Helping restore the native landscape for over 50 years.

Native plants are vitally important to ecological restoration, and are increasingly seen as the best choice for use in almost every scenario.

Find Seeds

Find Seeds

At Ernst Conservation Seeds, we grow, process, and sell hundreds of species of native and naturalized seeds and live plant materials for ecological restoration, sustainable landscaping, reclamation, wetlands, and natural resources conservation.

Our steadfast commitment to understanding our customers’ needs and advising them on the best solutions has been at the heart of our mission for over fifty years.

Biomass

Erosion Control & Revegetation

Grasses & Grass-like Species

Herbaceous Flowering Species

Pollinator Favorites

Riparian Sites

Solar Sites

Uplands & Meadows

Wet Meadows & Wetlands

Woodland Openings

Woody Trees, Shrubs & Vines

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Planting Guides

Planting Guides for Native and Naturalized Seed Projects

Eastern North America features a wide variety of native and naturalized vegetation to replicate. We have developed a series of planting guides based on the majority of planting objectives which include erosion control and soil & water stabilization, beautification and landscape enhancement, creation of biodiversity and wildlife habitat & restoration, bioremediation to correct environmental problems, historical, cultural & ecological restoration, pollinator habitat for honeybees and native pollinators.

Agricultural Uses for Warm Season Grasses 

Bioengineering Materials

Disturbed Sites & Steep Slopes Planting Guide

Expectations of Native Species

Fall Vs Spring Seeding

Milkweed Seed Germination Protocol

Native Plant Seedling Gallery

Native Trees & Shrubs for Riparian Buffers 

Natives for Reclamation of Oil & Gas Sites

Obstacles to a Successful Meadow Establishment

Partially Shaded Sites Planting Guide

Pollinator Mixes

Pollinator-Friendly Sites Planting Guide

Resources for Supporting Pollinators 

Riparian Sites Planting Guide

Southeastern U.S. Sites Planting Guide

Stormwater Management Sites Planting Guide

Switchgrass for Riparian Buffers 

Tools & Seeding Methods

Uplands & Meadows Sites Planting Guide

Using Native Grasses for Biomass

Utility Right-Of-Way Sites Guide

Weeds of Meadows

Wet Meadow & Wetland Sites Planting Guide

Wildlife Habitat & Food Plot Sites Planting Guide

Founded by Calvin Ernst in 1964, Ernst Conservation Seeds is the largest native seed producer and supplier in the eastern United States.

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Meet our Team

Ernst Conservation Seeds has been a family business since Calvin Ernst founded the company. Calvin and the Ernst family still lead our operations today, though the extended Ernst “family” includes nearly 90 full-time employees.

Ernst Career Center

Ernst Seeds is a great place to work! Learn more about life at Ernst – our culture, our benefits and any available opportunities to join our team.