Native Plants & Pollinators

Sargent’s Nursery is dedicated to fostering healthy, sustainable landscapes through an ever-expanding selection of North American, Regional Native, and Cultivated Native trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, and sedges, all carefully grown to thrive in our region. We categorize our native plants into four distinct groups based on their origin and ecological role.

North American Natives

North American Natives are plants that have naturally evolved across the continent, from Canada to Mexico. These species are adapted to a wide range of climates and soils, making them resilient and low-maintenance choices for many gardens.

They provide essential habitat and food for a diverse array of wildlife, including birds, pollinators, and other native species — and as changes in climate drive shifts in biomes and ecosystems, these broadly adapted plants play an increasingly important role, supporting flora and fauna as they migrate and adjust to new conditions.

They are native, but not necessarily to our specific region.

Great Lakes Regional Natives

Great Lakes Regional Natives are a subset of North American Natives, historically adapted to the unique climate, soil, and ecological conditions of our local region. These plants are perfectly suited for local gardens, as they thrive in our seasonal weather patterns and support the wildlife found in this area, such as native bees, butterflies, and birds.

Minnesota Natives

Minnesota Natives are a subset of Great Lakes Regional Natives, specifically adapted to the soils, climate, and ecological conditions of our state. Plants and seeds throughout our garden center carrying a blue dot sticker belong to this category, including trees, shrubs, perennials, seeds, and more. This category was created in response to customer requests for Minnesota-specific natives. These are also the plants you’ll want to seek out if you’re a Lawns to Legumes grant recipient.

To dig deeper, visit https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info

Cultivated Native Plants

Cultivated native plants—also called “nativars”—are varieties of North American native species that have been selectively bred for traits like stronger color, larger size, or improved disease resistance, while still providing many of the same ecological benefits. They combine the beauty and resilience of true natives (aka straight natives) with enhanced ornamental appeal, making them a great choice for home gardens that support local ecosystems. While cultivated natives are not eligible for some native restoration grants, they still offer an important bridge between traditional landscaping and native habitat gardening.

On terminology…

We categorize our native plants to help you find the right fit for your garden. Whether you’re supporting pollinators, pursuing a grant-funded project, or creating a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape, our distinctions make that choice clearer. Defined categories mean better outcomes — for your garden and for the broader ecosystem.

You may encounter different terms at other nurseries, in grant applications, or across gardening resources. Here’s how the most common ones relate to the categories we use:

Straight Natives

Species that occur naturally in a given region and have evolved alongside local wildlife over thousands of years. What we call North American Natives, Great Lakes Regional Natives, and Minnesota Natives are all straight natives. These are the plants required for most native restoration grants, including Lawns to Legumes.

Nativars

Cultivated varieties of native plants, bred for traits like flower color, size, or disease resistance. These correspond to what we call Cultivated Natives. Many nativars still support pollinators, though some modifications — such as double blooms or altered flower structures — can reduce their ecological value. Most grant programs do not accept nativars as qualifying plants.

Cultivars

Plants bred or selected for specific ornamental traits, which may or may not be native to North America. Cultivars vary widely in their value to pollinators; some offer little nectar or pollen, or have flower structures that are difficult for pollinators to access. We do not categorize cultivars as natives.

Pollinator-Friendly Plants

A broad term for any plant that attracts bees, butterflies, birds, or other beneficial insects. A plant can be pollinator-friendly without being native, but native plants — particularly straight natives — typically support the widest range of native pollinators in a given region. When in doubt, natives are the stronger ecological choice.

GET INSPIRED FOR YOUR NEXT LANDSCAPING PROJECT

We've had the wonderful opportunity to design and install beautiful landscapes all around the Red Wing area. We've gathered our favorite projects for you to explore:

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