Watershed Natives Nursery

Native plants are essential for biodiversity, soil health, pollinator habitats, erosion prevention, and reducing nutrient runoff. The virtues of native plants are becoming increasingly understood and used to benefit agriculture, rural development, and urban development. They are beautiful and functional!

To promote the conservation, restoration, and study of native plants by inspiring people to grow native plants for clean water, while providing workforce development and conservation education.

Location & Hours of Operation

Purchasing plants through Watershed Natives not only benefits the natural landscape, but any funds generated go back into the program to support our education and outreach efforts.

We offer plants and seeds for:

For more ordering information please contact our Program Manager

Christy Wilder
[email protected]
417-399-0782

View our current plant list and pricing.
Learn more about native plants GrowNative! Plant Database.

How we got started

Watershed first envisioned a native plant nursery in late 2019 and set the plan in motion by securing initial “seed money” to launch the program. Through our conservation work, we saw a growing need for native plants to be available locally, in large quantities, and throughout the year — along with a central location for the Springfield community to learn and shop. The Darr Family Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks embraced the vision and provided the start-up funding that grew into what is now the Watershed Natives program.

As the vision grew, so did the need for additional support. Watershed entered a three-year agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation to help expand the program at our newly acquired space—land leased from the City of Springfield near the Water Treatment Plant. This investment, along with additional grant funding from HDR and Forvis, made it possible to fully develop the Watershed Natives nursery site.

Today, the goal of the program is to become financially sustainable through nursery sales, ensuring long-term growth and impact.

Blooming Endeavors:

Internships & Cultivating Careers

From the beginning, Watershed Natives has been committed not only to growing native plants, but to growing future conservation leaders. Each year, we employ interns so they may gain hands-on experience in horticulture, ecology, and environmental stewardship. This gives college students and emerging professionals the chance to learn real-world skills in a working native plant nursery, connect with area professionals, and build strong résumés for their future careers.

Jenna Rotert, pictured, says, “It has been so fulfilling doing work that is making such a big impact in the community. I’m still learning what my interests are, and working with the Natives Program has already driven my interest even further in plants and conservation, along with introducing me to so many people in the community who are helping me form my path after school.”

At Watershed, cultivating people is just as important as cultivating plants.

Demonstration Gardens & Immersive Learning

Explore our demonstration gardens — vibrant, living examples of native plants thriving in a variety of ecosystems. Each garden is designed to teach visitors how to garden successfully with different light conditions, water needs, plant heights, and color palettes. These spaces show how sustainable gardening and water-wise practices can create essential habitats for pollinators, birds, and wildlife while revealing the natural beauty and resilience of native plants.

Our partnership with Hillcrest High School’s Environment and Agriculture Pathway gives students real-world environmental learning. Over three years, students practice seed collection, soil science, and plant production, culminating in a senior capstone where community experts review their green infrastructure designs

We proudly partner with schools, clubs, organizations, and community groups to provide hands-on learning and workforce development experiences. If you’d like to schedule a field trip or educational program, please contact our Native Nursery Manager, Christy Wilder, at [email protected].

Our mission is to inspire homeowners and communities to choose native landscaping by showing how easy, beautiful, and beneficial it can be — reducing dependence on non-native species and supporting a healthier, more biodiverse environment.

Floating Wetlands with MDC

Watershed Natives and the Missouri Department of Conservation have been collaborating on floating wetlands for the region. The plants used in the floating wetland are cultivated through the Watershed Natives nursery, and our interns work with MDC in the planning and design process. Natives intern Jenna said, “Getting to do a project like the Floating Wetlands Project with MDC is opening many doors for me and allowing me to learn more about myself and the field.” Partnering with MDC has been crucial to developing the new nursery location.