Blue Stem Natives is an ecologically thoughtful native plant nursery serving southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. Meet The Team Contact Us Location Village Gardens 376 Washington Street Norwell, Massachusetts 02061 - Rear lot E-mail info@BlueStemNatives.com Phone (781) 738-4869 (call or text) Hours Early May - mid October Tuesday - Friday: 10am-6p m Saturday + Sunday: 10am- 5pm Closed on Mondays always open online! November-April Closed except for workshops and events > Find us > Social Media How Can We Help? Submit the contact from below or click the "F.A.Q." button to find frequently asked questions. It is a comprehensive list! F.A.Q. Can’t find an answer on the website? Contact us here: Email Subject Your message Please allow a few days for a reply Send Thanks for submitting! Just a few of the F.A.Q.s "What should I plant?" Check out What to Plant for lists and ideas or sign up for our Garden Consultations to have some one-on-one planning time. "What species do you carry" or "when will they be ready"? Check the plants page for species. If something is "coming soon" you can sign up for notification when we re-stock. "Do you do native plant garden design?" We do not offer landscape design at this point. We do offer ecological consultations, and have complied a list of great landscapers and designers. More information here.

> Learn > photo contest winners > Photo Contest Winners February, 2025: Our "Spring Dreaming" photo contest winners, click on any photo for more information. Rules: The photo had to include a U.S. native plant. Wildlife in the photo was encouraged, but not required. If you missed this contest, sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of any page on our website!

Answers to common questions about New England native plants, ordering, planting, and visiting Blue Stem Natives in Massachusetts. > FAQ > Frequently Asked Questions Find frequently asked questions below. Please note there is also a search function: Questions What do I do about APHIDS? No worries at all! No chemicals nor pesticides needed! Often if you let nature take its course ladybugs will visit and take care of the aphids. If you feel the aphids are overwhelming your plant you can blast them off with a spray of water. If they are clinging to the plant you can use your hand to move them off while you spray (we prefer to use a gloved hand or your hand will be yellow). Once aphids are on the ground they will not find their way back up the plant. Do you have any plants that are DEER RESISTANT? If deer get hungry enough, they will eat just about anything, and it is quickly becoming one of the more dire ecological issues in our area. The plantson this list have been known to withstand deer browsing, few will be largely ignored entirely. The caveat, as always, is that the resistance is not always consistent in different locations. What works for some, may not for others. Here are some tips: • Plants with the following characteristics are often unpalatable to grazing herbivores: fuzzy leaves, tough leathery fibrous leaves, aromatic leaves, aromatic flowers, spines or bristles, toxic compounds. (From "Deer Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast"by Ruth Rogers Clausen and Gregory D. Tepper). • Plant deer-resistant plants, you can search through our plants buy their ability to withstand grazing: https://www.bluestemnatives.com/plants?special+notes=deer+resistant* • Our best recommendation is to plant more plants. Deer and rabbits are part of the food web even though the nibbling pressure can be too much at times. The more you have the less nibbling you will notice. • We highly recommend protecting young plants, as they are more likely to withstand browsing when they are fully grown. • Repellents like garlic, cayenne pepper, and spices like clove can be effective, however, you will need to reapply after every rain. What do I do when I find a plant in my garden has a FUNGUS? Treating fungal issues in plants can be frustrating. Some plants are more susceptible to issues such as powdery mildew. While the mildew is not visually appealing to us, most of the time it doesn’t cause real damage to the plants. The best way to treat fungal issues is of course to try and prevent them. For bushy perennials, you can thin some of the plants to allow for more air circulation, remove dead leaves from the bottom half of stems, and trim off any leaves that have evidence of fungal infections. Water the base of plants rather than from the top, and try not to allow the water to splash up onto leaves. If you do have an issue starting to take hold, you first need to identify the infection in order to properly treat it. Apps like PictureThis can provide basic information to help guide you. Proper applications of fungicides can be useful in preventing large scale outbreaks in your garden. Do you sell GIFT CARDS? Yes! Spread the cheer of native plants with a gift card to Blue Stem Natives. This e-card can be used in person or online. What are JUMPING WORMS and what does Blue Stem do to avoid them? Asian Jumping Worms (AWJ) (Amynthas agrestis, Amynthas tokioensis, and Metophire hilgendorfi) reproduce at rapid rates, are parthenogenic, which means they are able reproduce without a mate and unlike the European species, have the ability to greatly reduce the fertility in the top few inches of soil. They have potentially been in the area for decades but have seemed to spread more recently. What are we doing to avoid jumping worms? -We sanitize our pots, trays, and tags, and tools. -All of our plants are up off the ground. -Our soil is stored off the ground in waterproof bags. -We inspect all of our plants on a regular basis. Here are 5 things that YOU can do to avoid bringing in jumping worms to your property from any source: 1) Before purchasing a plant from ANY business or plant swap: visually inspect the roots for signs of jumping worms: you may see the worms themselves, or their castings which look like piles of coffee grounds. 2) If you see a suspect worm in a plant you bring home put it in a bag and throw it away. 3) Educate yourself on jumping worm identification (see resources below) 4) If you bring home a plant from somewhere that has jumping worms contact the business immediately. 5) Clean your shoes off before and after a hike through the woods so as to not share worm cocoons or to not bring them home with you. Further reading: Cornell University Extension UMass Extension Do you do LANDSCAPE DESIGN? We are not landscape designers but we have two possibilities for you: 1) Want to optimize the ecological balance of your landscape? Have us out for a consultation to help guide you in plant choices. Want to know what plants to keep, what to remove, and what you might like to add? Open to those that live within 30 miles from Norwell. See more information about our consultations here. 2) Visit our Garden Design page for more information about local designers. Do you sell MATURE TREES? The trees and shrubs we sell range in age from a year old to 4 years old. We do not sell fully mature trees as we don’t have the infrastructure to carry them. But…our trees are healthy and lovely and will be happiest being transplanted as young trees. Can you tell me if specific trees are MALE OR FEMALE before I buy? Because our plants tend to be younger we are most often unable to determine if they are male or female. Many trees can’t be identified until 10 years old and range from 2-5 years old. We highly recommend buying multiple plants of the same species if they are a dioecious species. Dioecious (dahy-EE-shuhs) plants have either male or female reproductive parts, and are not self-pollinating. When the plants are dioecious, you must have at least one corresponding male plant growing in or around your landscaping for the fruit-bearing female plants to be pollinated. When will you have that PLANT/seed/item I WANT? If a species is labeled as "coming soon", its roots are not yet ready for outplanting. On each species’ page you can sign up for notification when inventory is available. You will be notified via email automatically. The same goes for seeds and items from the trading post. Can you come to my HOUSE and help me or can you LOOK at my photos to help plan a garden? We now offer individual ecological garden consultations, open to those that live within 30 miles of Norwell. Please note this is not a design service, see here for more specifics. If you are looking for one-on-one advice we recommend you sign up for this. Please note that although we love looking at customers' garden photos via email and in person, there isn't enough time in the day to pick out every plant for customers. :) If you visit us in person we are more than happy to answer specific species questions. If you are looking to hire a designer you can find some recommendations here. How does buying plants online work, and how do I PICK-UP?" ALL ONLINE ORDERS WILL BE READY FOR PICK-UP 72 HOURS AFTER PURCHASE, often sooner. You will receive a pick-up ready email. Orders can be picked up during open hours (see website footer for current hours). Or by appointment (email info@bluestemnatives.com if you won't be able to pick up during store hours) We kindly ask that you pick-up any orders within one week of purchase or email for alternative plans. Do you SHIP/DELIVER plants? We do not ship nor deliver plants. But please be on the lookout for future events where we will be bringing our plants to different locations. Sign up for our newsletter in the footer to keep up to date. Where are you LOCATED? We are located at 376 Washington Street (route 53) in Norwell, MA. You can find us in the rear lot of Village Gardens. There is a small silk flower shop up front but you can find us in the back. In addition to buying plants you can also find yarn at Yarns End, pottery at Local Pottery, lovely clothing at Lyn Evans, and you can pamper yourself at Eclipxe Salon, etc. Plansome time to shop! Is *this* plant NATIVE? Need to identify a plant... and also curious if it’s native? Here are some of our favorite tools for identifying: APPS Seek iNaturalist Picture This WEBSITES Go Botany Wildflower.org (please note this is in Texas but is comprehensive) Illinois Wildlfower (not Massachusetts but also complrehensive) BOOKS Newcomb's Wildflower Guide Growing and Propagating Wildflowers What about HONEYBEES? Hold on to your hats! Honeybees aren’t a native species here. They were (and still are) imported from Europe for the purpose of pollinating agricultural crops. While honeybees are important, (and create delicious honey which we enjoy), they aren’t the pollinators that WE are most interested in supporting. In fact, our native bumblebees are said to be 2-4 times more efficient pollinators than the European honeybee! We recommend checking out Dr. Gegear’s research on native bees and the plants which most support them. Do you sell WHOLESALE? Are you a landscape/designer who wants to incorporate more native plants into your designs? Find out more about wholesale accounts here. Please note, we have a limited number of spaces each year for wholesale accounts. You can also email us at wholesale@bluestemnatives.com. WHAT is a NATIVE plant? Native plants (in the US) are widely defined as those that grew in an area before European settlement. According to the USDA, a native plant is “… a part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem.” (nrcs.usda.gov) Learn more here. Can I PRE-ORDER plants? At this time we are unable to take pre-orders for standard retail purchases. We highly recommend you sign up for availability notification on each species’ page if there is something you are particularly interested in. We thank you for your interest. If you are a landscaper/designer who is interested in wholesale plants, please contact us at wholesale@bluestemnatives.com for more information. What is a CULTIVAR? A cultivar is, true to its name, a cultivated variety. A human takes a plant that has a desirable characteristic and propagates that plant, creating multiple copies. These aren’t considered “babies” as there is no reproduction involved, rather, these are all clones of the original plant. Oftentimes the clones are also sterile, and the only means of making more plants with that characteristic is through cuttings, grafting, or tissue cultures. Cultivars are not grown from seed, as doing so would result in genetic diversity, producing different characteristics as occurs in the wild. You can easily tell when a plant is a cultivar because it has been given a name, one that is enclosed in single quotations. ‘Sunset Hydrangea’, ‘Purple People Eater’, ‘Dayglo Bikini’…you get the idea. A nursery tag would have the botanical name and variety, sometimes common name, and the ‘cultivar’. When you see a name in single quotes, you know that this plant is an exact copy of the original plant. Simply put, cultivars reduce genetic diversity which is why we don’t carry them. You can read more about cultivars here. Do you give PRESENTATIONS? Absolutely! Presentations are given on-site, off-site, or virtually. We cater to ecological gardeners in eastern Massachusetts and beyond. Find more information here. How will *this* species grow in MY yard? On each species’ page you will find best practices for growing each plant. Please note that native plant growth, size and aggressiveness varies in different soil/water/sun conditions. Straight species’ growth is not as predictable as growth in many cultivars.

Explore educational resources on New England native plants, pollinators, birds, and ecological gardening tailored to local conditions. Blue Stem Education Ecological Garden Consultations We guide customers in choosing native plants that best suit their space and by doing so create more ecologically impactful gardens. We meet with customers at the location, walk the property, and take notes, followed up with a written report. Presentations Presentations are given on-site, off-site, or virtually. We cater to ecological gardeners in eastern Massachusetts and beyond. Hands-on workshops Workshops are given on-site, and occasionally off-site.. We bring the goods, you get to take something home! See our calendar here (link coming soon)

Buy organic and heirloom vegetable seeds by pre-order. Quality seed selections available for local pickup this growing season. > Buy > Vegetable Seeds > Vegetable Seeds Vegetable seeds are available from February through April through pre-order and in April and May in person. Sorry we aren't able to ship vegetable seeds. The majority of these seed packets are Certified Organic. Helpful links: The Michigan Gardener, "How-to" blog posts (great info) books by Eliot and Barbara Coleman Square foot gardening FILTER BY: Type beans and peas carrots corn cucumbers greens onions radishes squash SORT BY: VEG SEEDS: Cocozelle Zucchini Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Honeynut Squash seeds Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Cornell’s Bush Delicata Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Abundant Bloomsdale Spinach Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Ultimate Salad Bowl lettuce Not available VEG SEEDS: Spotted Trout Lettuce Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Little Gem Lettuce Mix Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Dino kale Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Silver slicer cucumber Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Mexican Sour Gherkin Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Homemade Pickles Cucumber Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Rainbow chard Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Shanghai Green Baby Bok Choy Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Arugula Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Long Island Cheese Pumpkin Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Ashworth Sweet Corn Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Blue Jade Dwarf Sweet Corn Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Danvers Carrot Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Kaleidoscope Carrot Not available VEG SEEDS: Dragon's Tongue Bean Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Tri Color Bean Not available VEG SEEDS: Sugar Magnolia Snap Pea Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Sugar Snap Pea Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: Swiss Giant Snow Pea Add to Cart VEG SEEDS: French Breakfast Radish Not available VEG SEEDS: Evergreen Scallion Add to Cart

Wholesale New England native plants for landscapers, municipalities, and organizations. Grown and selected for Massachusetts conditions. Wholesale/Bulk Plants We offer a wide variety of high-quality native plants for wholesale purchase. Whether you're a town, landscaper, or non-profit , we provide an easy way to shop for plants to help you build sustainable landscapes. Wholesale Discounts start with orders $300 and greater, all purchases less than $300 will retain retail pricing. Orders $300 and over qualify for a 15% discount. Orders exceeding $600 qualify for a 25% discount. New Here? Welcome! We will send you a password to our Wholesale Portal once you fill out our wholesale application*. Requests for wholesale discount cannot be processed until a wholesale application has been received. Existing Wholesale Customer? Visit our Wholesale Portal

Blue Stem Natives is an ecologically thoughtful native plant nursery serving southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. > presentation raffle > Enter to subscribe to our newsletter and enter the raffle for a $25 Blue Stem gift certificate! First name Last name Email I want to subscribe to the newsletter. Submit Thanks for submitting! Newsletter sign-up! wholesale terms

Earn and redeem BSN Rewards Points when shopping New England native plants, seeds, and garden goods with Blue Stem Natives. BSN Reward Points Earn points and turn them into rewards Become a Member 01 Sign Up Sign up as a member to start enjoying the loyalty program 02 Earn Points Purchase a product Get 1 point for every $1 spent 03 Redeem Rewards BSN REWARD 200 Points = $10 off a specific category THIS IS ON HOLD WHILE WE WORK OUT DETAILS Participation in Blue Stem Natives' Loyalty Program is bound by Terms and Conditions

Garden design services using New England native plants to create beautiful, functional landscapes that support pollinators and wildlife. > Garden Design > Eco-Conscious Landscape Professionals Whether you need a thoughtful designer, a skilled installer, ongoing maintenance, phytoremediation, or invasive species removal, this directory connects you with professionals who have a solid understanding of the importance of native plants. We have no affiliation with these businesses — just a shared passion for ecologically sound landscaping. Also check out: Blue Stem Natives Ecological Garden Consultations Wild Ones Complete Design Plans

Blue Stem Natives is an ecologically thoughtful native plant nursery serving southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. Meet The Team Contact Us > Contact > Location Village Gardens: 376 Washington St. Norwell, MA 02061 ( Rear lot) E-mail info@BlueStemNatives.com wholesale@BlueStemNatives.com Phone (781) 738-4869 (call or text) How Can We Help? F.A.Q. Can’t find an answer in the F.A.Q. button above? Email us or submit the form: Email Subject Your message Please allow a few days for a reply Send Thanks for submitting!

Understand germination codes for New England native seeds, including cold stratification and other requirements for success. Seed Stratification Codes Home > Seeds > Seed Sowing Stratification Codes Most native seeds need "cold, moist stratification". That just means winter...OR a winter-like experience. See the codes below to see how to ":unlock" the germination in seed you purchase from us. More details about winter seed sowing can be found here. As an example, if you seed has code "A" on it you can plant any time, no win ter needed. If your seed has code C(60) on it, that means it needs a 60 days period of cold, moist "weather". Feel free to email us with any questions. A: Seed should germinate when sown in a warm location. B: Hot water treatment: Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, pour over seeds, and soak for 24 hours.. Generally this is for seed with a thick seedcoat. C: (# of days of cold moist stratification) Seeds germinate after a period of cold, moist stratification. Mix seeds with a handful of damp vermiculite or clean sand (moist—but not wet). Place mixture in a sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator, NOT the freezer. D: Sow on the surface of the soil. Generally these seeds are very small. E: These seeds need a 60-90 day warm, moist period followed by a 60-90 day cold, moist period. F: These seeds need a 60-90 day cold, moist period followed by a 60-90 day warm, moist period followed by a 2nd cold, 60-90 day moist period. G: Highest germination rate in cool soil. H: Seeds need scarification: One way this can be achieved is to rub the seed between two sheets of sand paper. If code "C" is also called for, scarify first. I: Legume Inoculant (more info next year) J: Legume seeds (more info next year) K: Parasitic species which needs a host plant L: Plant fresh seed or keep seed moist M: Best results when seed sown outdoors in the fall for a natural winter.

Blue Stem Natives is an ecologically thoughtful native plant nursery serving southeastern Massachusetts and beyond. > wholesale spreadsheet > Wholesale Plant Inventory Spreadsheet updated on Mondays, May - October only (sorry, no pre-orders) Welcome! If you are a landscaper or landscape designer please jump back to this page to fill out our wholesale application. After approval, we will apply a 15% discount to your wholesale orders. Approved wholesale buyers can download, fill out, and email this form back to us at wholesale@bluestemnatives.com.

> Buy > Plants > Native Plants We are open for in-person shopping or online shopping (with in-person pick-up). Please remember...we aren't "Old Navy"! We have LIVING inventory that comes in and out of stock when plants are ready...ALL SEASON LONG. "Out of stock"? Sign up for restocking notification on each species' page (size specific, your best bet is to request notification for every size you are interested in). It's automated! Use the filters to narrow down plants that might work for you. Click "Sort by", below, to view alphabetically. See this week's inventory in spreadsheet format here (updated every Monday). Plant numbers change rapidly. Only species in stock are on the list. Soil, Pots, and Pricing Ideas of What to Plant type All annuals + biennials perennials ferns grasses + sedges shrubs trees vines pre-planned kits sun needs sun part sun shade water needs dry soil average soil moist soil wet soil height low <12" medium 12"-24" tall >24" bloom color white red pink blue yellow orange purple green brown seasonal interest spring summer autumn blooms/interest great fall leaf color winter interest evergreen special notes deer resistant* edible salt resistant species of concern tolerates roadside locations groundcovers good in containers shoreline wildlife berries for birds for hummingbirds supports at-risk insects Custom Filter purple erosion control for small mammals spring Sort by Cystopteris bulbifera (bulblet fern) Uvularia sessilfolia (wild oats) Quercus palustris (pin/swamp oak) Oenothera biennis (Common evening primrose) Hypericum ascyron (great St. John's wort) Cyperus strigosus (Straw-colored Flatsedge) Azalea atlanticum (coastal azalea) Rhododendron periclymenoides (Pink azalea) Amelanchier laevis (smooth serviceberry) Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch) Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem) Anemone cylindrica (thimbleweed) Chamaecrista nictitans (wild sensitive pea) Deschampsia flexuosa (wavy hair grass) Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye) Eurybia spectabilis (showy aster) Gentianopsis crinita (fringed gentian) Lilium philadelphicum (wood lily) Maianthemum canadense (canada mayflower) Oligoneuron rigida (stiff goldenrod) Physocarpus opulifolius (ninebark) Salix lucida (shining willow) Scrophularia lanceolata (lance-leaved figwort) Scrophularia marilandica (late figwort) Symphyotrichum pilosum (frost aster) Trichostema dichotomum (forked bluecurls) Hordeum jubatum (squirrel tail grass) Epigaea repens (mayflower/trailing arbutus) Hypericum mutilum (dwarf St. John’s wort) Chamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar) Prunus virginiana (chokecherry) Baccharis halimifolia (groundsel bush)

> About > Blog > Blog We love to share our knowledge and understanding of how native plants work in the world, and muse about our journey towards establishing an ecologically mindful nursery. You can search by a topic within the subjects below, or browse through and read it all! All Posts native plants soil invasive plants insects ecoregion natives for newbies drought seeds design wildlife seasons Search bluestemnatives Jul 15 5 min A Guide to Caring for a New Garden During Summer Weather 690 0 comments 0 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 bluestemnatives Jun 22 2 min Huzzah! The Monarchs have arrived! 801 0 comments 0 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 bluestemnatives Jun 13 2 min WehadaBayberry…itsaboy 553 0 comments 0 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 bluestemnatives Jun 2 3 min PLANTING FOR POLLINATORS 894 0 comments 0 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 bluestemnatives Mar 30 4 min Garlic mustard...space invaders! 1,303 0 comments 0 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 bluestemnatives Jan 25 8 min Burning Bush: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 7,796 0 comments 0 7 likes. Post not marked as liked 7 bluestemnatives Jan 1 5 min 10 Beginner-Friendly Native Plants to Beautify Your GARDEN WHILE buildING habitat 1,668 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Kristen Sep 1, 2023 2 min And when the rain beats upon the windowpane, i'll think of summer days again... 534 0 comments 0 Post not marked as liked Kristen Apr 14, 2023 3 min April showers bring... 378 0 comments 0 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Kristen Mar 2, 2023 2 min Winter doldrums, garden dreams 559 0 comments 0 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Kristen Feb 1, 2023 3 min Winter Interest in the Garden: Why it matters and who does it serve? 394 0 comments 0 4 likes. Post not marked as liked 4 bluestemnatives Aug 9, 2022 1 min Adding Function and beauty to your outdoor space with a trellis 334 0 comments 0 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 bluestemnatives Nov 1, 2021 4 min ToP TEN FALL GARDEN CHORES 613 0 comments 0 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 bluestemnatives Jun 27, 2021 4 min The drought is coming 603 0 comments 0 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Kristen Mar 10, 2021 4 min What's the deal with cultivars? 921 0 comments 0 17 likes. Post not marked as liked 17 bluestemnatives Mar 8, 2021 1 min Getting to know us 190 0 comments 0 5 likes. Post not marked as liked 5 Kristen Feb 27, 2021 4 min Natives for newbies 346 0 comments 0 9 likes. Post not marked as liked 9 Kristen Jan 30, 2021 5 min Why choose native plants? 685 0 comments 0 11 likes. Post not marked as liked 11

Workshops All Services Workshops Consultation Services "MAKE + TAKE": Native container garden Native Plant Container Garden Loading days... 36 US dollars $36 Book Now Presentation: Seed Saving saving native seed Loading days... 20 US dollars $20 Book Now Winter Seed Sowing in Milkjugs fall 2023 give your garden a jump start Loading days... 30 US dollars $30 Book Now Native Plants for Newbies, June 27, 2024 Join us for a free online presentation! Loading days... Book Now Ecological Consultation 1 hr 400 US dollars $400 Book Now

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