Acquiring California NativesGrowing California Natives from Seed

This is a very rough and incomplete summary of what I know and/or have been told on this topic. If you can add to it, please send email.

Jan. 30, 2000

[ Purchasing Seeds ] [ Purchasing Plants ] [ Collecting Seeds ] [ Collecting Plants ] [ Growing from Seed ] [ Growing Plants ]

Purchasing seeds

Seeds are usually available for purchase at CNPS chapter meetings. BEWARE of the "native plant mixes" available for sale state- or nation-wide--some of the plants will NOT be native to your area and can escape and overrun the true natives--for example the yellow lupine in a typical "California wildflower mix" is not native to Nevada County but, alas, will thrive and spread.

Collecting seeds

Don't do it in a state park--it's prohibited.

Collecting plants

Don't do it in a state park or national forest--they'll string you from the nearest large native tree.

If you know of an area that is slated for development, you might ask the owner if s/he minds your digging up plants that will otherwise be killed. Be forewarned though that many species don't transplant well.

Purchasing existing plants

Many CNPS chapters (including the Redbud and Sacramento Valley Chapters) hold Native Plant Sales once or twice a year--the selection is better than you'll find in any nursery, but if you miss the sales, you may need to wait another 6 months.

Cornflower Farms grows California natives. Except for the CNPS plant sales, they don't do retail sales, but they wholesale to the following retail establishments (and probably others):

Loomis

Sierra View Nursery

Grass Valley/Nevada City

Happy Frog
Builders & Consumers

Truckee

Villager Nursery

Some native trees/shrubs are available from the California Department of Forestry nursery in Davis.

Growing from Seed

Dara Emery's book Seed Propagation of Native Plants will probably help you here.

Seed coverings (fruit or pod(?)) often have germination inhibitors, so if in doubt, start with the pure seed.

To separate seeds from seed coverings, a food processor (use plastic blade) works well.

Berries, for example Dogwood:

1. Soak in warm water for a day or two, until the fruit gets mushy
2. Put in food processor with plastic blades and lots of water, whirl until fruit is pureed.
3. Spread on a screen (holes should be just smaller than the seed), hose it down until only the seed remains.
4. Sow, give 3 months cold treatment (under 40 degrees F)

Redbud:

1. Don't collect seed pods until crispy & brown
2. Remove seeds from pods (the aforementioned food processor works well)
3. Boil water, take off stove, drop seeds into it; let them sit overnight
4. Take out, sow, give 3 months cold treatment (under 40 degrees F)

Dogwood:

1. Best to start with seeds fresh off the tree, or stored no longer than a week in cold and humid conditions.
2. Sow fresh off the tree, mashing the fruit a bit.
3. 3 months cold treatment before they'll sprout.

Alternatively, if seeds were stored, either feed to your pigeon or clean them throroughly and then treat with a harsh acid before sowing.

Growing Natives

Marjorie Schmidt's classic book Growing Native Plants is a good reference.