Ecotypic native plants are plants grown from seed collected within a specific geographic region, often as locally as possible to the landscapes they are intended for. These plants carry the genetic adaptations of place—shaped by climate, soil, hydrology, and ecological relationships over time.
At Van Berkum Nursery, our ecotypic native program is rooted in the idea that regional landscapes are not interchangeable. A plant sourced and grown from a Northeastern ecotype is adapted differently than the same species grown from a distant origin. These differences matter in restoration, resilient design, and long-term ecological function.
Our work with ecotypic natives focuses on maintaining these regional lineages through careful seed sourcing, thoughtful propagation, and field production practices that support both ecological integrity and horticultural performance. The goal is simple: plants that are not only native in name, but native in origin and relationship to place.