Customer FAQs

You have a few different options to place orders with Prairie Restorations. Below is an outline of the different methods you can use to place orders. 

  • Order online: Our e-commerce store is fairly robust and offers many different plant species, seed species, and seed mixes. Sizes and availability are limited, however, we only list what we are able to ship. 
  • Shop in person: We have three garden centers open to the public where you can browse a full selection of seed, plants, books, and other gift items. This is perfect for customers who want to get their product the same day and don't need any custom orders.
  • Order via email: For large orders of seed or plants, we encourage customers to place their order with us via email at order@prairieresto.com. This process has access to the full product availability, regardless of species or size. This is a more involved ordering process, but ensures you get exactly what you want, even if we need to grow something specific just for you.

If you are purchasing in person at one of our garden centers or on our e-commerce store, you will be charged immediately at the time of purchase.

Bulk customers will be charged in full at the time of purchase. You will be sent a separate retainer invoice for this payment. These charges are held as a retainer and applied to the final invoice once it is fulfilled. 

If you are placing a pre-season bulk order, you will be sent a retainer invoice for 25% of the total order immediately upon placing the order. When the order is available for pick up or upon shipping, the remaining 75% balance will be charged. 

Order via email: For bulk orders of seed or plants.

We offer bulk pricing for individuals and organizations. We also offer special contractor rates. Please contact us at order@prairieresto.com

Tax exempt purchases can currently only be processed in person at one of our garden centers OR via email when placing a bulk order at order@prairieresto.com. Unfortunately, our e-commerce store cannot process tax exempt orders at this time. Additionally, once an order is placed via our e-commerce store, we are unable to provide a refund of the tax collected. Thank you for understanding.

Please allow 1 - 2 weeks for plants or seed to be ready for pick up if ordered. If you need plants sooner, please visit one of our garden centers where we have plants available for immediate in store purchase. Online plant orders made outside of growing season will be shipped in the Spring.

APB is a specific pot size that allows for more room and depth for roots to grow. We often use these in tree and shrub species as well as herbaceous plants that require deeper roots.

The APB pot size is approximately 2" x 2"x 6".

Trees that come in APB pots are typically around 18" in height.

Planting native species along road sides can be a great way to enhance the beauty and ecology of the area. Road salt, which is often used to melt ice on roads during the winter, can have detrimental effects on plants, including burning foliage and damaging roots. However, some native plants are more tolerant of road salt than others. Here are some that you might consider:

  • Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
  • Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
  • Gray Dogwood** (Cornus racemosa)
  • Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
  • Goldenrods (Solidago spp.)
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) - Attracts various birds such as robins and bluebirds with its berries.
  • Dogwood (Cornus spp.) - Birds like cardinals and waxwings are attracted to dogwood berries.
  • Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) - Loved by a variety of birds including orioles and grosbeaks.
  • High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) - Attracts a variety of birds including robins and cedar waxwings.
  • Sumac (Rhus spp.) - Chickadees, robins, and other birds are attracted to sumac berries, especially in the winter.
  • Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) - The berries are eaten by various birds including robins and cedar waxwings.
  • Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) - The seeds are popular with goldfinches.
  • Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) - Seeds are favored by a variety of birds including finches and chickadees.
  • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - Seeds attract goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.
  • Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) - Seeds attract a variety of birds including sparrows and finches.
  • Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - Attracts insects which in turn attract insectivorous birds.
  • Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) - Attracts insects, providing a food source for insectivorous birds.
  • Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
  • Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) - Berries are a food source for various bird species including sparrows and thrushes.
  • Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
  • Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) - Provides shelter and seeds for birds like sparrows and finches.

The following list, while not exhaustive, includes various species that tend to do well in the acidic, shady, and needle-littered conditions typically found under pine trees in Minnesota.

  • Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)
  • Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
  • Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
  • Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
  • Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
  • Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)
  • Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
  • Zig zag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
  • Woodland sunflower (Helianthus stromosus)

Remember that "deer-resistant" doesn't mean deer-proof. Deer may still choose to eat these plants if their preferred food sources are scarce, especially in areas with high deer populations.

  • Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
  • Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
  • Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
  • New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
  • Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  • Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
  • Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
  • Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis)
  • Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans)
  • Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
  • Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
  • Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
  • Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
  • Pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens)
  • Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)
  • Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya)
  • Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Many species that we carry in live plants, we don't offer in seed. This is because of several factors from intricacies of harvesting seed, problems in germination for customers, and various other impediments that make it difficult to produce seed at a production level.

This means that in addition to any seeding you do, you will need to supplement the diversity of your restoration project with live plants.

A true remnant prairie may have 150-200 plus species present, and many seed mixes are limited to 10-20 species, which is a rather low bio-diversity. With time and energy, you can add live plants and increase the natural diversity of the site by 3-4 times the number of species.

We also encourage customers to utilize live plants from the initial planting as it helps mitigate some weeds, provides visual appeal in year 1, and overall helps to create much better restoration in the long run.

Native seed can be broadcast at any time in the season. There are specific times that will aid in the germination rate, however.

Most native wildflowers require a period of cold stratification. Often 30-90 days. This timeframe allows for the seed to break its dormancy cycle. Once these stratification requirements have been met the plant will germinate when the ground temperature, and moisture is adequate in the Spring.

Native grass seed often does not have the same stratification requirements. A dormant fall planting between October and December, along with your wildflowers is common. You can also plant in the Spring once the soil has warmed, usually mid- May to late June. As with any seed it is important to keep consistent soil moisture to ensure germination and future growth.

Many native plants have a season of bloom after which they go into a dormancy stage. This allows them to reserve their energy for the next year's growth. Similar to how a tree loses its leaves in the fall. This dormant behavior is typical of spring ephemerals, which are generally dormant by early summer. Often losing all foliage. Most native flowers tend to show some level of dormancy by the time early fall arrives. These plants still have healthy viable root systems. They are just no longer putting energy into producing leaves or flowers.

Whether you are looking for 50 personalized seed packets for a small gathering or you would like to discuss plants custom grown to your site needs we have the capabilities to do it all. Please reach out to our Product Sales Manager for a quote on your custom product at order@prairieresto.com.

Native gardens are very dynamic. Altering themselves to the ever-changing conditions that they are planted in. Designing in this fluid environment can be tricky. We work with many wonderful design contractors who can provide plans that allow for this altering space.

When planting natives you are not bound to the same traditional restrictions you would have with an annual plant. The native plants we offer are perennial plants that live for several years, some for decades. These plants are also especially adapted to our specific eco-region and the harsh environment of a Midwest winter.

While it is always nice to plant your natives in the spring and enjoy them all season, you should have no worries about planting them in the fall. The Fall season is an ideal time to plant natives. The cooler temperatures signal the plant to put its energy toward its roots rather than its leaves. The soil traditionally maintains more moisture later in the season, providing what the plant needs while requiring less output from you.

Still Can't Find the Answer?

If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please feel to ask us directly. You can contact us online, or call one of our Garden Centers and our friendly and knowledgeable staff will answer your questions.

illustration of a woman wearing a yellow hat, holding a broad leaf seedling