2026 May 24 Meadow City Native Plant Nursery Tour

When I first heard Julie Slater of Meadow City Native Plant Nursery speak at the Cleveland Metroparks Nature Forum in 2024, I was immediately inspired. At that time, I was a few years into native landscaping and I had made some mistakes trusting local nurseries for buying “native plants”. I didn’t know it at first, but the plants labeled “native” were actually cultivars that behaved differently than true natives and didn’t provide the same ecological benefits. Julie’s speech about locally sourced, seed-grown plants that were a true benefit to biodiversity was exactly what I needed to hear at that time. Yes! A local nursery that understands the importance of true native plants!

Meadow City is a hit for people and the environment!

Over the years, I started sourcing my plants and seeds with through my own research. I bought Meadow City plants at plant sales and I often referred friends to Meadow City…but I have to admit, I never went to the actual nursery! 

I love that the shade selection is just as vast as the full sun selection! This is a great place to source soft landing plants!

That all changed today. Diab Dar-Issa, the Cuyahoga County Coordinator for Wild Ones Greater Cleveland, set up a tour of Meadow City. Owners Alyssa, Dave and Julie each gave a little presentation, and I learned something I never knew before from each of them. 

Dave Tomashefski brought us to a shady “soft landing” garden under a maple tree. He shared the plants that do well and their benefits to the insects. I didn’t know that most caterpillars that host on trees make their cocoons below the tree in the leaf litter or vegetation or the cocoons fall from the trees. I knew that some did, and that planting under trees provided them a “soft-landing” for overwintering, but I didn’t know that was the majority. I hope to plant many more soft landings in the future. I now have more ideas for plants that grow well under the trees! White Wood Aster Eurybia divaricata is now on my list!

Julie Slater showing us her seed pods in the seed garden.

Julie Slater then showed a bunch of different seed pods and highlighted the differences in stratification. I had never heard of Twoleaf Miterwort Mitella diphylla, but the little seeds in the seed pods were darling to examine up close. Since Meadow City was founded by serious ecologists, their seed selection, organization and propagation methods are highly scientific. Biodiversity and restoration is at the heart of their enterprise. 

Carefully sourced local seeds are the key to biodiversity!

Alyssa Zearly presented some awesome ways they propagate perennials, shrubs and trees that are meant to take root and last! They use specialized pots for air pruning the roots. This will avoid the terrible problem of pot-bound circles of roots that eventually kill a plant. So often we plant trees and find out years later it had girdled roots when they suddenly die. Their methods should avoid that problem. Also, the pots are reusable!

Alyssa showing us the air pot design for trees and shrubs that actually transplant well.

Overall, this was an amazing experience! There is nothing but love for Meadow City!