School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Building the Native Plant Materials & Seed Systems for Florida’s Future

The UF/IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project is a leading applied research and production program dedicated to developing native plant materials and scalable seed systems to support ecological restoration across Florida and the southeastern United States.

Housed within the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, the nursery project addresses one of the most critical barriers to restoration and enhancement efforts: the limited availability of regionally appropriate, high-quality native plant materials and early-generation seed. Through integrated research, production, and extension, the program is working to strengthen Florida’s native seed supply chain—from wild collection to commercial production.

Native plants and flyers in a decorative display with a gator head. Native Plant Nursery volunteers at an event.

History

The UF/IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project was established to address a growing need for regionally appropriate native plant materials to support restoration, conservation, and sustainable landscapes across Florida. Initially developed as a teaching and demonstration space, the nursery quickly expanded into a multidisciplinary program integrating research, production, and extension.

Since its inception, the program has grown substantially—engaging more than 600 volunteers, producing over 125,000 native plants, and supporting student training, research, and restoration projects across UF lands and partner sites. Early efforts focused on plant propagation and campus-scale restoration, but these activities revealed broader limitations in the availability of native seed and plant materials statewide.

Today, the nursery has evolved into a central component of Florida’s emerging native seed infrastructure, supporting applied research, plant materials development, and the expansion of the Florida Native Seed Partnership. This progression reflects a shift from localized production to a broader role in strengthening the systems needed to support large-scale ecological restoration.

What We Do

Research & Plant Materials Development

We conduct applied research to improve the reliability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of native plant production and restoration. Current research includes seed biology, propagation systems, restoration establishment, and production strategies for native seed.

Nursery Production & Seed Increase

The nursery maintains approximately two acres of propagation and production space, including greenhouse and outdoor systems. These facilities support early-generation plant materials (G0–G1), seed increase, and plant production for research, restoration, and outreach.

Extension & Workforce Development

We translate research into practice through workshops, training programs, plant sales, and technical resources. The nursery also serves as a living laboratory where students gain hands-on experience in propagation, restoration ecology, and nursery operations.

Program Impact

2021–2025

🌱 125,000+ native plants produced for research, restoration, and outreach

🌿 120+ native species propagated annually

👥 600+ volunteers engaged contributing over 2,200 hours

🎓 6 internships and 5 undergraduate research projects supported

🌼 8 threatened or imperiled species propagated, including Dicerandra cornutissima

💰 $87,000 raised through public plant sales, reinvested into operations and student training

🤝 300+ professionals trained annually through restoration workshops

Building Florida's Native Seed Supply

A central focus of the UF/IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project is strengthening Florida’s native seed supply chain.

The nursery plays a key role in advancing the Florida Native Seed Partnership (FNSP)—a collaborative initiative connecting researchers, agencies, growers, and conservation organizations to expand the availability of regionally appropriate native seed.

Through this work, the nursery:

Supports wild seed collection and source population development (G0 material)

Establishes seed increase systems and early-generation production

Develops validated production and harvest benchmarks for growers

Serves as a training and demonstration hub for native seed production

This effort creates a scalable pipeline linking wild plant populations to commercial production and large-scale restoration.

Research & Applied Projects
The nursery supports a diverse portfolio of applied research projects, including:
- Conservation propagation of imperiled species
  
  Propagation and restoration of Dicerandra cornutissima, with ~86% survival following outplanting
- Container substrate research
  
  Evaluating soil media effects on native grass production (published 2025)
- Hydrogel use in restoration planting
  
  Testing drought mitigation strategies for native plant establishment (published 2026)
- Site preparation for direct seeding
  
  Evaluating methods to control weed seed banks prior to restoration (published 2026)
- Companion planting for seed production
  
  Investigating multi-species systems to enhance native seed yield
- Seed collection partnerships
  
  Collaborations with Austin Cary Forest, Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, NATL, and Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

Program Leadership

The UF/IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project was founded and is led by Dr. Gage LaPierre, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. Dr. LaPierre oversees nursery operations, plant materials development, and applied research focused on strengthening native seed systems and advancing ecological restoration across Florida.

Restoration & Enhancement Projects
The nursery directly supports restoration and conservation across UF lands and partner sites:
- NATL Meadow Installation – 10,000+ plants installed on 1 acre
- Upland Pine Restoration – 8,000+ plugs established in pine savanna systems
- McCarty Woods Enhancement – 2,000+ plants contributed
- Milkweed for Monarch Conservation – Thousands of plants installed along FDOT corridors
- Native Bog Garden (UF Campus) – Educational installation featuring carnivorous plants
- Upcoming Projects (2026) – 1-acre meadow (FLMNH) and 0.5-acre Lake Alice/Mowry Road installation

Extension & Outreach
- Groundcover Restoration & Enhancement Workshop (GREW)
  
  An annual workshop hosted at Austin Cary Forest that brings together over 100 restoration professionals, land managers, and seed producers to address current challenges and innovations in restoration and native seed production.
- Native Plant Sale & Public Outreach
  
  A two-day annual plant sale and extension event that provides education on native landscaping, pollinator habitat, and restoration practices while supporting nursery operations and student training.

Education & Workforce Development
The nursery serves as a hands-on training hub for the next generation of restoration professionals.

Students gain experience in:
- Plant propagation and nursery production
- Seed collection and processing
- Restoration fieldwork
- Applied research and data collection
- Extension and outreach programming
The program also hosts invited speakers and seminars, including international leaders in restoration and seed technology.

Opportunities to Engage
For Growers
- Access to early-generation plant materials and seed
- Participation in production trials and research
- Training in native seed production systems
For Agencies & Land Managers
- Collaboration on restoration projects
- Support for plant material sourcing and selection
- Applied research partnerships
For Students & Volunteers
- Internships and research opportunities
- Hands-on training in restoration and nursery systems
- Volunteer opportunities in propagation and fieldwork

Undergraduate Internships

The UF Native Plant Nursery supports paid undergraduate research internships as well as nursery management work experience. Contact Gage LaPierre via email gagemo@ufl.edu for inquires.

Volunteer Opportunities

The UF Native Plant Nursery has numerous volunteer opportunities available for students seeking experience in producing native plant materials. Volunteering at the nursery would entail these activities: creating soil substrate, filling pots, seeding pots, working with propagating material, and helping in planting or extension events. Volunteers would be appreciated if they were available to help for 1-4 hours a week (schedule is flexible). For more information feel free to reach out to Gage LaPierre via email at gagemo@ufl.edu

Get Involved
Interested in working with the UF/IFAS Native Plant Nursery Project?
- Partner on research or restoration initiatives
- Explore opportunities in native seed production
- Attend workshops and training programs
- Volunteer or apply for student opportunities

Support us!

Support the work we do by donating here! Or if you like to buy one of our t-shirts or hats contact Gage LaPierre via email at gagemo@ufl.edu