Southeastern MA, Cape & Islands

Regional Organizations to Know

Association to Preserve Cape Cod

482 Main Street, Dennis, MA 02638  |  508-619-3185  |  info@apcc.org
A non-profit environmental advocacy organization, APCC promotes protection of the Cape’s natural resources. They offer a variety of educational programs and resources.

Botanical Club of Cape Cod and the Islands

Box 423, Woods Hole, MA 02543
You can join the Botanical Club for meetings and field trips to explore the unique flora and ecology of the regions.

Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod & Pollinator Pathway Plymouth

pollinatorpathwaycapecod@gmail.com  ~  sustainableplymouth@gmail.com
These initiative brings together a coalition of organizations dedicated to expanding pollinator habitat and wildlife corridors across Cape Cod and Plymouth respectively.

Polly Hill Arboretum (Martha's Vineyard)

809 State Road, West Tisbury MA 02575 |  508-693-9426  |  info@pollyhillarboretum.org
A great place to visit and explore. They run educational programs, do research, maintain an herbarium, and sell plants at their Visitor Center from Memorial through Columbus Day.

Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance

158 Center Hill Road in Plymouth, MA  |  774-773-9982  |  sempba@pinebarrensalliance.org
Promoting environmental understanding and conservation of the globally rare Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens.

Resources for Plant Selection

Association to Preserve Cape Cod: Native Plant Finder

This online database uses a variety of search criteria to help identify native plant species well suited to Cape Cod landscapes, including site requirements, general plant characteristics, and comments on ecological function. Includes over 60 species available in the landscape trade, exclusively native.

Polly Hill Arboretum: Plant Selection Guide

This comprehensive database— useful to those on Cape Cod, the Islands, and in coastal areas of Southeastern Massachusetts— includes a large number of search criteria. It includes both native and non-native plants present in the landscape — so remember to select BOTH “MV native” and “US Native” to get a comprehensive list of native plant options.

Useful Plant Lists for the Coastal Region

• Acceptable Plantings for Buffers to Resource Areas: Brewster Conservation Commission
• Coastal Landscaping in Massachusetts Plant List: Office of Coastal Zone Management
• Native Plants Recommended for Homeowners and Planners in Plymouth County Massachusetts: SEMPBA
• Native Plants Suitable for the Cape Cod Cultivated Landscape
• Trees and Shrubs for Coastal Environments: Cape Cod Cooperative Extension

Find additional databases for native plant searches here.

Flora & Fauna Databases

Native Gardens to Visit

Local Nurseries and Sources of Native Plants

• Sylvan Nursery  |  1028 Horseneck Road, Westport, MA 02790  |  508-636-4573
  Primarily a wholesale nursery, but open to retail customers 3 days/week. Not exclusively native.
  They have a large selection of plants in a wide range of sizes, and are an especially good source for this region. Very strong on sand and salt tolerant plants for coastal habitats. Their sales people do not help you select species; retail purchases are self-service only.
• Polly Hill Arboretum  |  809 State Road, West Tisbury, MA 02575 – Martha’s Vineyard  |  508-693-9426
  Retail nursery with both native and non-native plants. Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend.
  Their MV Wildtype Program supplies the nursery with native plants grown from island-sourced seed or cuttings.
• Cape Abilities Farm  |  458 Rte 6A in Dennis, MA  |  508-385-2538
  Farm market open seasonally with some native plants.
  This nonprofit organization has programs and services for people with disabilities across Cape Cod. Along with fresh produce and flowers, they sell trees and shrubs that include a selection of one gallon native perennials suitable for Cape Cod gardens.

Check out our complete listing of the best sources we know for procuring native plants, both in Massachusetts and beyond.

Nurseries and Seed Sources