Native Connections

What Native Connections does

Native Connections is a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based native seed producer specializing in Michigan genotype grasses, sedges, and wildflowers for restoration and landscaping projects. The company grows its own stock across nearly 100 acres of production fields around Kalamazoo, hand-collecting source seed from remnant populations in southern Michigan and maintaining species source certification through the Michigan Crop Improvement Association. Seed is dried, cleaned through multi-step processes, stored in a temperature- and humidity-controlled warehouse cooler, and tested by independent labs for purity and germination before being sold by Pure Live Seed (PLS) percentage rather than bulk weight.

The product portfolio is built around three core offerings: pre-formulated Standard Seed Mixes (prairie, wetland, working/functional, woodland, and pollinator variants), Custom Seed Mixes formulated from nearly 500 species of grasses and wildflowers based on site conditions and project criteria, and Individual Species sales of Michigan genotype grasses and wildflowers. The company also publishes a Cultural Guide and Planting Guidelines reflecting more than 25 years of field experience across thousands of acres.

Commercial revenue is generated through two distinct channels: a sales-led motion in which contractors, engineering firms, landscape architects, and project designers request custom quotes via phone (269.459.6900) or email for right-of-way, solar array, pipeline, brownfield, DNR, and corporate natural area projects, and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce webstore (shop.nativeconnections.net) serving homeowners and landowners purchasing smaller pre-designed mixes and individual species at unit pricing. Pricing is pay-as-you-go with custom quotes for enterprise buyers and a 2.9% credit card surcharge on retail transactions; the company is privately held by owner Jared Foster, who acquired the seed business from founder Jerry Stewart in 2017 after the founder's prior Lawnscape Plus, Inc. was rebranded into Native Connections in 2001.

Name

Native Connections

Legal name

Native Connections

Website

https://nativeconnections.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Native Connections is a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based native seed producer that grows and sells Michigan genotype grasses, wildflowers, and custom seed mixes to commercial contractors and homeowners across the Midwest for restoration and landscaping projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Native Seed Production

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Conditioning & Processing (Cleaning, Grading, Treating) (AFAGAIAH), Open-Pollinated/Varietal Seed Multiplication (AFAGAIAE), Seed Distribution & Wholesale (Channel Sales) (AFAGAIAM), Turf & Ornamental Seeds (Lawn, Golf, Landscaping) (AFABAFAG)

Keywords

• Native seed production
• Michigan genotype seeds
• Custom seed mixes
• Prairie restoration seeds
• Native wildflower seeds

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalamazoo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Seed Mix Sales: Sales of pre-formulated standard seed mixes and custom seed mixes to commercial and residential customers. Mixes include prairie mixes, wetland mixes, woodland mixes, pollinator mixes, and working mixes.
2. Individual Species Sales: Sale of individual native grass and wildflower species, particularly Michigan genotype grasses produced for over 10 years.
3. Custom Mix Formulation: Custom seed mix design services for engineering firms, landscape architects, and project designers based on site conditions and project criteria.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Native Connections produces and sells Michigan genotype native grass and wildflower seeds through three main lines: pre-formulated Standard Seed Mixes (prairie, wetland, working, woodland, pollinator variants), Custom Seed Mixes designed for specific site conditions, and Individual Species seeds. The company also provides commercial seed mix specification and consultation services for contractors, engineers, and landscape architects, plus educational resources including planting guidelines and a cultural guide.

Product overview

Native Connections is a native seed production company specializing in Michigan genotype native grass and wildflower seeds. The core product portfolio consists of three main offerings: Standard Seed Mixes (pre-formulated mixes for prairie, wetland, working/functional, woodland, and pollinator applications), Custom Seed Mixes (tailored formulations based on site conditions), and Individual Species (sold separately for specific planting needs). The company also provides complementary services including commercial seed mix consultation, site consultations, and educational resources such as planting guidelines and a comprehensive cultural guide. Products are sold primarily through a retail webstore and direct contact for custom orders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Seed Mixes Pre-formulated native seed mixes designed for various site conditions including prairie, wetland, working (raingarden/stormwater), woodland, and pollinator applications. Available in basic and diverse variants for residential and commercial landscaping and restoration.
• Custom Seed Mixes Custom-formulated seed mixes created based on specific site conditions (moisture, soil, sun exposure) and project criteria (budget, height, stability). Custom mixes leverage access to nearly 500 species of grasses and wildflowers.
• Individual Species Individual Michigan genotype native grass and wildflower seeds sold separately, including Big Bluestem, Canada Wild Rye, Switchgrass, Little Bluestem, and Indiangrass, primarily for commercial projects and specialized plantings.
• Commercial Seed Mix Specification and Consultation Seed mix specification and consultation services for wholesale contractors, engineering firms, landscape architects, and project designers, including site visits for select projects and custom mix design recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ years of field experience and thousands of acres planted

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Native Plant GuildminorOthersNative Connections is a member of the Native Plant Guild, a group of Michigan businesses and organizations offering a range of ecological landscaping services. The guild provides referrals for customers needing native plant resources beyond seed supply, such as nurseries and installers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wildseed Farms: Larger-scale wildflower and native grass seed producer based in Texas with national distribution. Competes in the broader native seed market though its primary focus and geography differ from Native Connections' Michigan specialization.
• Applewood Seed Company: General flower, herb, and native grass seed company offering custom blending and contract growing. Broader portfolio than Native Connections but competes for commercial restoration and landscape seed contracts.

Direct peers

• Ernst Conservation Seeds: Established native seed producer offering a broad catalog of grasses, wildflowers, and custom mixes for restoration projects. Operates at meaningfully larger scale than Native Connections but competes directly for the same contractor/engineer RFPs.
• S&S Seeds: California-based native seed collector and producer serving restoration and landscaping projects. Similar custom mix and species-by-spec sales model, though focused on California native species.
• Allendan Seed Company: Native seed producer focused on regional genotypes for prairie, wetland, and conservation plantings. Similar mix of standard mixes, custom blends, and individual species sales.
• Prairie Moon Nursery: Direct competitor selling native seeds and plants, including custom mixes, with a similar mix of retail and wholesale customers in the Upper Midwest. Highly comparable product breadth and regional focus on native plant restoration.
• Prairie Nursery: Native plant nursery and seed supplier with a focus on prairie and meadow restoration across the Upper Midwest. Comparable product mix (seeds, plants, custom designs) and customer base of restoration professionals and homeowners.
• Roundstone Native Seed: Native seed company producing locally sourced genotype seeds for restoration and conservation, with custom mix design services. Closely comparable business model serving commercial restoration contractors.

Emerging players

• Heritage Flower Farm: Native plant and seed producer with online retail and custom design services for residential and small commercial projects. Smaller scale than Native Connections with a more direct-to-consumer orientation.

Regional players

• Michigan Wildflower Farm: Michigan-based native plant nursery and seed supplier with overlapping customer base in the same geography. Comparable regional positioning and native plant focus, though with a stronger plant nursery offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Native.ConnectionsMI
• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesnativeseed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/native-connections

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Native Connections