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 sell native plants. Nurseries carrying only natives like Herring Run Nursery in Baltimore are the best sources for native plants. Others listed have a native plant section, a good selection of natives that are marked, or knowledgeable staff who can assist. Here are some shopping tips.
Maryland Retail Nurseries
A Little Farm & Nursery
Stevensville MD
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Sell straight species natives, native cultivars and some non-invasive ornamentals.
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 8/23)
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Sell a few straight species natives, a few native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Bru-Mar Gardens
Annapolis MD
Behind the patio furniture and annuals street side, Bru-Mar has a native plants section featuring many "American Beauties" perennials as well as shrubs, trees and evergreens. Just ask for the native section! (visited 10/22)
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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. (visited 4/19)
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Sell straight species natives.
Ecoasis Garden Center
Bowie MD
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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. (visited 3/22)
Sell straight species natives, native cultivars and ornamentals.
Herring Run Nursery
Baltimore MD
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Offers a comprehensive selection of perennials, shrubs, and trees. One of the best sources out there. Sales benefit the non-profit organization, Blue Water Baltimore. Go to the website for parking directions – at the head of a gravel road. You walk about a 1/4 mile to the nursery. (visited 08/22)
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Sell straight species natives and native cultivars.
Homestead Gardens
Davidsonville MD
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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 10/22)
Sell a few straight species natives, native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Kollar Nursery
Pylesville MD
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Kollar, a family owned nursery, nestled in a dell in Harford County, has been growing native plants since the 80s. They 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 9/22)
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Sell straight species natives, native cultivars and some ornamentals.
Lauren’s Native Plant Nursery
Ellicott City MD
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Lauren's Garden Service is a design, installation and retail nursery business. The nursery offers perennials, shrubs and trees. Plants are organized by size and light conditions. There are also several demonstration native plant garden beds. Maintain an on-line inventory of plants. (visited 9/22)
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Sell mostly straight species natives and native cultivars and a few ornamental annuals.
Meadows Farms Nursery
Leonardtown MD
This full service garden center has several tables of American Meadows native perennials and shrubs and a clearly marked area of native shrub s and trees. Meadows Farms has numerous other locations and all stock the American Meadows perennials and shrubs- inventory varies.
(visited 7/21)
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Sell some straight species natives, a few native cultivars and mostly 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 5/22)
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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)
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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 7/23)
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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)
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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
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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 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 6/23)
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Sell a few straight species natives, some native cultivars and mostly ornamentals.
Nature By Design
New Location TBD
This small nursery is currently in the process of moving to a new location. The Alexandria location is now closed though they are still taking on-line orders for delivery.
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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.
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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. Closed for winter. (visited 8/23)
Sell straight species natives and some cultivars of natives.
Online Native Plant Nurseries
Izel Plants
Washington D.C.
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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.
Plant More Natives
Richmond VA
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This nursery sells over 400 native and native cultivar perennials grown in 3 to 4 qt containers. Most are native to the east coast. Plants are beautifully shipped with minimal packaging and plants are high quality and robust in size. Plants are grown by growers in central Virginia.
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
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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!
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.
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Please note, Nuts for Natives has no connection to these businesses. We strive to visit or order from nurseries every 6 months and update this page as needed. If you have updates or additions we should be aware of, please contact us!​
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