Free Native Plants

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A variety of organizations offer free seeds or plants -- usually wildflowers or trees occasionally grasses or other native plants, to support wildlife. Some are for small backyard patches, others aimed at larger landowners. Some are national, others regional, or focused on a particular species like milkweeds for monarch butterflies. Local businesses or nature centers often give away seeds in spring -- I got some from a Mother's Day event last year and Grand Prairie Friends several times. So watch for local opportunities as well as online. Remember, anything that attracts insects will attract birds that eat insects, and almost all birds raise their chicks on caterpillars.


FREE SEEDS

Get a free packet of wildflower seeds to save pollinators

Get your milkweed seeds for the Monarch Migration
Different species targeted per region.

Free Milkweeds for Restoration Projects - Monarch Watch

How to Score Free Milkweed Seeds for a Monarch-Friendly Garden

Learn How You Can Fill Your Garden With Free Wildflower Seeds

Monarchs and More Western Habitat Program

Seed A Legacy
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Primarily for sites of 2+ acres.

Native Seed Exchange - Borough of Rumson, NJ
Several wildflower species available.

Seed Sanctuary program will send you free seeds in the mail
South Carolina
Vegetable, herb, and wildflower seed

People & Pollinators Events Blog
Will list free seeds and plant swaps as available.
Colorado

Seeds For Bees - Puget Sound Beekeepers Association

URI Free Seed Program - The University of Rhode Island

Wildflower Seed Planting - CNPS-SCV.org
Santa Clara Valley, California


FREE TREES

7 Places to Get Free Arbor Day Trees

15 Simple Ways to Get Free Trees - MoneyPantry

Apply for a Free Tree - Denver - Be a Smart Ash
Colorado

Arbor Day Foundation Tree Giveaway
Colorado Springs

Free shade trees program and workshop - SRP
Arizona
Multiple desert trees.

Free Trees - Casey Trees
Washington, DC

How to get unlimited shade trees for FREE
Instructions to root weeping willows will work on most willow species, and these are larval host trees. See ranges for common species; while weeping willow is native to China, it still supports many species in North America. Your local native species are better if you can find them.

Neighborhood Forest - Free Trees for Kids
Earth Day projects across North America.

Free trees and grass to be given away at 25th annual TreeFest
Wilmington, North Carolina

Request a Tree - Tree Montgomery
Maryland

Sign up for FREE trees - The City of Portland, Oregon

Steps for applying for free trees - Forest ReLeaf of Missouri

Street Tree Planting Program - City of Boulder
Colorado

Tree Canopy Fund - EcoAction Arlington
Virginia

Tree Planting - Wisconsin DNR
Assorted native trees and shrubs.

Trees For Neighborhoods - Seattle.gov
Seattle, Washington
Currently closed but with email signup for 2023 season.

Trees/Restore the Canopy
Free Trees from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
More than 90,000 oak saplings distributed since 2016!
Currently closed but plans to reopen in spring 2023.

Yard Tree Giveaway Program - City of Vancouver
Vancouver, Washington


Does anyone else know of current sources for free native plants?