Inquiring Minds Want To Know
Do you collect plants from the wild?
Where do your plants and seeds come from?
Do you sell cultivars?
Will we find herbs or vegetables at your nursery?
Are you going to have trees and shrubs for sale?
What kind of potting soil do you use?
Can we buy plants online? Do you ship plants?
Do you sell gift cards/certificates?
What is your warranty or return policy for plants?
How often will you be open?
Do you raise your plants in a greenhouse?
Do you use pesticides?
Where did the name Arcadia Natives come from?
Do you collect plants from the wild?
We do not dig plants from public land or wild areas. Nor do we condone unethical seed-collecting practices. In an effort to harvest responsibly from our own land, only a small amount of seed is gathered from each plant community here. This enables the “mother patch” of natives to continue to reproduce and provide essential food for birds and mammals in the fall and winter months.
Where do your plants and seeds come from?
A handful of our plant species are container grown from seeds collected right here on our 22 acre property. Other native seeds are sourced locally from Allegheny County, Westmoreland County, Washington County, etc with permission from local landowners. Any seeds we purchase are from reputable sources. All plants grown from local seeds or those with a known provenance are clearly marked on our pot labels. As we are still working on adding to our local native plant collection, we also purchase plugs from trusted growing partners for the species that we are unable to obtain seeds for.
Do you sell cultivars?
Our main focus is primarily straight native plant species. Any cultivars we offer are clearly marked with different labels and bright yellow signs to alleviate any mix-ups. None of our selected cultivars have been “bred in a lab”. We don’t sell species with double flowers (difficult for pollinators to access) or red leaves (may be unpalatable to caterpillars). Many are naturally occurring varieties found in the wild that have simply been brought into cultivation. A few cultivars may come true to seed, though the majority require propagation from divisions/cuttings etc. Though they lack genetic diversity as they are clones of the parent plant, they can still be pollinator powerhouses that host and support caterpillars, butterflies, and native bees! We highly recommend this article if you are interested in learning more about cultivars.
Will we find herbs or vegetables at your nursery?
Though herbs can be wonderful food sources for butterflies and their larvae (not to mention tasty for us too!), we do not sell them at this time. Potted herbs and veggies are readily accessible at most nurseries and garden centers. Please be sure your herbs are coming from a neonic-free facility! With limited space at our disposal, we decided to stick to our passion which is native plants. That said, we do offer many edible plants or ones that have historical herbal/medicinal uses. We’ve offered 6 varieties of native mints and perennials that are sometimes used for herbal teas or remedies such as Bee Balm and Anise Hyssop. It is highly recommended to always do your research before consuming any plant. See our complete list of natives here.
Are you going to have trees and shrubs for sale?
Yes! Hundreds of native trees and shrubs are available in April while supplies last. These include native fruit/nut bearing species as well as some evergreens. A limited assortment of woody plants can be purchased through the summer. We also bring in a large selection in September/October for fall planting. Availability changes from year to year so check the website for updated plant lists before your visit!
What kind of potting soil do you use?
Many of our seeds were started in Pro-Mix BX potting medium. It contains mycorrhizal fungi and natural biofungicides. Below is information from the Pro-Mix website along with an in-depth video explanation.
The main benefits of mycorrhizae include:
- Better nutrient uptake (including phosphorus, copper, zinc and manganese)
- Greater resistance to stresses related to transplanting, nutrient deficiencies, root rot and drought
- Optimal recovery and growth after transplanting
- Increase in plant vigor, flowering and fruit/vegetable production
The use of mycorrhizal inoculants is an interesting solution to help plants withstand difficult environmental conditions. They are particularly useful to help plants survive and grow, despite the excessive heat and lack of water they may experience more often due to climate change, especially in urban environments.
PRO-MIX Growing Media Active Ingredient: MYCORRHIZAE
The main benefits of biofungicides include:
- Protects against damping-off, crown and root rots caused by Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia
- Enhances germination
- Increases plant growth
- Reduces risk of pathogens delevoping resistance to chemical fungicides
- Ensures a broad spectrum of action against diseases
Want to know more about the Bacillus Pumilis natural bacterium used in Pro-Mix? Follow the links below for brief informative videos and in-depth explanations.
This natural biofungicide will not cause harm to caterpillars, bees, butterflies, or other insects that consume the leaves of plants.
According to a statement from a PRO-Mix Horticulture Specialist:
“The bacterium nor the antibiotic are absorbed by any part of the plant nor is it taken up into the fruit or vegetables. There is no evidence that using the Biofungicide will in any way compromise human health. Keep in mind that the bacterium – plant relationship has existed naturally in the soil since plants first appeared on the Earth and the plant utilizes many species of bacteria and fungi as part of the plants ability to adapt to changing biological and environmental conditions within the soil.”
What is the BIOFUNGICIDE in the PRO-MIX growing media?
Explanation and Benefits of BIOFUNGICIDE in PRO-MIX
PRO-MIX MP Organik Components
Can we buy plants online? Do you ship plants?
We do not have plants for sale online at this time. However, feel free to drop by and visit in person! Coming from a long distance? Please call (724-986-0907) first to make sure we are open and to check plant availability!
Do you sell gift cards/certificates?
Yes, we have physical plastic gift cards that are reloadable. You can also choose a digital version that can be sent via text or email. They can be purchased in-person at the nursery or ordered over the phone. Online ordering is not an option at this time.
What is your warranty or return policy for plants?
We go to great lengths to keep nursery stock healthy. Plants are examined daily to ensure our customers will be taking home vigorous, well-rooted specimens. Please feel free to inspect your selections carefully before checking out. We also recommend reading our informative plant fact signs detailing the growing conditions for the plants you have chosen. Planting the right plant in the right place is critical to ensure your native not only survives, but thrives! Our staff are happy to help answer questions you may have about caring for the species you are interested in purchasing.
If your plant does not seem to be thriving after you have planted it in your landscape and given it time to establish itself, feel free to call and we can troubleshoot the issues and try to come up with a solution. Perhaps it is being shaded by nearby perennials, receiving too much water, or requires more airflow. Together, we’ll do our best to help you figure it out! We really do love our plants and want them to bring you happiness for many years!
As we have no control over what happens to our plants once they leave our property, we cannot offer any returns, exchanges, or refunds. Thank you for understanding!
How often will you be open?
In 2024 we were open four days per week by appointment only. Moving into 2025 we are listening to customer feedback and weighing all of our options. Stay tuned in March when we will announce our days/hours for the upcoming season and whether or not visits will be by appointment.
Do you raise your plants in a greenhouse?
None of the plants we start from seed here are grown in a greenhouse. A lot of our seeds are sown outdoors in the fall or winter in trays and containers. They are protected from harsh wind and sun, but they still experience similar conditions as they would in the wild. Snow, rain, and the fluctuating temperatures of the seasons will dictate when the plants break dormancy in the spring. This creates strong seedlings that are well adapted to our local weather. We also sometimes use artificial stratification to start seeds indoors in the refrigerator as many native plant seeds need a period of cold in order to germinate successfully. This method allows for close monitoring and control.
Do you use pesticides?
One of the reasons we are passionate about growing native plants is because they are food for insects and wildlife. In no way do we want to use any chemicals on our plants that may cause harm to the beneficial creatures that rely on them. For this reason, you might see some imperfect leaves where something has been snacking, a caterpillar sleeping in a folded leaf, or butterfly eggs waiting to hatch.
We frequently utilize natural pest control. As we don’t spray neonic pesticides on our nursery stock we must rely on nature to help when there’s a problem. At the first sign of a “pest” infestation we remove the plant (or tray of plants) from the main nursery area. When we find beneficial garden helpers like lacewing larva (see photo above), they are placed on the affected specimen. Hoverfly and ladybug larva are also creatures we scout for in our “weedy border” behind the nursery. These amazing insects clean up infestations in short order! Many people have recommended we use Dawn dish soap as a solution. In spite of what you read in Facebook gardening groups, household soap is not safe to use in the garden as it can also kill the beneficial insects that are there to help. Not to mention the ingredients are not meant to be used on plants!
Once beneficial insects are in place, we scrutinize the leaves of the plant every few days. When the previously affected plant(s) have no signs of recent pest activity they will be returned to the nursery. This can take several weeks and sometimes they need an additional few weeks in their isolated spot to recover. We are patient and don’t mind the wait. It is worth it to provide clean/healthy stock to our customers and to keep both our pollinators and beneficials safe!
Where did the name Arcadia Natives come from?
After living on the property for one full year, we decided it was time to name the place. We came up with Arcadia Springs. Arcadia by definition is “a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet”. The “springs” part is pretty self explanatory as we have numerous natural springs throughout the woods. It seemed a logical transition to tie the business name in with our home and property. Thus, Arcadia Natives plant nursery is located at the edge of our beloved Arcadia Springs.