b'We do not breed them to be hardier as they are naturally hardy.Reflecting on the growing popularity of both hardier native If you allow native plants to reproduce under natural conditions,species and commercial cultivars, Tipping highlights the last 100 the hardiest survive and they adapt over time to their changingyears of breeding. environment. The commercial prima donnas, you could call them, with Prairie Moon offers over 700 species right now, but Klukas- their beautiful large, long-lasting blooms in vibrant colors are Brewer says there are a lot more species that they could add,native plants that have been bred for these traits over a long even just from within Minnesota.period, he notes. Its incredible what we have been able to Its a slow process to harvest seed, determine germinationaccomplish with classical breeding alone. Dahlias, for example, methods, grow it out, but we continue to add species, she notes.were a food crop in Mexico grown for their tubers, and there are We could add hundreds more native species. now 58,000 cultivars. But with the focus on the prima donna Siskiyou Seeds in Williams, Oregon, offers a few native plants,traits, resilience traits have been overshadowed to some extent. but most of its 225 flower varieties are commercial cultivars thatAnd now we see a re-introduction of drought tolerance back into are hardy and locally adapted to the Pacific Northwest. Thisthe commercial cultivars, putting back some of what their ances-farm-based seed company develops and distributes only open- tors had.pollinated organic seeds, a premium product business modelAnd while hes pleased that with all commercial crops in the which helps support R&D for adding more native varieties inwestern worldfrom ornamentals to horticulture to field crops future. are gaining genetics that allow them to adapt to periods of Founder and director of operations Don Tipping was recentlydrought and erratic weather that can come from climate change, in Africa, for example, and is trialling millet and sorghums fromTipping mentions another piece to the puzzle. there to see if they do well in his region.Regenerative agriculture, which is the other answer to cli-These plants make nice fillers in flower gardens and sparkmate change, is now being talked about in mainstream media, conversations, Tipping explains. Whatever crops farmers growso thats another big change, he says. I never thought Id see in a place like Africa have to survive. They dont have the moneythat in my lifetime. So, while its good to see hardier ornamental for crop inputs, and they dont have irrigation for the most part.varieties becoming available, hopefully all home gardeners, and People here are taking notice of these things, that native plantsfarmers as well, will also learn about regenerative practices and are very hardy and resilient. use them.SW18/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2025'