Just a sprout: historical context shapes the current native plant materials market in the United States

Abstract

Native plants form the foundation of our environment and are essential for the proper functioning of ecological systems. Therefore, native plant materials (primarily seeds) are in high demand as land managers and ecological restoration practitioners seek to use them in restoration projects. However, the state of the native plant material system that supplies seed for land management and ecological restoration is underdeveloped. The native plant industry is experiencing an exciting period of growth, offering numerous opportunities to enhance our understanding of native plant production and restoration. We briefly discuss how the demand for native plant materials is a relatively recent phenomenon driven by changing land management paradigms and highlight two areas ripe for further development to capitalize on the momentum of the native seed market.