Native species refer to wild animals and plants that have evolved in a particular region and environment. Non-native, or exotic, species are often introduced from other regions or countries accidentally, intentionally, or through habitat change induced by humans or nature. Often these non-native species have no natural control in the area where they are released, allowing their population to increase rapidly. Exotic species often out-compete native species and replace native species our natural plant and animal communities. Oftentimes, invasive non-native plants become pest species, taking over large areas of land and becoming difficult to control or eradicate. Two of the most invasive species that occur in West Virginia are purple loostrife and garlic mustard.

It is important to plant native species when possible because they are adapted to the area and are more disease and drought resistant than non-native species. Native plants also provide the greatest benefits to wildlife because our native wildlife evolved with native plants. Often the food provided by native plants is the most nutritious to our native wildlife.

Fortunately, more nurseries are specializing in native plants every year. Below are some nurseries that propagate and sell native plants, and some even offer installation services. The nurseries located in West Virginia are listed first. Out-of-state suppliers were selected for this list based on a these criteria: located within about 100 miles of WV, offer mail order or installation service, and have a high percentage of native plants in their stock. A percentage of native plant stock for each nursery is given at the end of each listing when known. This list is not meant to be inclusive nor is it an endorsement by the WV Division of Natural Resources of any individuals or businesses.

Use the following keys to choose the type of nursery plant materials, and services that you are looking for.

H = Herbaceous (may include annuals, perennials, ferns, grasses)
I = Offers installation services
MO = Mail Order
S = Seeds
SH = Shrubs
T = Trees
W = Wetland plants or aquatics

West Virginia Suppliers
Virginia Winston
Landscape Design & Garden
1121 Hollida Lane
Martinsburg, WV 25404
(304) 267-6924
Email: virginia@winstongardens.com
SH, T 100%
Native Garden Design
Josh Meadows or Trey Flemming
Rt. 2 Box 484
Salt Rock, WV 25559
Day (304) 541-0184 Eves (304) 736-6219
I, SH 100%
Grounds For Nature
Contact: Terra DeMedici
PO Box 1211
Hedgesville, WV 25427
(304)258-3687
H
Sunshine Farm & Gardens
HC 67 Box 539B
Renick, WV 24966
(304) 497-2208
www.sunfarm.com
H, SH, T, W 50%
West Virginia Division of Forestry
Clements State Tree Nursery
PO Box 8
West Columbia, WV 25287
(304) 675-1820
MO, SH, T
Spaulding Landscaping and Homeview Farm
Rt. 1 Box 39
Sheperdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876-2096
Email: 
homeviewfarm@aol.com
H, I, SH, T 15%
Out-of-State Suppliers
Atlantic Star
620 Pyle Rd.
Forest Hill, MD 27050
(470) 838-7950
Email: 
atlantic@iximd.com
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
PO Box 685
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-2924 FAX (215) 862-1846
www.bhwp.org/native>
MO, S 100%
England’s Herb Farm
33 Todd Rd.
Honey Brook, PA
(610) 273-2863, FAX (610) 273-2556
I, MO, H, W 80%
Environmental Concern
PO Box P,
St. Michaels, MD 21663
(410) 745-9620, FAX (410) 745-3517
www.wetland.org
SH, T, W 100%
Gary’s Perennials
1122 E. Welsh Road
Maple Glen, PA 19002
(800) 898-6653, FAX (215) 628-0216
MO, H, W 20%
Lower Marlboro Nursery
PO Box 1013
Dunkirk, MD 20754
(301) 812-0808 FAX (301) 812-0808
Email: mssd@erols.com
MO, T, SH, H, W 80%
Maryland Natives Nursery
9120 Hines Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21234
(410) 529-0552 FAX (410) 529-3883
I, H, SH, W 95%
Musser Forests Inc.
PO Box 340
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 465-5685, FAX (724) 465-9893
www.musserforest.com
MO, T, SH, H, W 50%
Native Seeds
7327 Haefork Ln.
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
(804) 642-0736
MO, H, S, SH, T, W 90%
Pinelands Nursery
8877 Richmond Rd.
Toano, VA 23168
(800) 667-2729, FAX (609) 298-8939
Email: wetland@widomaker.com
MO, H, SH, T, W 99%
Riverview Herb Farm
49607 State Rt. 338
Racine, OH 45771
(740) 247-4565
Email: riverviewherbs@juno.com
MO, I, H, S, SH, S, T, W
Virginia Natives
PO Box D
Hume, VA 22639
(540) 364-1665 Phone & FAX
Email: vanatvs@erols.com
MO, H, SH, T, W 50%
Appalachian Nurseries, Inc
PO Box 87
Waynesboro, PA 17268
(717) 762-4733, FAX (717) 762-7532
SH, T
Doyle Farm Nursery
158 Norris Road
Delta, PA 17314
(717) 862-3134
MO, H, 75%
Ernst Conservation Seeds
9006 Mercer Pike
Meadville, PA 16335
(800) 873-3321, FAX (814) 336-5191
www.ernstseed.com
I, MO, H, S, SH, T 75%
Flickinger’s Nursery
PO Box 245
Sagamore, PA
(800) 368-7381, FAX (724) 783-6528
MO, T, SH, H
Heirloom Seeds
PO Box 245
W. Elizabeth, PA 15088
(412) 384-0852, FAX (412) 384-0852
www.heirloomseeds.com
MO, S, 80%
Land Reforms Nursery & Landscape
35703 Loop Rd.
Rutland, OH 45775
(740) 742-3478
I, MO, H, T, S, SH, W 90%
Mary’s Plant Farm and Landscape
2410 Lanes Mill Road
Hamilton, OH 45013
(513) 894-0022 FAX (513) 892-2053
MO, T, SH, H 25%
Native Seed, Inc.
14590 Triadelphia Mill Rd.
Dayton, MD 21036
(301) 596-9818 FAX (301) 854-3195
Email: saund10449@aol.com
MO, S
Octoraro Nursery
6126 Street Road
Kirkwood, PA 17536
(717) 529-3160, FAX (717) 529-4099
H, SH, T, W 99%
The Primrose Path
921 Scottdale-Dawson Rd.
Scottdale, PA 15683
(724) 887-6756, FAX (724) 887-3077
MO, H, 75%
Shooting Star Nursery
160 Soards Rd.
Georgetown, KY 40324
(502) 867-7979
MO, H, S, SH, T, W 100%
Wetland Supply Co.
194 Goodview Drive
Apollo, PA 15613
(724) 727-3772, FAX: (724) 727-3778
http://wetlandsupply.com/
I, MO, H, SH, S, T, W 99%

Other Information

West Virginia Native Plant Society – Information

345 West Virginia Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
(304) 293-4797 X2493

A great source of native plant information including, photographs of plants native to your area and suppliers nationwide is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website at www.wildflower.org.

Learn More

Obtaining Native Plants
When planting native vegetation in your backyard habitat, refrain from digging entire plants from the wild. This can have detrimental effects on native plant populations. Instead, collect a few seeds and plant them in your garden. If you purchase your native plants from a nursery, be sure to inquire about where the plants originated to ensure that they were propagated from seed and not collected from the wild.
If you find areas planned for development, such as new road construction, housing developments or a proposed parking lot, you may be able to obtain permission from the landowner to move some of the native plants to your property before construction begins.
The Value of “Weeds”
When planning your wildlife garden, the value of plants that are often considered to be “weeds” should not be underestimated. In reality, a “weed” is really “any plant growing where we don’t want it to grow.” Many of these so-called weeds provide important food and cover for wildlife, not to mention their beautiful flowers! Below is a list of a few common “weeds” and some of the animals that benefit from them.

Thistles
goldfinches, butterflies
Milkweed
butterflies
Lamb’s quarters
songbirds
Smartweeds
songbirds
Dandelions
goldfinches, pine siskens
A Caution about Insecticides and Herbicides
The use of pesticides can be particularly dangerous to wildlife that feed on treated plants and insects. Reducing or stopping pesticide use promotes a healthier environment, especially during the nesting season, when parent birds rely on high-protein insect food sources to give nestlings a healthy start to life. Herbicides and pesticides can reduce cover and food supplies for wildlife, if used in large-scale applications. Also herbicides may create tainted food supplies for species like rabbits and voles that eat mainly vegetation.