 12, 2021. Please check the website for shopping options. (visited 5/19)
Sell straight species natives, native cultivars and ornamentals.
Patuxent Nursery
Bowie, MD
This full service garden center has a good selection of cultivars of native perennials and some native shrub and trees. All native plant cultivars are marked with a distinctive “Native to Maryland” sign depicting the state flag. (visited 3/21)
Sell a few straight species natives, native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Stadler's Nursery
Laytonsville, MD
This full service garden center has a good selection of large 2" caliper native trees. Their website allows you to check the inventory of native trees here and native plants. The 'native' insignia is used for straight species, cultivars of natives and plants native to areas outside of the Chesapeake Bay region . (visited 4/21)
Sell a few straight species natives, native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Sun Nurseries
Woodbine, MD
This is a large, working nursery with 20 acres of plants from grasses and perennials to very large trees. Many trees are in ground and many shrubs are in pots in ground. Selection is extensive and prices are very competitive. Most perennials are in gallon size. Native plants are mixed in with the huge array of plants. Bring a shopping list as browsing may be overwhelming. (visited 8/20)
Sell a few straight species natives, some native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Unity Church Hill Nursery
Church Hill, MD
This full service garden center specializes in native plants and grows some of the plant stock for sale. They offer a strong selection of native plants in all sizes from plugs to mature trees and maintain an on-line inventory of plants in stock. The staff is very knowledgeable. The nursery is a companion business to design build and ecological restoration businesses. (visited 5/21)
Sell straight species natives, some native cultivars and a few ornamentals.
Valley View Nursery
Cockeysville, MD
This full service garden center and Baltimore institution has a good selection of native perennials and usually shrubs and trees. Natives are mixed in with the large selection on non-natives (ornamentals). Valley View also offers an extensive selection of bird, water garden and general garden supplies. (visited 8/20)
Sell a few straight species natives, some native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Virginia Retail Nurseries
Earth Sangha
Springfield VA
This volunteer run nursery is located next to a County park in Springfield off of Franconia Road. Earth Sangha stocks only local ecotype plants and grows all of their own plants. They sell plugs, quarts and gallon sized plants and a current inventory is available on their website. Earth Sangha is now open for curbside pick-up every day or in person shopping by appointment on Sundays. (visited 8/20)
Sell straight species natives.
Merrifield Garden Center
Falls Church VA
This full service garden center carries a wide selection of non-native plants as well as some native plants. Native perennials, shrubs and trees are mixed in with non-natives. In some cases, perennials native to Virginia and 'nativars' are labeled. One of the strongest attributes of this nursery is the incredible selection of trees, including very large trees (20′). (visited 4/21)
Sell a few straight species natives, some native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Nature By Design
Alexandria VA
This small nursery, one block off of US1 in Alexandria, just below Potomac Yards, is tucked away at the end of a street populated by light commercial uses. Nature by Design stocks only native plants and has a number of hard to find native plants. Most trees and shrubs are smaller which can be a real bonus for the patient gardener. The staff are extremely knowledgeable. Nature By Design is now open for the 2021 season by appointment and for curbside pick-up. Here is their 2021 plant list. (visited 3/21)
Sell straight species natives.
Watermark Woods
Hamilton VA
This garden center in Loudoun County is a treasure of hard to find and popular natives set amid a sylvan setting. The nursery sells quart and gallon sized plants and a some larger shrubs and trees. They have a great selection of water loving perennials too. The current inventory is available on the website. They also welcome special orders for larger numbers of plants. They are now open from 9 to 2 Tuesday through Friday and 9 to 4 on Saturdays. (visited 4/21)
Sell straight species natives and some cultivars of natives.
Online Native Plant Nurseries
Izel Plants
Washington D.C.
This mail order business sources native plants from several mid-Atlantic nurseries and has an excellent website that will indicate size (ranges from trays of plugs to quarts to loose bulbs and bare root plants) and shipment date to your zip code.
The Pollen Nation
Bridgeton, NJ
This nursery sells only landscape plugs which are packed in trays. The nursery also has a minimum order of 25 plants. Their on-line store includes native perennials, grasses, and sedges.
Prairie Moon Nursery
Winona, MN
This nursery has an extensive on-line store of native perennials, ferns, grasses, ground covers and some shrubs. Many are available in trays of 38 2" plants. You can search by conditions, type of plant or soil type, particularly helpful for the Mid-Atlantic, a search for plants adapted to clay soils. Greatest availability is well in advance of the Spring and Fall planting seasons.
Prairie Nursery
Westfield, WI
This nursery sells only native plants, has natives that are harder to find and has one of the most helpful websites around – loads of information about each plant, conditions, and more. Prairie also sells small plants – 3″ pots are common and allows you to customize trays – very helpful if you don’t need 32 of the same plant. Check out their pre-planned gardens for different situations. A great source for plants and seeds!
Direct Native Plants
Middle River, MD
This nursery offers an on-line store of high quality native perennials, shrubs and trees. You can also search for plants by rain garden, high shade or pollinators. Their shipping season is typically in spring and through late fall though you can place an order year round.
Native Plant Services
Backyard Bounty
Silver Spring MD
This full service design, installation and maintenance firm specializes in native plant gardens.
While I have not worked with this Silver Spring, MD firm I verified references. Check out their portfolio of habitat and native plant gardens to see their work and to be inspired.
Love and Carrots
Washington DC
Are you interested in removing and replacing your ivy, vinca or Japanese pachysandra beds with native plants but don’t have time to do it yourself? For residents of Washington DC and the surrounding area, there is an incredible team of people at Love and Carrots who will do this work for you. Their prices are reasonable and they will even help teach your kids why making these changes are so important. They specialize in vegetable gardens as well as native and edible landscapes.
Lauren’s Garden Service
Howard County MD
This small service design, installation and maintenance firm specializes in rain and pollinator gardens. While I have not worked with this Howard County MD firm, I visited with Lauren and checked references. Check out her portfolio to see their array of projects.
Do you know of others sources of
native plants we should all be aware of?
Please contact us!
Ask your local nursery about stocking native plants. The more customers who request native plants, the more likely nurseries and garden centers will add more native plants.
Please note, Nuts for Natives has no connection to these businesses. We strive to visit or order from the nurseries every 6 months and update this page as needed. If you have updates or additions we should be aware of, please contact us!