Alaska Native Plant Society
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. 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.
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.
| Pre-Germination Code | Germination Code |
|---|---|
| St - Stratify 6 weeks or more (see below) | W - most seeds germinate best at 70 F (try a laundry room) |
| S - Soak seeds from 4-12 hours | D - Dry |
| No | Name | Common Name | Size | Flowers | Comments | Seed Prep | Germinating Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aconitum delphinifolium ssp. delphinifolium | Monkshood | 3-4 ft | Dark blue | May take 2 years to germinate | S or St | W-M-L |
| 2 | Aconitum maximum | Aleutian Monkshood | 6ft | Light blue, 2 in. | S or St | W-M-L | |
| 3 | Carex gmelini | 15-20" | S or St | W-M | |||
| 4 | Coptis asplenifolia | Fernleaf Goldthread | 6" | Tiny, frilly | Shade, moist areas | W-M | |
| 5 | Dodecatheon Jeffryyi | Jeffrey's Shooting star | 8" | Maroon, yellow, magenta/lavender | Wetland plant, may take two years to germinate | S or St | W-M |
| 6 | Epilobium lutem | Yellow Willow Herb | 8" | Yellow | Likes wet areas | W-M-L | |
| 7 | Erigeron periginus | Coastal Fleabane | 10-14" | Large, light pink daisies | Meadow plant | St | W, then L-M |
| 8 | Fritillaria camschatcensis | Chocalate Lily, (yellow) | 14-20" | Yellowish | May take 2 years to germinate | S or St | W-M-L |
| 9 | Geum calthifolium | Caltha Leaf Avens | 8-10" | Large round leaves | Wetland plant | St and S | L-M |
| 10 | Mimulus guttatus | Monkey Flower | 12-14" | Yellow | Easy to grow; likes water, will grow in drier conditions | ||
| 11 | Minuartia arctica | Arctic Sandwort | 3-4"" | White | Very easy | W-L | |
| 12 | Polemonium acutifolium | Tall Jacob's Ladder | 24-30" | Blue | Easy, reseeds | W, then L-M | |
| 13 | Potentilla uniflora | One-flowered Cinquefoil | 3-4" | Yellow | Rock garden or border | W, then L-M, Easy | |
| 14 | Primula incana | 4-5" | Small, lavender | Wetland plant | W-L-M | ||
| 15 | Rhododendron lapponicum | Lapland Rosebay | 6-16" | Magenta, aromatic | Grows very slowly, acidic soil | W, then L-M, Don't let mix dry | |
| 16 | Rumex transitorius | Dock | 4-5" | Very tall, bulky plant, best used to revegetate a wet area | No known recommendations | ||
| 17 | Saxifraga bronchialis | Yellow-spotted Saxifrage | 3-5" | Yellow, small | Easy, but slow | W, then L-M | |
| 18 | Saxifraga tricuspidata | Prickly Saxifrage | 3-5" | Cream colored | Easy, but slow | W, then L-M, Easy | |
| 19 | Silene acaulis | Moss Campion | 1-2" | Pink, Aromatic | Easy | W, then L-M | |
| 20 | Tiarella trifoliata | Lace Flower | 10-12" | Tiny, white | Moist woodlands acidic soil | W, then L-M | |
| 21 | Tofieldia glutinosa | Sticky Asphodel | 8" | Cream colored | Red seed heads | St or S | W-L-M |
| 22 | Viola Langsdorffii | Alaskan Violet | 6-7" | Purple |
Alaska Native Plant Society PO Box 141613 Anchorage, Alaska 99514