Each summer, the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library hosts a series of free native plant giveaways, where we accept donations of native plants. The library only accepts donations of native, straight species that are native to Ontario and Quebec. This is very important for ensuring the integrity of the library’s inventory of seeds.
Determining whether your plants are natives or cultivars
- A good first step is to identify your plant and use VASCAN to determine if it is native. VASCAN is the resource that the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library uses to determine whether a species is native to Ontario or Quebec. This video by Sundaura Alford-Purvis is a good resource to learn how to navigate VASCAN.
- Once you’ve determined that your plant is native, use this spreadsheet to determine if there are cultivars that exist of the native species.
- If there are no cultivars, you can donate the plant without knowing the source.
- If the spreadsheet identifies that there are cultivars, please only donate the plant if you can identify the source and there are no known cultivars in your garden or in close proximity. This page lists the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library’s trusted sources. If you got your plant from these sources, then you can donate the plant. If you got your plant for a source not listed as a trusted source by the library, contact the library to inquire whether your plants are acceptable for donation.
All donations to the library require this form to be filled out and submitted with the donation.
How to package plants for donation
If you are donating plants that have been split from established plants in your gardens, the best way to bring them to the plant giveaways is to bring them in buckets of water. This helps to wash the roots, which prevents the spread of diseases and invasive species. It also reduces costs and waste.
If you are donating seedlings that you winter sowed, do not transplant them. Bring them to the plant giveaways in pots.
This video on our YouTube channel provides more information about what containers to use to donate plants and seedlings.