Alaska Native Plant Society

Moss Campion, Silene acaulis, blooming in the Chugach Mountains, June 15, 2003.

Alaska Native Plant Society Seed Exchange

The Alaska Native Plant Society sells seed of plants native to Alaska which have been collected by members during the year. Seeds can be purchased at the regular monthly meetings or by mail order.

NOTE to Donors: If you have gathered seeds that you'd like to donate, please do. We will offer them at meetings and upcoming mall shows.

The price is $0.50 per package. Package sizes vary considerably due to the number or amount of seeds collected. Some rare or difficult to collect species may contain few seeds, while some easy to collect species may contain a large number of seeds. For mail orders, include an additional $0.50 for 1 - 5 packages, or $1.00 for 6 or more. Make checks payable to: Alaska Native Plant Society. Send order to Alaska Native Plant Society, PO Box 141613, Anchorage, AK, 99514. You can download a copy of the order form with these instructions here.

Reasons For Landscaping With Alaska Native Plants

At a recent conference for commercial greenhouse vendors (The Alaska Greenhouse and Nursery Conference, January 26 & 27, 2005, Wasilla, Alaska) Verna Pratt gave a presentation on Alaska native plants that could be commercially grown. Verna was quoted in the March-April issue of the Borealis : " Many people want to landscape or add to their landscape with native plants. They may think native plants are easier to grow and can take care of themselves, or they may believe that natives are wild and therefore free (this is only true if you are rescuing them from a construction site!). Better reasons for using native plants are to mimic nature in an attractive landscape, to restore a damaged area with plants that are somewhat resistant to local diseases and insects, and to grow cold-hardy plants."

Seed Germination Information

Use a sterile mix for best results. Fine seed should be sprinkled on the surface. Cover large seeds with soil. Keep mixture moist by covering with plastic. For best results water from the bottom of a tray or spray with a fine mister.

If your only seed starting experience has been with easily germinated vegetables or annual flowers, more patience is going to be required when it comes to growing perennials from seed successfully. Some types germinate within days, others take several weeks, and a large number of perennials require what is called stratification -- basically, simulating the conditions that exist outside over the winter. These types of seed are sometimes described as "cold germinators". The usual trick is to place the seed with some moist, sterilized commercial seeding mix inside a plastic bag, then storing it in a refrigerator for a period of time to break down the natural chemical germination inhibitors within the seed. A typical period of time is about three to four months. Then the seed is sowed as usual and started indoors under lights. Another approach is to sow the seed in late fall in pots, then leave it outside in a protected (but unheated) coldframe for the winter.

Ordering Information

Due to a limited number of seeds for sale in 2010 please indicate alternate choices when ordering by mail.