Buying seedlings can be costly if you have a big yard – with $8-16 per pot (as for 2025), you can easily spend a couple of hundred dollars. Here are some tips to start a native plant garden for free (or almost free)-
1. Join Utah Native Plant Society and local seed swap
Every year, the Utah Native Plant Society, USU Extension, and local conservation districts host free seed swap and giveaway events. Make sure you follow them and join the next event.
Utah Native Plant Society
We got a seed packet of Indian blanket flower earlier this spring and it has been blooming all summer. Now we have thousands of seeds to share.
2. Utah Pollinator Habitat program
This program, funded by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, awards selected participants free native plant kits (starting from 30 mini seedlings).
General application process:
- Online application submission: March 1 through April 15, 2025
Selected participants will be notified in early June
You’ll go collect the seedlings in tubes in early fall, and return the tubes back after planting (October).
Follow the program:
- website: https://ag.utah.gov/pollinator-habitat-program/
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/utpollinatorhabitatprogram/
3. Swap or Share with Local Gardeners
You know that if you have one plant survive… you’ll have thousands of seeds! You can save them to plant for next season, or swap with others for more varieties! Lots of gardeners also love dividing their plants in spring and share with others – that’s how we started our garden 3 years ago!
Suggested venues:
Gardening community platform like Cultivate or local Facebook gardening groups.
Local seed libraries: https://services.slcpl.org/theplot
4. Collect Seeds from the Wild (Responsibly)
You can easily find beautiful native flowers blooming on the mountains, in the desert and wilderness. Here’s the rule of thumb: only collect small amounts (~10%) from healthy, abundant populations, and avoid protected lands. (Ex: you CAN’T collect seeds from National Parks without a permit.)
