About Us

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TOP RATED NATIVE PLANT NURSERY & RESTORATION SERVICE

MIDWEST QUALITY LEADER IN NATURALLY GROWN NATIVE PLANTS

WE CATER TO RESEARCH FACILITIES, NATURAL AREA RESTORATION PROJECTS, LANDOWNER RESTORATION, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO EXPAND DIVERSITY ON THEIR PROPERTY.

WE OFFER CUSTOM BLEND SEEDS FOR SMALL & LARGE SCALE RESTORATION PROJECTS

We began our chemical free nursery back in 2015. We realized that the world needed more places to learn about nature and help restore our natural ecosystems. Native plants are the link to that restorative process.

I studied soil science & ecology through the years and found the amazing impact that native plants have on their environment. You can literally bring a yard back to life!

EVERY NATIVE PLANT HAS A PURPOSE! 

They are a food source for insects, wildlife & humans, have medicinal properties, provide shelter, reduce pollution in the air, water & soil.

There are a lot of misconceptions about native plants and we are here to help clear them up. Natives adapt better to almost any situation better than a non-native species. There are a few exceptions. 

Unfortunately, the horticultural education system is not geared towards native plants, so there is a huge lack of research and knowledge on these wonderful plants. Our research programs were developed to bring solid information to biologists and ecologists nationwide. 

There is an extreme lack of knowledge of native plants in our nation and we hope to help bring some perspective to those who are willing to learn. 

We work much of the summer doing restoration work to create better habitat for insects and wildlife. Every purchase on our site (All seeds, plants and food products) we donate a percentage into our Habitat Restoration Fund and use it for these projects throughout the year.

Chemical free is a must!
Every time you buy a plant that has been treated with a systemic pesticide, that plant will kill nearlyl every insect that lands on it for a minimum of 1-36 months. Imagine the amount of insects that can destroy during these time periods.  These insects are also consumed by birds and the implications are devasating.

We grow our plants specifically for the creatures that need them.  Many purchase or grow plants solely for their looks. Unfortunately, there are less than a handful of true chemical free growers in North America.

76% of our insect population has been depleted in the last 3 decades.
If this continues at a rate of 1% per year, that doesn't leave us much time to repair our damages to the native landscape.

Native plants sustain all of our insect and wildlife population.
Native plants clean our air more efficiently.
Native plants clean our waterways more efficiently.
Natives have adapted to our soil over thousands of years and therefore are more hardy than non-native species.
Most non-native plants serve very little purpose to our local ecosystem.

Don't ask why plant native?  Ask why not?
Thank you for taking a look at our company!
Warmest regards,
Matthew Swank
Owner, Lupine Gardens, LLC

Ecological Restoration Specialist

Seed  Research Specialist

Plant Research Specialist

Creator of Method for Native Plant Adaptation across Broad Range Ecoregions (1,500+ Miles)

Creator of Artificial Cold Moist Stratification Water Method

Advocate for Insects and Widlife across the globe