"Where do I find these plants?!"
This is the #1 question the NPTF hears when talking about creating habitat for at-risk native pollinators. We have heard you, and we have some answers. The links below will show where plants from Dr. Robert Gegear's plant list can be purchased. All three links have the same information, but are presented in different ways.
- Spreadsheet of Plants and Nurseries: An Excel file that notes if a plant from Gegear's list is offered at a nursery.
- Plant Sources by Plant: Each plant from the list is given its own page, which says which nurseries offer it.
- Plant Sources by Nursery: Each nursery has its own page with a list of plants it offers from Gegear's list.
This information was compiled by the NPTF in summer and fall of 2020. NPTF searched through online catalogs and inventories. These resources are meant to give you can idea of where these plants are offered. There may be inaccuracies as plant availability may vary yearly and seasonally.
All nurseries on this document are from a list compiled by Grow Native Massachusetts. These nurseries and garden centers are known to sell a considerable amount of native plants. However, not any native plant will support at-risk native pollinators. The specific plants on Gegear's list were compiled to support at-risk species.
While Searching for Plants:
- Purchase straight species; no cultivars. Many cultivars do not offer the same amount of resources as straight species. To identify a cultiar, look for extra names. For example, Monarda didyma 'Alba' is a cultivar with 'Alba' as its extra name.
- Purchase plants known to be free of systemic pesticides (including neonicotinoids). Many systemic pesticides have been shown to be harmful to many insects. Ask the nurseries if they use neonicotinoids or other systemic pesticides on their plants. Nurseries often purchase plants from other sources. Ask if their sources use such pesticides. Unless you hear a confident, "No, systemic pesticides were not used on this plant", purchase that plant at a different nursery. Ask about pesticide uses for each species of plant you are buying.
- New England ecotypes are preffered. Even within one species, plants from Massachusetts may be different from plants from Minnesota.
- Search for a plant's scientific name. A plant could have many common names, but it only has one scientific name.
- Plan ahead! Many plants are only offered while they are in bloom. It will likely take many trips throughout the year to different nurseries to fully stock your Pollination Preservation Garden.