Prairie:Planting a Prairie Garden:Selecting Plants

You should select locally native species that will grow well in the soil conditions of your site. It is important that seeds native to the area are selected. It may take a few years of experimenting with different plants to discover what will grow best in your site.

After plant species have been selected, seeds or seedlings can be obtained in several ways:

Ordering
Seeds or plants can be ordered through local suppliers. Local offices of the Department of Natural Resources can help locate reputable suppliers of prairie plants.

Collecting
Enjoy the flowering plants you already have that you are saving for seed collection. Make sure you have your supplies ready to collect seeds after the plants are finished blooming.

If you decide to collect seeds from plants in the wild, remember this. All prairie plants must be locally native and legally obtained. Seed collection from preserves or remnant prairies is illegal and unacceptable.