Where can the public, not agencies, purchase seeds of Pacific Northwest plants? A Missouri school teacher would like to sprout them in her classroom.
Once the teacher has a list of plants she is seeking (a list which could
be developed by looking at books on Pacific Northwest native plants, or
by visiting some of the sites linked below), there are a number of ways
of finding sources, shown below.
Washington Native Plant Society’s list of plant and seed sources
More lists of plants:
Native Plant Resources for the Pacific Northwest
Native Plant List –
Western Oregon and Western Washington
Plant Information Online – search once you have specific plants in mind.
Businesses which specialize in native plants:
Native Plant Nurseries
in Washington State
Nurseries – Washington
Add old fashioned charm to your garden with hollyhocks (Alcea rosea). These stately and edible flowers grow up to seven feet tall in shades of red, pink, yellow and white. Technically biennial (growing leaves the first season, flowering the next summer, setting seed then dying), hollyhocks can be coaxed to flower a few more seasons if stopped from going to seed. The down side to growing hollyhocks is the potential for their leaves to look tattered from rust disease and weevil holes. Never mind – just plant them at the back of the boarder where only their flowers will show.
Here is a source for hollyhock seeds in single colors, plus growing information, pictures, history and lore.
Lots of seed may be imported without a phytosanitary certificate under the conditions outlined on this page. A permit is still required, but importing seed packets from plant breeders in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world is now feasible for non-commercial American gardeners.
The Seed Savers Exchange was founded in 1975 to preserve rare heirloom fruit and vegetable varieties. Today thousands of members work together to keep old time cultivars from disappearing forever. Members pay $35.00 a year to support the non-profit organization and receive three publications a year, one of which is the 120-page yearbook/catalog. Membership is not required to purchase seeds and tomato transplants from the online catalog, www.seedsavers.org. Seed Savers Exchange, 3094 North Winn Road, Decorah, IA 52101; (Phone) 563-382-5990.