Native Plants: A Maine Source List
Bulletin
#2502
Lois Berg Stack, Extension professor
and ornamental horticulture specialist
Nearly 1500 species of native plants are part of what makes Maine a
unique place. Native plants—also called indigenous plants—are those that
either originated here, or arrived without human intervention.
We have brought many nonnative plants—exotic or alien plants—to Maine as
food, fiber, and landscape plants. In addition, we have introduced some
nonnative plants unintentionally, as contaminants in crop seed, in the
soil of other plants, and in ships’ ballast.
Why
are native plants important?
Native plants form the historical basis of our landscape, provide food
and habitat for animals, and serve as natural sources of food, fiber,
and other products.
Native plants can serve several functions in the landscape. Native shade
trees such as red oak and white ash, and evergreens like white pine and
eastern hemlock, form the structure of the natural landscape. Fruiting
shrubs such as black chokeberry, gray dogwood, and winterberry provide
food for wildlife and add seasonal interest to the landscape.
Groundcovers like bearberry and creeping juniper can be planted to
preserve a sense of open space while reducing the size of lawns. Native
perennials and ferns can be used in woodland gardens.
To find out more about native plants that are useful in the landscape,
see
“Additional Resources” below.
Can
nonnative plants cause
problems?
Most of the nonnative plants we’ve introduced have a very positive
impact on our society, and do not threaten our natural landscape. A few,
however, have escaped cultivation and become naturalized. In some cases,
invasive nonnative plants have displaced native plants, thereby
degrading the integrity and diversity of our native plant communities.
We’ve all witnessed the spread of purple loosestrife in our wetlands,
where it has established large colonies and displaced native plants.
Other invasive nonnative plants in Maine include multiflora rose, common
and glossy buckthorns, shrubby honeysuckles, Asiatic bittersweet,
Japanese knotweed, and Japanese barberry.
While native plants should form the major part of every landscape,
selected noninvasive, nonnative plants can add beauty and interest.
However, if these nonnative plants were planted exclusively, they would
change the overall look of our collective landscape. Over time, our more
heavily populated areas could become less “native” in appearance, and
more dominated by nonnative trees, shrubs, and other plants. How Maine
will look fifty years from now depends a great deal on what we choose to
plant today. Each of us, in our own landscape, can play a part in
preserving the integrity of the Maine landscape by using native plants.
Where can I get native plants for
my landscape?
Below you will find a list, compiled in 2008, of
Maine nurseries and garden centers that
sell native plants. All of these companies sell propagated native plants
only, and do not sell plants dug from the wild. Some sell only
wholesale, others only retail, and some do both. The list is coded to
indicate which businesses sell trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns, vines,
and groundcovers. Some nurseries and garden centers sell many types of
native plants, while others specialize in just a few types. If you are
looking for specific native plants, call ahead.
Additional
Resources
available from UMaine Extension’s publications catalog at
www.extension.umaine.edu
or 800-287-0274:
Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape,
University of Maine Cooperative Extension bulletin #2500: provides a
list of native plants that are useful in the landscape
Maine Invasive Plants,
University of Maine Cooperative Extension series 2503: provides
identification and control information for twenty-two terrestrial and
aquatic invasive plants.
|
Maine Nurseries and
Garden Centers Offering Native Plants |
|
KEY TO PLANT
OFFERINGS:
T = native
trees S = native shrubs V = native vines &
and/or groundcovers P = native perennials
F = native ferns
|
|
Company and Plant Offerings
|
Address |
E-mail; Web site |
Phone
(area
code 207) |
|
WHOLESALE
ONLY |
|
|
|
|
Groundnut
Hill Nursery, Inc.*
T,S |
180
Logging Road, Cape Neddick, Maine 03902 |
|
361-1300 |
|
Pierson
Nurseries, Inc.*
T,S,V,P,F |
291
Waterhouse Road, Dayton, Maine 04005 |
sales@piersonnurseries.com
/ www.piersonnurseries.com |
499-2994 |
|
Salmon
Falls Nursery and Landscaping*
T |
511
Portland Street, Berwick, Maine 03901 |
mark@salmonfallsnursery.com |
384-5540 |
|
Western
Maine Nurseries*
T,S,V,F |
4 Nursery
Lane, Fryeburg, Maine 04037 |
wmntrees@nxi.com
/ www.westernmainenurseries.com |
935-2161 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHOLESALE
AND RETAIL |
|
|
|
|
A.C.
Parsons Landscaping and Garden Center
T,S,V,P,F |
71
Richtown Road, West Tremont, Maine 04612 |
landscaping@acparsons.com / www.acparsons.com |
244-7785 |
|
Broadway
Gardens, Inc*
T,S,V,P,F |
1640
Broadway, South Portland, Maine 04106 |
bgquestions@maine.rr.com / www.bgperennials.com |
772-0415 |
|
Estabrook’s Farm and Greenhouses*
T,S,V,P,F |
337 East
Main Street, Yarmouth, Maine 04096 |
jim@estabrooksonline.com
/ www.estabrooksonline.com |
846-4398 |
|
Fedco*
T,S,V,P,F |
PO Box
520, Waterville, Maine 04903 |
trees@fedcoseeds.com
/ www.fedcoseeds.com |
873-7333 |
|
Gingerbread Farm Perennials*
P |
383 Old
Winthrop Road, Wayne, Maine 04284 |
gblack1503@aol.com |
685-4050 |
|
The Green
Thumb
T,S,V,P,F |
RR 17, PO
Box 22, West Rockport, Maine 04865 |
|
594-5070 |
|
Jillson's
Farm Sugarhouse
P |
143
Jordan Bridge Road, Sabattus, Maine 04280 |
info@jillsonfarm.com
/ www.jillsonfarm.com |
375-4486 |
|
KYC
Gardens*
T,S |
124
Buxton Road, Saco, Maine 04072 |
|
282-0875 |
|
Longfellow's Greenhouses*
T,S,V,P,F |
81
Puddledock Road, Manchester, Maine 04351 |
lbabson@longfellowsgreenhouses.com
/ www.longfellowsgreenhouses.com |
622-5965 |
|
Norpine
Landscape, Inc
T,S |
153 Salem
Road, Kingfield, Maine 04947 |
norpine@roadrunner.com
/ www.norpinelandscape.com |
265-2430 |
|
Pinkham's
Plantation
T,S,V,P,F |
431
Biscay Road, Damariscotta, Maine 04543 |
pinkhams@roadrunner.com
/ www.pinkhamsplantation.com |
563-5009 |
|
Plainview
Farm, Inc *(plant list on Web
site)
T,S,V,P,F |
529
Mountfort Road, North Yarmouth, Maine 04097 |
shpalmer@maine.rr.com
/ www.plainviewfarm.net |
829-5004,
800-396-1705 |
|
Pooh
Corner Farm*
T,S,P,F |
436 Bog
Road, Mason Township, Maine 04217 |
poohfarm@megalink.net
/ www.poohfarm.com |
836-3276 |
|
Risbara's
Greenhouse, Inc
T,S,V,P,F |
426
Randolph Street, Portland, Maine 04103 |
urisbara@maine.rr.com
/ www.risbarasgreenhouse.com |
797-0066 |
|
Roaring
Brook Nurseries
T,S |
639
Gardiner Road, Wales, Maine 04280 |
|
375-4884 |
|
Skillin's
Greenhouses*
T,S,V,P,F |
89
Foreside Road, Falmouth, Maine 04105 |
skillins@maine.rr.com / www.skillins.com |
800-244-3860 |
|
Sprague's
Nursery
T,S,V,P,F |
1664
Union Street, Bangor, Maine 04401 |
info@spraguesnursery.com / www.spraguesnursery.com |
942-1394 |
|
Surry
Gardens*
T,S,V,P,F |
PO Box
145, Surry, Maine 04684 |
surrygardens@downeast.net / www.surrygardens.com |
667-4493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RETAIL
ONLY |
|
|
|
|
Agricola
Farms
P |
Rt 17 &
Clarry Hill Road, Union, Maine 04862 |
veggies4u2@aol.com |
785-4018 |
|
Alheri
Gardens*
T,S,V,P |
Gray,
Maine [plants sold at Portland Farmers' Market only] |
|
657-4358 |
|
Allen,
Sterling, and Lothrop*
T,S,V,P,F |
191 US
Route 1, Falmouth, Maine 04105 |
lallensterling@maine.rr.com / www.allensterlinglothrop.com |
781-4142 |
|
Aroostook
Milling Company
T,S,V,P |
PO Box
129, 5 Hillview Avenue, Houlton, Maine 04730-0129 |
amcgrain@mfx.net |
532-6130/7917 |
|
Beach
Lobster and Farm Stand*
P |
35 Saco
Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, Maine 04064 |
|
934-3357 |
|
Blackrock
Farm
T,S,V,P,F |
293 Goose
Rocks Road, Kennebunkport, Maine 04046 |
info@blackrockfarm.net / www.blackrockfarm.net |
967-5783 |
|
Blackwell
Hill Nursery*
T,S,P,F |
265
Blackwell Hill Road, Madison, Maine 04950 |
blackwellhillnursery@beeline-online.net |
696-3709 |
|
Blais
Flower Shop and Greenhouse
P,F |
539
Webster Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240 |
salesblaisflowers@midmaine.com |
783-8566,
1-800-783-8568 |
|
Boynton's
Greenhouse, Inc*
S,V,P,F |
144
Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 |
boyntons@beeline-online.net / www.boyntonsgreenhouses.com |
474-2892 |
|
Cottage
Garden Center
T,S,V,P,F |
85 Church
Street, Damariscotta, Maine 04543 |
cottage@tidewater.net |
563-5138 |
|
Cranberry
Creations*
V |
905 Sandy
River Road, Mount Vernon, Maine 04352 |
wildcran@fairpoint.net / www.cranberrycreations.com |
293-4055 |
|
Designs
Florist and Interiors*
P |
2
Mechanic Street, PO Box 207, Bethel, Maine 04217 |
designs@megalink.net / www.janetblack.com |
824-0888 |
|
Down to
Earth Gardens
T,S,P,F |
1452 New
Sweden Road, Woodland, Maine 04736 |
|
492-4162 |
|
Ellis
Greenhouse and Nursery*
V,P |
PO Box
71, Hudson, Maine 04449 |
kellis@ellisnursery.com / www.ellisnursery.com |
327-4674 |
|
Evermay
Nursery*
P |
84
Beechwood Avenue, Old Town, Maine 04468 |
(e-mail
form on Web site) / www.evermaynursery.com |
827-0522,
991-4467 |
|
Farmhouse
Greenhouse
P |
346 Fort
Fairfield Road, Caribou, Maine 04736 |
mcnjb@yahoo.com |
227-2754 |
|
Fieldstone Gardens, Inc*
T,S,V,P,F |
55 Quaker
Lane, Vassalboro, Maine 04989 |
info@fieldstonegardens.com / www.fieldstonegardens.com |
923-3836 |
|
Flying
Llama Farm*
T,S,V,P,F |
34
Jeffrey Woods Road, Windham, Maine 04062 |
bobfromllamafarm@gmail.com |
892-0293 |
|
Focal
Point Gardens
T,S,V,P,F |
1049
Alfred Road, Route 111, Arundel, Maine 04046 |
|
282-7700 |
|
Getchell
Nursery*
T |
37
Getchell Corner Road, Vassalboro, Maine 04989 |
getch@midmaine.com |
872-9613 |
|
Granite
Gardens
S,V,P,F |
6
Wallston Road, Tenants Harbor, Maine 04860 |
granitegardens@verizon.net |
372-0518 |
|
Green
Art*
S,P,F |
30 Route
1 Bypass, Kittery, Maine 03904 |
rockcress@greenart.com / www.greenart.com |
439-7700 |
|
Half Moon
Gardens, Inc
F |
54
Greenhouse Lane, Thorndike, Maine 04986 |
info@halfmoongarden.com / www.halfmoongarden.com |
568-3738 |
|
Hedgerow*
T,S,V,P,F |
8 Ridge
Road, Tenants Harbor, Maine 04860 |
www.hedgerowdesign.com |
372-0655 |
|
The
Heirloom Garden of Maine*
V,P |
513 North
Ridge Road, Montville, Maine 04941 |
info@theheirloomgarden.com / www.theheirloomgarden.com |
342-2216 |
|
Hidden
Gardens*
S,P,F |
96
Seekins Road, Searsport, Maine 04974 |
|
548-2864 |
|
Hoboken
Gardens, Inc
T,S,V,P,F |
310
Commercial Street, Rockport, Maine 04856 |
askus@hobokengardens.com / www.hobokengardens.com |
236-3023 |
|
The
Little Red Greenhouse*
S,P,F |
34
Fellows Farm Road, Fayette, Maine 04349 |
jpgreifzu@hotmail.com |
293-3159 |
|
Mainely
Natives*
T,S,P,F |
436 South
Hiram Road, Hiram, Maine 04041 |
mainelynatives@yahoo.com |
625-8303 |
|
Mainescape Garden Shop
T,S,V,P,F |
PO Box
356, 48 South Street, Blue Hill, Maine 04614 |
mainescape@mainescape.com / www.mainescape.com |
374-2833,
800-244-2833 |
|
Mapes
Garden Center*
T,S,V,P,F |
97 York
Street, Kennebunk, Maine 04043 |
mapesgarden@gwi.net |
985-3772 |
|
Maple
Ridge Farm*
V,P,F |
1205 Cape
Road, Limington, Maine 04049 |
gbloomers@fairpoint.net |
637-2830 |
|
McLaughlin Garden
V,P,F |
PO Box
16, 97 Main Street, South Paris, Maine 04281 |
mclgardn@megalink.net
/ www.mclaughlingarden.org |
743-8820 |
|
Moody's
Nursery and Garden Center*
T,S,V,P,F |
82 Ferry
Road, Saco, Maine 04072 |
moodysnursery@prexar.com / www.moodysnursery.com |
284-7233 |
|
Mount
Blue Agway
S,V,P,F |
912 US
Route 2, Wilton, Maine 04294 |
sales@mtblueagway.com
/ www.mtblueagway.com |
778-4054 |
|
Mountain
Greenery Greenhouse
T,S,V,P |
590 West
Bethel Road, Bethel, Maine 04217 |
|
836-3003 |
|
Mountain
Greenery
T,S,V,P |
3706 Main
Street, Rangeley, Maine 04970 |
info@mountain-greenery.com / www.mountain-greenery.com |
864-2000 |
|
Mysty
Mountain Farm*
T,S,P,F |
388 Upper
Street, Turner, Maine 04282 |
packrats@megalink.net |
225-3915 |
|
Naturescape Landscaping
T,S,V,P |
256 Oak
Hill Road, Norridgewock, Maine 04957 |
|
634-5267 |
|
NewLand
Nursery and Landscaping*
T,S,V,P,F |
PO Box
1133, 124 Bangor Road, Ellsworth, Maine 04605 |
newlandnursery@roadrunner.com / www.newlandnursery.com |
667-7333 |
|
O'Donal's
Nursery, LLC*
T,S,V,P,F |
6 County
Road, Gorham, Maine 04038 |
onurser1@maine.rr.com
/ odonalsnurseries.com |
839-4262 |
|
Paradis
Nursery and Garden Center
T,S,V |
3675
Middle Road, Sidney, Maine 04330 |
paradis@dialmaine.com |
547-4640 |
|
Pelletier
Florist
T,S,V |
500 West
Main Street, Fort Kent, Maine 04743 |
pellflorist@pivot.net / www.pelletierflorist.com |
834-5241 |
|
The
Potting Shed
P,F |
401 Main
Street, Kingfield, Maine 04947 |
|
265-4566 |
|
Provencher’s Landscape and Nursery, Inc.
T,S,V,P,F |
299 River
Road, Lewiston, Maine 04240 |
rogerpln@adelphia.net |
783-9777 |
|
Rebel
Hill Farm*
P |
313 Rebel
Hill Road, Clifton, Maine 04428 |
|
843-6916 |
|
Rippling
Waters Organic Farm* (plant list on Web site)
P |
55 River
Road, Steep Falls, Maine 04085 |
ripplingwatersfarm@gmail.com / www.ripplingwaters.org |
642-5161 |
|
Robin's
Flower Pot*
T,S,V,P,F |
387
Webster Road, Farmington, Maine 04938 |
garden@robinsflowerpot.com
/ www.robinsflowerpot.com |
778-5937 |
|
Seashore
Gardens*
V,P,F |
1748
Route 32, Round Pond, Maine 04564 |
fleurdelis@gwi.net |
529-4372 |
|
Snell
Family Farm
P |
PO Box
326, 1000 River Road, Bar Mills, Maine 04004 |
info@snellfamilyfarm.com
/ www.snellfarmilyfarm.com |
929-5318;
929-6166 |
|
D.R.
Struck Landscape Nursery
T,S,V,P,F |
Route
202, Box 2215, Winthrop, Maine 04364 |
drstruck@fairpoint.net |
395-4112 |
|
Sunnyside
Gardens*
S,P,F |
500 North
Parish Road, Turner, Maine 04282 |
sunnyside@megalink.net
/ www.sunnysidegardens.com |
225-3998 |
|
Through
the Garden Gate
V,P |
438
Exeter Road, Corinna, Maine 04928 |
caddy@gwi.net |
341-0191 |
|
Union
Agway*
S,V,P |
2179
Heald Highway, Union, Maine 04862 |
uagway@tidewater.net
/ www.unionagway.com |
785-4385 |
|
Wild Iris
Herb Farm*
P,F |
Route 91,
Kingsbury Lane, York, Maine 03909 |
lucy@wildirisherbfarm.com
/ http://wildirisherbfarm.info |
363-4153 |
|
Windswept
Gardens, LLC
T,S,V,P,F |
1709
Broadway, Bangor, Maine 04401 |
bob@windsweptgardens.com
/ www.windsweptgardens.com |
941-9898 |
*plant list/catalog is available
©
2000, 2008 |