About Bug Lovers Native Plants

Bug Lovers Native Plants is a small nursery based in Ashe County specializing in perennial wildflowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs grown from seed without the use of any pesticides. We only grow species native to North Carolina, particularly those found in the Appalachian Mountains. Our feed birds, pollinators, beneficial insects, and other wildlife. We believe in the importance of offering native plants which can provide benefits for both humans and our surrounding ecosystems. Our plants are high quality and acclimated to our regional climate - a benefit of being Appalachian grown! - We do not use pesticides of any kind. - We grow our plants from seed. This means our plants began their journey from germination to ready-for-sale all here in Ashe County by our nursery. Growing plants from seed saves the resources needed to ship them long-distances and ensures our sustainable practices are followed from germination onward. Seed grown plants are also less likely to transmit plant diseases. - Our plants are container-grown. We believe this reduces our overall footprint, allowing more space for native habitat and minimizing the risk of transmitting unwanted soil-pathogens. - Our plants are grown in fabric containers with fully-contained root systems, improving survival when transplanted to your home garden or landscape. - We use containers manufactured from 100% recycled plastic, plant-based fiber, or biodegradable coconut fiber. We are committed to using sustainably produced materials whenever possible, and we accept any of our plastic-fiber containers returned by customers to be carefully washed and reused in our nursery. - We do not dig or harvest wild plants for resale. Our seed is collected from our own nursery plants, with permission from local friends and neighbors, or purchased by authorized seed farms and nurseries. For NC Protected Plant species we follow all state rules and guidelines. - We use seed from local, North Carolina ecotypes whenever possible. Ecotype means that a plant is descended from a state or county specific population, with a genotype best adapted to our climate, seasons, photoperiod, and soil. Using local ecotypes may also improve the connection between native plants and wildlife, ensuring that flowers bloom when local pollinating insects need them most. We include state and county specific ecotype on our plant tags when possible. - Our plants are grown in a substrate of predominantly NC harvested pine bark and mushroom compost. We use some perlite and peat moss for seedlings, but replace peat moss with sustainable alternatives such as coconut coir fiber whenever possible. - We use minimal slow-release fertilizer for our plants, with organic alternatives as often as possible. Native plants generally prefer low-nutrient fertilizers and our operation footprint is small, reducing the likelihood of nutrient runoff into nearby streams and rivers. - Although groundwater systems are plentiful in the High Country, we believe in reducing water usage to reduce the impact of nutrient runoff in our water supply.