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Native Plant Nursery at Wild Ridge Plants

FAQ

Jump To: Plants | Retail | Mail Order | Wholesale | Consulting  | Education | General | Pricing/Refunds/Returns


Plants

Quality Assurance

We grow robust native plants that are correctly identified to the species name. We’re a family business, and we’re hands on. We hand-select and inspect each order. In addition, our state Department of Agriculture inspects our nursery annually.

Which plants are currently in stock?

Check out our In Stock search option. Or, visit our webstore and click on the “In Stock Now” button in the right hand column.

Do you grow and sell live plants or seeds?

We grow and sell container-grown live plants which are native to the Northeastern United States (and sometimes beyond). We do not sell seeds.

What sizes do your plants come in?

The photo below should help understanding the different pot sizes which we grow in. Pot sizes are carefully chosen to support each species’ optimal growth, and may vary according to seasonal growth patterns.

Three inch pots are support small stature plants, especially woodlanders. “Quart” pots vary in dimensions. Cube shaped “quart” pots are perfect for most wildflowers and grasses. Tall narrow “quart” pots support plants that prefer excellent drainage. Tall/wide “quart” pots are for species with dense, fibrous roots. Two Quart pots and Gallon pots are for shrubs and trees.

Sources of our plants/provenance

Our plants are nursery-propagated on our farm from local eco-type seeds. We hand-collect seed from wild populations primarily in New Jersey, southern New York state, and eastern Pennsylvania. We never buy in material from other nurseries – our plants are hand grown by us.

Range Maps

Each species we grow includes a range map used with permission from The Biota of North America Project. Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Center. (http://www.bonap.net/tdc). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)]

Do you sell “straight” species or cultivars?

All of our plants here at Wild Ridge are wild type native plants, also called “straight” species. We do not grow cultivars.

Do you use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides in the nursery?

No. We do not use any synthetic pesticides, fertilizer, or neonicotinoids.

We use all natural, chemical-free practices to grow our plants. Our container plants are grown in an organic potting mix. We use only organic-certified fertilizers and amendments.

We take a hands-on approach in growing our plants, closely watching for signs of stress or unwelcome insects. Though we grow our plants carefully and in as natural conditions as possible, unwanted insects do occur sometimes. We rely on: 1.) Natural control by other wildlife including predatory insects and toads. 2.) Manual means through pruning or removing insects directly. 3.) Organic-certified soaps and sprays.

When’s a good time to plant?

Native perennials can be planted at any time in the growing season. Spring and fall are milder — summer plantings may require more water when establishing. But it all depends on the weather.

Fall is a particularly easy time to plant, as perennials are headed to dormancy anyway and can root in all winter before commencing spring growth.

What does out of stock mean?

As the growing season progress, some species may sell out temporarily. Many species will become available later in the season. Occasionally, some species are available only for a portion of the growing season.

How can I find out when a species will be available?

Many variables affect when a species is available. When a species is not in stock, we offer an email notification service. Here’s how it works:

  • Visit https://wildridgeplants.com/shop/
  • Select a plant species of interest
  • Use the “size” dropdown menu and select a size
  • If the plant is out of stock, a field will display below the “size” dropdown.
  • Enter your email address into this field, and click “join waitlist”
  • When we update inventory, you’ll get an email notification
  • Repeat for each species you’d like to be notified about.
  • We do not offer holds. Orders are first come, first served.


Retail

When are you open?

Weather-dependent, we are open from approximately early April to the end of October. Seasonally, our hours of operation change. All pick ups are by appointment only or during special events. Please contact us for our seasonal hours.

I’m looking for a plant for…

If you have a specific need (deer resistant, shade tolerant, edible, butterfly host plant, etc.) make sure to check out our product tags on our webstore.

Dig deeper on our Resources page. You’ll find our Wild Plant Culture podcast, annual catalog, More Butterflies and Moths Now! planting guide, and more.

Can I visit and browse?

As of now, our farm is not open for visits or tours.

When can I pick up my order?

When you order, look at the bottom of your receipt for a link to our scheduling app. Set up an appointment to pick up!

Add info@wildridgeplants.com and nursery@wildridgeplants.com to your address book!

Do you offer same day pick up?

When open, we may be able to offer same day pick up. To make sure, please call to confirm before placing your order. We love being outside with the plants, and check email periodically when we’re working with the plants.

Do you have gift certificates?

Yes. Gift certificates can be purchased from our webstore.


Mail Order

When do you ship?

Typically, we ship weekly on Mondays or Tuesdays from approximately early April to November. Start dates vary by year.

Typically, orders placed on or after any Monday will ship the following week.* Orders placed during the growing season will be shipped during optimal shipping conditions. We prioritize the health of your plants! Extreme weather conditions, such as excessive heat, may delay shipping.

*Note: when we reopen in the spring, we begin shipping orders in the order they were received. We usually catch up with the pace of orders by late April, weather-depending. Please be patient as we carefully harden off and then pack your plants. Feel free to reach out with questions about ship dates!

Where do you ship?

We offer shipping of live plants to most states east of the Mississippi River: CT, DE, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VT, VA, WI, and WV.

Shirts and books will ship anywhere in the United States. Please select “Book, Shirt, or Poster Shipping” if ordering these items and not plants.

What shipping carrier do you use?

PLANTS: Primarily, we use UPS for plants. We ship to physical addresses only. We do not ship plants to PO boxes.
BOOKS: We typically use USPS Media Mail or Ground Advantage.

Can I add special delivery instructions?

Sending a gift? Put a comment in the Notes field, and we’ll make sure the recipient can’t see the price of the plants.

Otherwise, we cannot guarantee your local carrier with follow special shipping instructions. Your local carrier is may not read notes written on the shipping cartons.

Why doesn’t “Plant Shipping” show as an option at check out?

Your address is outside of our shipping area. We ship to the states above. If you attempt to check out and your address is outside of our shipping area, plant shipping is not an option. You can order only our books, poster and shirts.

If you attempt to place an order for plants, and “Book, Shirt, or Poster Shipping” shipping is the only option, please do not continue to check out. Your order will be refunded.

Why don’t you ship to my state?

We ship to states east of the Mississippi River only. We share many species in common with this region. Some states east of the Mississippi River have strict agricultural import regulations, so we do not ship to those states.

How are shipping costs calculated*?

Our shipping prices for plants are calculated as follows: $11 base S/H fee, plus $2 for each standard-size plant (quart sizes) and $6 for each extra-size plant (mainly two quart and gallon sizes, mainly woody plants).

Shipping for books, shirts and posters is a $5.00 base S/H fee plus $1.50 for each product ordered.

*Prices subject to change without notice.

When ordering, it says ‘no shipping options available’. What does that mean?

We may not ship to your state.

I am having trouble with online ordering. Can you help?

Yes. Please contact us at (908) 235-7622 or nursery@wildridgeplants.com.


Wholesale

We are a retail-only nursery and do not offer wholesale pricing.


Consulting

What services do you offer?

We offer botanical surveys and restoration planning. Follow the links for more information.

Where can I see examples of your consulting work?

We have an online portfolio of our ecological restoration, regional stewardship, and education projects here. We’re happy to provide CVs and references upon request.

Can I see a sample botanical survey done by Wild Ridge Plants?

To protect sensitive plant populations, we share our botanical survey reports by request only.


Programs

Do you do offer programs?

We offer programming such as presentations, hikes, and classes. Contact us directly to talk about your group’s needs.

How can I find out upcoming events and programs you do?

You can also subscribe to our mailing list (we send mailings approximately once a month), and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.


General

Who is Wild Ridge Plants?

We are a family business owned and operated by Rachel Mackow and Jared Rosenbaum. When you contact us, you’ll be speaking directly to us and we’ll do our best to be a good resource for you. Thanks for working with native plants and being a caretaker of the earth.

Click to learn more about our nursery practices and our experience growing and stewarding native plants.

Do you have blogs and a podcast?

Yes. Jared writes and podcasts from Wild Plant Culture, where he discusses the intersection between native plants, ecology, and culture. Rachel presents her writing and photography on her website.

What’s your address?

We’re located in the hills of Pohatcong NJ, 10 minutes from I-78. Our address is 170 Mountain Road, Alpha, NJ 08865.


Pricing, Refunds and Returns Policy

Prices are subject to change.

Shipped and picked up plants are non-refundable and non-returnable. We do not offer returns, exchanges or cancellations of orders once submitted.

If your shipment arrives damaged please notify us within 7 days of receiving your package.

We want every garden and restoration project to thrive. Please reach out if you have questions about your order.