Native Plant Nursery

Arlington County’s Native Plant Nursery facilitates the restoration of native flora.  Seeds are collected and propagated over the course of one or more growing seasons until young plants are ready for transplanting into the field.   The nursery has enabled the planting of more than 10,000 plants since its inception.

Our local-ecotype native species, propagated from locally collected seeds, represent the ‘gold standard’ for native plants used in restoration projects.  The nursery specializes in meadow species, locally rare plants, and native species that historically grew in Arlington but are no longer present.  Plants from the nursery are also used in forested areas cleared of invasive plants.

In addition to county restoration projects, plants are also provided to volunteer groups and neighborhood associations to increase biodiversity within many of Arlington’s parks.

Nursery workdays are held every Tuesday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. at our nursery in Barcroft Park. To volunteer contact naturalresources@arlingtonva.us.

Native Plant of the Month

Skunk Cabbage

Symplocarpus foetidus

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is usually the first plant to flower every year. It's scientific name is very fitting, translating to "fetid or stinking compound fruit." They do indeed smell and the fruit that results if pollinated is a compound fruit. But this plant goes by a wide variety of common names however: Skunk Cabbage, Swamp Cabbage, Skunkweed, Meadow Cabbage, Fetid Hellebore, Parson-in-the-Pillory, Polecat Weed, Clumpfoot Cabbage, Midas Ears, and Polkweed for example. Read more.