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About the Nursery

The Preserve is the premier place in the Delaware Valley to see and buy plants native to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and throughout the Delaware Valley. Our marketplace features more than 200 species of high-quality native plants, including perennial wildflowers, ferns, trees, shrubs and vines, available throughout the growing season.

Explore our grounds and see over 700 native species thriving in their natural habitat. While you shop, look for our "Piece of the Preserve" seal, which identifies plants grown from our own collection. These plants have proven their ability to thrive in our local environment, ensuring you take home a truly resilient piece of our ecosystem.

By purchasing from us, you'll create a more natural, sustainable and wildlife-friendly garden that attracts native pollinators and birds. Your purchase also supports our mission to enhance local biodiversity and fund our educational programs.

Our knowledgeable staff and Garden Guides are here to help you choose the best plants for your garden, and we provide free resources, including plant recommendations. You can also tour our demonstration gardens for inspiration on native plant combinations.

Did You Know?

More than 96% of the plants we offer are straight species, which are crucial for creating a thriving ecosystem. Unlike cultivars or hybrids, which are often selected for specific aesthetic traits, straight species have coevolved with local insects and animals for thousands of years, creating a vital, interdependent relationship.

The Importance of Straight Species

1. A Vital Food Source: Straight species have the specific chemical makeup that native insects, particularly caterpillars, rely on to survive. These caterpillars are the primary food source for many nesting birds. Without the right plants, the entire food web can collapse.

2. Supporting Genetic Diversity: Planting straight species, helps ensure a diverse gene pool, ensuring that plant communities remain resilient to environmental changes like disease and drought. Since cultivated varieties are usually cloned, they lack genetic diversity, thereby weakening the ecosystem's long-term health.

3. Building a Complete Ecosystem: A garden with straight species isn't just a collection of plants; it's a living ecosystem. You are providing the essential resources that support a complex web of life, from the smallest insect to the largest predator.

Policy: Pulling and Holding Plants

We can hold orders of $500 or more if we have enough staff. Payment and customer information are required in advance. Plants will be held for a maximum of two weeks. If not picked up within that time, the plants will be returned to stock, and a refund will be mailed to you.
This same policy applies to plants you select but cannot take home the same day.

Policy: Returning Pots

Thank you for helping us with our pot recycling initiative! This is part of our commitment to growing sustainability practices at the Preserve. At our last event, we collected nearly 500 pots, which were recycled
through TerraCycle Zero Waste Boxes.

Please note that we only accept used pots during scheduled recycling events. To prevent introducing pests or diseases, please do not drop off pots at the nursery.

If you're interested in supporting this important sustainability initiative, we are seeking a $500 sponsor for our upcoming event. For details, please contact development@bhwp.org.