Bringing Restoration to Life - One Bare Root at a Time
When it comes to restoring native landscapes or designing resilient gardens, bare root native plants are one of the most powerful - and affordable - tools available. Whether you’re planting Virginia Bluebell bare roots for a woodland restoration or adding ferns to a shady backyard, bare roots make it easy to grow native from the ground up.
What Are Bare Root Native Plants?
Bare root plants are live perennials, ferns, or trees shipped without soil while dormant. Their roots are kept moist and cool until planting, allowing them to establish naturally in the soil. Because they skip the potting stage, bare roots are lighter, easier to transport, and often larger then plug material, and more affordable than containerized stock
Why Professionals and Expert Homeowners Choose Bare Roots
1. Cost-Effective for Large or Small Projects
Bare roots cost a fraction of container-grown plants, making them ideal for large-scale restoration, municipal plantings, or budget-friendly home landscaping.
2. Root Systems
Bare roots adapt quickly to native soils and develop deep, strong root systems - critical for long-term success and drought tolerance.
3. Sustainable and Low Waste
Bare roots ship with minimal packaging and zero plastic pots, helping reduce environmental impact and landfill waste.
4. Easier Storage and Transport
Lightweight and compact, bare roots can be stored temporarily in cool conditions and shipped efficiently perfect for restoration crews or homeowners planning seasonal installs. If you need to temporarily store them prior to installation, just keep them in a cool and dark environment. They can keep in your fridge for weeks!
5. Rare Woodland Ephemerals
Tough to find native woodland ephemerals can be commonly found with our bare roots. You can find these species in seed, but success with seed is often limited ot can take 10 years or more with the slow growing plants. Bare roots provide immediate success for these rare to find oak woodland ephemerals.
6. Beachfront Stabilization
Have you been looking for a sustainable way and an inexpensive way to stabilize your great lakes beach front? Marram grass is the best way to do that. Its great for stabilizing sand dunes and beach front, and for providing critical rare habitat.
When to Plant Bare Root Natives
The best time to plant bare roots is early spring or fall, when soil is moist and temperatures are cool. This timing allows roots to establish before top growth emerges — leading to stronger, healthier plants by summer. Summer is also acceptable, jut make sure you keep those plants watered.
Best Bare Root Native Plants for Restoration and Landscaping
Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Bare Roots
A classic spring ephemeral that brings pollinators to woodland areas. Perfect for shaded landscapes, rain gardens, and stream edges. Amazingly, this plant also work great in full sun native landscaping as well.
Native Fern Bare Roots
Species like Christmas Fern and Lady Fern provide year-round texture and stabilize soil in shaded restoration areas.
Woodland Ephemeral Bare Roots
Plants like Trillium, Bloodroot, and Celadine Poppy bloom early, support pollinators, and disappear gracefully as trees leaf out.
How to Plant Bare Root Native Plants
- Soak roots in water for 1–2 hours before planting.
- Dig a wide hole and spread roots naturally.
- Position the crown slightly below soil level.
- Water thoroughly and add a light mulch.
- Be patient — bare roots often leaf out later than container plants as their natural cycle can be a bit off from their long slumber. This is normal and they will wake up and take off soon to fill in your space.
Bare Roots in Action
From large-scale prairie restorations to backyard pollinator gardens, bare root natives make it possible to plant more, waste less, and restore faster. Their affordability and adaptability help practitioners and homeowners alike make meaningful ecological impact.
FAQs: Bare Root Native Plants
Q1: What are the advantages of bare root native plants?
They’re affordable, sustainable, and establish deeper root systems than potted plants, making them ideal for restoration and landscaping.
Q2: When should I plant bare root natives?
Early spring and fall are the best planting windows for strong root establishment before extreme heat or frost. Bare roots should be planted in the ground as soon as they are received, even if there is a chance of snow or frost.
Q3: Are bare roots good for woodland or prairie projects?
Yes! Bare roots work beautifully in woodland, prairie, and lakefront and dune restoration projects due to their adaptability and deep-rooting habits. They are ideal for large-scale projects like reforestation and habitat enhancement, as they can be transported and planted easily, even by volunteers.
Q4: Which native species are available as bare roots?
Natural Communities has a variety of bare roots options for sale. Popular options include Virginia Bluebells, Trillium, Lady Fern, Midland Shooting Star , and Marram Grass – American Beach Grass. Discover our selection of bare-root shrubs, plants and ferns that are ready to thrive
Q5: Are there disadvantages of using bare roots?
The disadvantages of bare-root plants include a very short, limited optimal planting window, usually only in late fall or early spring before they leaf out. They are also more vulnerable to drying out and require planting immediately after purchase to prevent root desiccation.
Q6: Does Natural Communities sell bare roots?
Yes, Natural Communities offers a wide selection of native plants in bare-root form, which can be more cost-effective than potted plants.
Q7: What does care look like for bare roots after I have planted them?
Water newly planted bare roots thoroughly and keep soil consistently moist (not saturated) for the first four to six weeks. Apply a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid fertilizing during the first season native bare roots don’t require added nutrients and can be sensitive to over-fertilization. Once established, water only during prolonged drought and allow the plants to naturalize at their own pace.
Q8: How do I plant and care for native grass or sedge bare roots?
When working with native grass or sedge seed — such as American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata), Prairie Dropseed, or Fox Sedge — prepare the soil by removing existing vegetation and lightly loosening the top layer. Sow seed at or near the surface in fall or early spring, and press it gently into the soil without burying deeply. Consistent moisture during germination is key. Water plugs and dunk bare roots in water before planting.
- If the area is prone to flooding, you may need to raise the planting bed or implement erosion control measures.
- Be patient! It takes time for marram grass to establish itself.
Take the Next Step
Explore our growing collection of bare root native plants — from Virginia Bluebell bare roots to native ferns and woodland ephemerals. Every root planted helps restore biodiversity, protect soil, and strengthen our shared ecosystems.