Types of Natives
Now that native plants are becoming more popular, it's important to understand the different types available. These include ecotypes, regional ecotypes, varieties, and cultivars. Each type serves a specific purpose and has its place, depending on your project goals. See below for more details on each of these native plant types.
Ecotype Seed
ˈēkōˌtīp | A distinct form or race of a plant or animal species occupying a particular habitat.
What Is Ecotype Seed?
Ecotype seed comes from parent stock that has evolved and adapted over time to the specific conditions of your area. It is naturally suited to your local soils, geology, temperature, rainfall, elevation, insects, diseases, pests, and other environmental factors.
Why Choose Ecotypes?
Ecotypes tend to establish more easily, are hardier, have fewer insect and disease issues, and are better adapted to local moisture and temperature conditions. They also help protect the genetic integrity of your region’s native plant communities.
Proximity Matters
When selecting seed, you'll typically get the best results using ecotype seed sourced as close to your location as possible. For example, seed from 200 miles away is almost always going to outperform seed from 500 miles away.
When to Consider Cultivars
There are situations where cultivar seed may be the better choice, regardless of distance. Our team at Roundstone Native Seed is here to help you determine the best option for your specific goals—just give us a call.
Regional Ecotype Seed
At Roundstone, we emphasize the development of regional ecotypes for an ever-growing number of native species. We’ve established production sites and grower alliances across seven states and a wide range of expanding regional environments—particularly in the Southeast.
Our focus is on producing ecotype seed from the smallest eco-region that is economically feasible to support. These regionally adapted ecotypes establish more easily, are hardier, have fewer insect and disease issues, and are naturally suited to local temperature and moisture conditions. Most importantly, they help preserve the genetic integrity of the local flora.
Cultivars
/ˈkəltəˌvär/ | A plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. Cultivars are typically written in the format Genus species “Variety”.
Cultivars originate from ecotype seed that has been selected and bred for specific desirable traits—such as increased seed production, improved forage quality, higher biomass yield, disease resistance, or other valuable characteristics.
However, this selective breeding process rarely expands the plant’s adaptability beyond the eco-region where the original seed was collected. As a result, most cultivars perform best in or near the region of their foundation seed source.
PMC Cultivar Seed
Cultivars are simply ecotype seeds that have been selected, collected, and developed through selective breeding for specific traits—such as seed production, forage quality, biomass volume, disease resistance, or other valued characteristics. However, this breeding process rarely broadens the plant’s adaptability beyond the eco-region where the original material was collected. As a result, most cultivars perform best in or near their foundation seed source.
There is near-universal agreement: for best results, plant ecotype seed.
Ecotype seeds come from parent stock that has evolved over time and adapted to your specific environment—including your soil, geology, climate, rainfall, elevation, pests, and other local conditions.
So what’s best for you?
In most cases, seed sourced as close to your location as possible will give you the best outcome. For example, seed from 200 miles away will almost certainly perform better than seed from 500 miles away.
That said, there are situations where cultivar seed may be the better choice, regardless of distance. Let us help you make the right decision based on your goals and site conditions.
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Why It Matters
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