I've been searching online looking for nurseries that carry a couple of native plants I'd really like to add to my garden. And I've finally tracked down a place in Beaumont (about an hour east of me) that usually just sales wholesale, but will sell to individuals. She said "send me a list of what you're looking for and I'll see what I can do for you". How cool is that! And in my search, I also found a Nursery about 15 minutes from my job that also carries some Natives. They will be getting a visit from me in a couple of weeks.
You must let us know how you get on when you visit the nursery. I have quite few native plants in my garden that attract lots of insects. With plenty of bugs around I also get different species of birds and amphibians in my garden. :-D
Cheryl, I know how hard it is to find natives! There is a nursery in Navasota, Martha's Bloomers (yes, that is the real name, I'm not inventive enough to dream that up) that has some natives. Around here I scrounge wildflower seed from the roadways, and have a network of fellow gardeners who will share cuttings and seeds. It works, but getting natives takes a LOT of work!
Don't forget to take your camera when you go! When you go would you find out if either of them grows the native Texas yellow Columbine Aquilegia chrysantha hinckleyana 'Texas Gold' I would love to have one or some but they apparently are very rarely for sale. There are some local growers of wildflower seeds in Texas that do mail order. It's finding a wide selection of native plants that is the biggest problem. But we do have Weston Gardens in Fort Worth and Rohde's in Garland close to me. Which reminds me, I haven't been to either one in a couple of years. Guess I had better reserve a weekend in March to do that.
Eileen.... I'm so excited about it! I've been to the closer nursery a few times. I'm really curious about the other place in Beaumont. Jane... I found a few places that carry the natives, but they are either too far to drive, or in Houston (where I refuse to drive), and none of them ship. But I must say, they were all very helpful and kept giving me suggestions on places that might ship or that were closer. Toni... I always keep my camera handy! Hopefully the one in Beaumont has a neat set-up. But since it's mainly a landscaping company and wholesaler... I'm not sure what to expect. And I'll add the Texas Gold Columbine to my list and let you know what I find. Also... anybody else looking for some Texas natives? I might as well see if they have them while I'm getting mine.
I buy most of my natives from 'Mail Order Natives' out of Lee, FL. Depending on what you are looking for, it may be an alternative. I have bought from native nurseries around Beaumont and environs north from there, too. All offered quality stock, but Mail Order Natives has a very extensive selection of hard to find species that the others may not grow.
Thanks for the name Bliss... but, correct me if I wrong. Even though Texas shares some zones and similar weather traits as Florida... wouldn't this place be selling plants that are native to Florida instead of Texas?
It can get complicated. If you are looking for native Texas seed/plants, then those purchased in that great state may be genetically Texan. But some nurseries grow native plants from seed provided by seed collectors from other areas. Aesculus pavia is considered a native plant. To the entire southeastern US. The problem you bring up is that if I collect buckeye seed from Alabama and I sell it in LA, is it considered a native plant. I would always want genetically pure seed collected close to my own location. These important extremes can be seen with a type locality Cornus florida (dogwood) that YuccaDo nursery offers. But identifying a plant as native has little meaning. In New Orleans there are ferns growing, albeit rare, that botanists think spores blew in from habitats hundreds of miles south.
I see what you're saying Bliss. And I know some plants can be native to several states/regions. I'll have to compare my "want" list to their "haves". Thanks again!
