Page 25 - Free State Summer 2023

GROWING FORWARD A Leslie Hunter Cario

Thoughts from the National

Native Seed Conference

or those of us growing
plants, how often does the
Fquestion arise of the source
of the seeds? How about for those
of us designing with or installing
plant material, wondering about
how those plants were started?
Can growers acquire seed from
an area that makes sense, and
is enough seed available for
current needs? Certainly, the
source of seed for growing plant
material will influence the plants’
genetics. This may be less of a
concern for plants being used for
ornamental purposes, perhaps
even grown from cuttings or
tissue culture, as long as the plant
species are reasonably adapted
to the climate where they will be Wild seed collected for the Bureau of Land Management’s Seeds of Success Program. Photo credit: Emily
Wittkop and Institute for Applied Ecology
planted. Questions of seed origin
and adaptability should be given greater consideration to the science, practice, and policy of producing and
when the plant material is native, being grown to restore effectively using native seed” and organized around
landscapes such as meadows, forests, shorelines, the theme of exchanging practical information among
buffers, wetlands, and streams. This past spring, taking practitioners facing similar issues in different regions to
part in the National Native Seed Conference, the world’s support land management
largest gathering focused on native seed, provided an efforts. The NNSC is
opportunity to interact with and learn from restoration sponsored by the Institute
practitioners, researchers, and seed producers working in for Applied Ecology (IAE)
the restoration sector of the green industry. Highlights are and supported by the
shared here for those who would like to learn more. Native Seed Network—a
program of the IAE. Learn
The 2023 National Native Seed Conference (NNSC) more at https://appliedeco.
Cultivating the Restoration Supply Chain, held in org. Over the course of 3
Alexandria, Virginia from March 27 – 30, was “dedicated
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Get Active. Stay Involved. • SUMMER 2023 25