American Plant 

Bethesda MD

 

American Plant has a selection of native perennials, the more popular shrubs and often small trees.  There are two River Road locations: Bethesda and the Beltway. (visited 9/19)

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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.  They maintain a website with inventory but it is essential to call ahead if you are looking for a specific plant or specific numbers of plants. The nursery is open one Sunday a month from May through September and by appointment during specified weekday hours. (visited 4/19)

Herring Run Nursery

Baltimore MD

This nursery sells only native plants and 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 of plants benefit the non-profit organization, Blue Water Baltimore. Check their hours before you go – this non-profit nursery is not open every day. 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 and shed. The very friendly staff will give you and your purchases a ride back to your car in their motorized cart.  (visited 11/19)

Homestead Gardens

Davidsonville, MD

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This full service garden center always has a selection of native perennials and shrubs and often trees. Very helpfully, Homestead maintains an on-line list of native perennials on hand so you may check inventory ahead of time. (visited 03/20)

Lauren’s Native Plant Nursery

Glenwood, MD

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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. Please also check the website for hours before you go. (visited 5/19)

Kollar Nursery

Pylesville, MD

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Kollar Nursery is a family owned nursery nestled in a dell in Harford County, just below the Pennsylvania – Maryland line.  Owners Stan and Sharon Kollar, who have been growing native plants since the 1980s, grow most of their own stock and maintain a website with inventory.  They have a very good selection of native plants including some that are harder to find.  Many shrubs and trees are available in a range of sizes. The nursery seems to be one with their garden so you can view many mature natives in a beautiful setting. The Kollar’s 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. As always, if you are looking for something in particular check the website or call ahead. (visited 4/19)

Patuxent Nursery
Bowie, MD

This full service garden center has a good selection of native perennials and some native shrubs and trees.  All native plants are helpfully marked with a distinctive “Native to Maryland” sign depicting the state flag. Patuxent also offers some trees for sale on-line.  (visited 5/19)

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 phenomenal and the prices are very competitive. Most perennials are in gallon size. Selection of evergreens and shrubs is top notch. In some cases, native plants are grouped together – for example, there is a row of American Hollies including ilex opaca and winterberries. In many cases the native plants are mixed in with the huge array of plants. Bring a shopping list. Browsing might be overwhelming! (visited 8/18)

Valley View Nurseries

Cockeysville, MD

This full service garden center and Baltimore institution has a good selection of native perennials and usually shrubs and trees. Natives are marked with individual signs and 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 9/19)

Patuxent Nursery

Bowie, MD

 

This full service garden center has a good selection of native perennials and some native shrubs and trees.  All native plants are helpfully marked with a distinctive “Native to Maryland” sign depicting the state flag. Patuxent also offers some trees for sale on-line.  (visited 5/19)

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 phenomenal and the prices are very competitive. Most perennials are in gallon size. Selection of evergreens and shrubs is top notch. In some cases, native plants are grouped together – for example, there is a row of American Hollies including ilex opaca and winterberries. In many cases the native plants are mixed in with the huge array of plants. Bring a shopping list. Browsing might be overwhelming! (visited 8/18)

Valley View Nurseries

Cockeysville, MD

 

This full service garden center and Baltimore institution has a good selection of native perennials and usually shrubs and trees. Natives are marked with individual signs and 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 9/19)

Merrifield Garden Center

Falls Church VA

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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 a few cases, perennials native to Virginia are labeled. To me, one of the strongest attributes of this nursery is in the incredible selection of trees, including very large trees (20′). If you are looking for a native tree, particularly a more mature tree, this is the place to check out. (visited 12/19)

Nature By Design

Alexandria VA

 

This small nursery, one block off of US1 in Alexandria, just below Potomac Yards, is tucked away off of a street populated by light commercial uses.  Nature by Design stocks only native plants and has a range of hard to find native plants. Most trees and shrubs are quite young which can be a real bonus for the patient gardener. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and informative. Nature By Design opened for the season on March 4th. Please check their website for hours before you go. (visited 3/20)

Izel Plants

 

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.

Prairie Nursery

Westfield, WI

 

This Wisconsin nursery sells only native plants, has a number of natives that aren’t easy to find and has one of the most helpful websites around – loads of information about each plant, conditions, and more. A map of the native range for each plant is also helpfully included. Prairie also sells small plants – 3″ pots are common and they also allow you to customize mix and match trays – very helpful if you don’t need 32 of the same plant. Check out their pre-planned gardens for different situations ranging from 32 to 192 plants. A great source for plants and seeds!

Prairie Moon Nursery

Winona, MN

 

This Minnesota nursery has an extensive on-line store of native perennials, ferns, grasses, ground covers and some shrubs available by mail. Other than the shrubs, most are available in the coveted 2″ size trays of 38 plants.  You can search by conditions, type of plant or soil type, particularly helpful for us in the Mid-Atlantic, searching for plants adapted to clay soils. Also, please note, this Nursery has greatest availability well in advance of the Spring and Fall planting seasons. Plan your orders the season ahead.

One Day Sales

 

Native Plant Sales in
Washinton DC, Virginia and Maryland

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The Chesapeake Bay region is replete with one day sales of native plants.  The best listing of these I have found is on Toni Genberg’s wonderful website choosenatives.org.

Backyard Bounty

Silver Spring MD

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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.

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