Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Sunday - March 27, 2005

From: Stahlstown, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Smarty Plants on native plant purchases
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am looking for an article(s), white paper, policy, etc. that addresses responsible native plant purchases. I have your genetics piece, but am looking for something more broad that addresses what a consumer should consider such as origin of plant - was it dug up in the Smokies or propagated from responsibly collected seed? Any suggestions in addition to your genetics piece...which, by the way, is excellent! Thanks.

ANSWER:

On the same page as "The Importance of Genetics" we have an article "Selecting a Suitable Supplier" which addresses some of the concerns you mention in your question. The North American Native Plant Society has a "Sources Guideline" for suppliers of native plants and seeds. On their home page click on "Plant Sources" in the side bar menu, then select "Sources Guidelines." Another similar statement, Local Ecotype Guidelines is on the web page for Wild Ones Natural Landscapers "a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to educate and share information with members and community at the "plants-roots" level and to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound practices." From the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, you can read The International Code of Conduct for Plant Germplasm Collecting and Transfer. You can also see the British/Irish take on the subject called Code of Practice for Suppliers of Native Flora.

 

More Seed and Plant Sources Questions

Source for lady lupine in Rosemary Beach, FL
April 21, 2009 - Where can I buy the lady lupine? I live in Rosemary Beach, Fl.
view the full question and answer

How to find out which native plants grow in your particular area
March 26, 2010 - I'm doing an ecology project (prairie restoration) PLEASE RESPOND A.S.A.P MY PAPER IS DUE SOON!!!! Any native plants of Kenosha, WI?
view the full question and answer

Native Indian Rice Grass cultivation as food source
September 30, 2006 - Hi! I'm a student at UT and I ran across a grass while doing some reseach, native to Utah and Arizona, called Indian Ricegrass. It was used as a famine plant among native communities, however, it w...
view the full question and answer

Plants that ducks will not eat
May 12, 2009 - I own a lot of ducks and see a lot of people asking what kind of plants will they "NOT" eat... I know of some through experience.. Anything with shiny leave.. They don't touch my English ivy, rose...
view the full question and answer

Source for Bigelow oak in Austin
February 03, 2010 - Hi folks! I noticed on my last visit to the Wildflower Center that you now have a shrub white oak/Bigelow oak which I think is new (maybe I was just seeing it for the first time). I absolutely love ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.