What Does It Take to Grow Native Plants?
Rebecca Wright1*
1North Fork Native Plants, Rexburg, Idaho, USA; rebecca@northforknativeplants.com
For more than two decades, North Fork Native Plants has specialized in the growing of native species for restoration projects across the Intermountain West. We have operated as both a speculative wholesale and custom contract grower. Over the years, we’ve expanded our range of native plant products, some commonly available within the industry and others unique to our nursery. This presentation will highlight the key challenges we and other native plant nurseries like us will inevitably encounter, including seed sourcing, seed pre-treatment protocols, meeting project timelines, and managing setbacks such as crop failures or delayed installations. Many of the hurdles encountered by propagators stem from the availability of starting materials and communication timing. Delays are frequently tied to contracting, funding, or design work, which can impact growing windows and, in some cases, eliminate propagation opportunities altogether. While these issues are well known to native plant growers, they are often less familiar to those planning or managing projects. By sharing these recurring challenges and strategies to help navigate them, we aim to bridge the gap between growers and project planners, fostering more productive discussions and ultimately supporting more successful restoration outcomes for all involved.