At Edge of the Woods, we grow many of our plants from seed. Let us know if you are looking for seed grown plants. Our availability list, updated weekly, indicates which plants are seed grown. You can find that here.
Seed Grown Plants Are Genetically Diverse
Seed grown plants of the same species are genetically different from each other, just as siblings with the same parents are genetically different from one another.
For example, seeds from New England Aster can develop into individual plants with pinkish or purplish flowers. Some might naturally grow taller than others. Maybe some have a leggy tendency while others have stouter stems.
Why is this important? Because there are natural stress and disease resistance traits that also will vary from plant to plant. This makes the plant community as a whole stronger. One plant may be able to withstand drought better. One may tolerate more mildew than another. One may tolerate wetter conditions. With this variety of abilities to tolerate stresses, it is likely that — even with a variety of stress factors in a season — some plants will make it through to reproduce for another year.
How Do You Grow Plants By Seed?
When growing from seed, the process starts with waiting patiently for the plant to bear seed and knowing when to collect it.
What About Cuttings and Divisions of Plants?
Because of how tricky it is to grow plants from seed, horticulturists have found quicker and more profitable ways to get mature plants. Cuttings, root layering, and dividing are a few you may be familiar with. There is now tissue culture, too! All these methods result in plants that are clones, or genetically identical to one another.
Plant breeders use that genetic uniformity to create selections of plants that have predictable characteristics. Many home gardeners wish to know exactly how tall a plant will be, or whether it will bloom pink, purple, or something in between. In addition to cuttings and divisions, technology now enables us to create genetically identical plants via tissue culture.
So, we have a trade-off between predictable traits for home gardeners, and robust genetics that allow the species to continue to adapt and evolve as conditions change.
Both seed grown plants and predictable selections have a place in home landscapes. A native plant that is a selection is better than no native plant at all. They will still perform their ecological role in the landscape. And some can even produce genetically diverse seed for future generations of plants.
Whether you are looking for seed grown crops or predictable selections, we have a selection of over 300 species of native plants! Stop in and check them out.
