Where To Find Native Plants
The Upstate Native Nursery
SCNPS Upstate Native Nursery
The Upstate Native Nursery (UNN) is an initiative of the Upstate chapter of SCNPS. The purpose of the UNN is to facilitate the overall SCNPS Mission by growing and distributing native plants that support our local ecosystems, but are often hard to find. We offer plants native to the Piedmont and Blue Ridge ecoregions of SC and neighboring states.
In the interest of promoting genetic diversity, we prioritize propagation with locally field-collected seed.
Credit: Doug Lockard
Join the Greenhouse Gang
UNN Manager Cathy McCurdy schedules half-day workshops to propagate seeds, divide & re-pot plants, take cuttings, and other activities which enable us to grow up to 4,000 plants a year.
Come join the fun by volunteering and learn about native plants while contributing to this incredibly beneficial effort.
No skills or commitment required, just let Cathy know you’d like to be on the mailing list for upcoming events. Come try it out!
The Upstate Native Nursery in Greenville, SC
Visit the UNN
The UNN is located within the Conestee Nature Preserve adjacent to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, just minutes from downtown. The site can accessed via either the SWT or trails from within the Conestee preserve, but best from Henderson Ave if you plan to purchase plants.
We’re open year-round by e-mail appointment based on volunteer availability. Purchases are by checks or credit card only.
John Fritz and Rick Huffman helping shoppers with expert advice! Credit: Doug Lockard
Native Plant Sales
Our plant sales take a lot of effort, but the more volunteers, the easier and more fun it is. We need admissions, loaders, trucks and trailers, tent erectors, fence builders, waterers, sign makers, cashiers, and lots of other help to make each sale possible. Kathy Harrington is our Sales Chair and she posts the volunteer positions needed, a schedule, and a sign-up sheet for each sale. She’ll be very happy to hear from you! Join the Team
Credit: Doug Lockard
Be a Home Grower
Although we grow most of our plats at the UNN, and purchase some, many of our plants are donated by our team of home growers. If you’re a gardener and enjoy growing, we’d like to invite you to join the team that make annual contributions to our inventory. Contact our UNN Manager Cathy McCurdy to discuss what species you have or we need and what our schedule is for the coming year. This is a great way for those of you with a green thumb to make your contribution!
The UNN Seed Envelope Art by Gina Asalon
Seed Harvesting
An important aspect of the UNN’s success is our focus on gathering native seeds from those genotype plants that grow in our area, not from other areas. Another great way to contribute is to join our team that go out twice a year to harvest seeds as they mature, then bring them back to the UNN and clean them and store them in accordance with their stratification needs. In addition to utilizing these seeds for propagation of plants at the UNN, they will also be packaged for distribution by sale or donation to the Upstate community. And finally, this effort represents a multigenerational database of knowledge of where our true natives can be found and ethically harvested. Contact our Seed Bank Coordinator for more information on the Seed Bank.