About WBN
Woolly Bear Natives is a small, queer-owned nursery located in Richmond, Virginia, dedicated to preserving local ecosystems by providing beloved and under-appreciated native plants that support wildlife, such as pollinating insects, birds, and mammals.
We've been gardeners in one form or another for over 15 years. From a small apartment balcony in the Fan, to a few square feet of bare soil in a sea of brick and asphalt, to a small 0.4 acre lot barely outside the city of Richmond. Through gardening we grew in touch with and learned the many shapes of life we built refuge for in our meager landscape. We learned through much trial and error about growing a great diversity of native plant species of Virginia.
But true addiction started with the bugs: bumble bees bumping into our cheeks, the bronze glittering of empty cicada shells, hawk moths convincing us they were hummingbirds, and woolly bear caterpillars napping under fallen autumn leaves. Virginia's native insects became the gateway for us dedicating our passion and knowledge to growing and supporting local native wildlife.
We established Woolly Bear Natives in 2024, a queer-owned native-only plant nursery in the Lakeside neighborhood of Richmond, VA. Two husbands on a mission to combat the decline of natural spaces and wildlife populations in the Greater Richmond region by offering locally occurring plant species to gardeners and landscapers, and though volunteering in our local community. In particular we promote a wide range of underutilized native plant species, and spread education about the incredible and indispensable relationships between plants and animals.
Our plants are grown to nursery standards to ensure they have the best chance of thriving in gardens. We grow without the use of systemic insecticides to prevent damage to insect populations and pollution of waterways.
95% of our nursery catalog is grown from seed originating from wild populations within the state of Virginia, a majority from within Henrico County and surrounding areas. A few species are sourced further afield, including from other small local ecotype native plant growers. We grow with seed from local provenance where possible, collected responsibly and with permission, keeping in mind conservation guidelines and protection of genetic diversity. Seed sold is grown in our own native garden; hand-collected, sorted, and cleaned.
Native plants and native insects are essential for a healthy ecosystem, and every plant or seed that makes its way into a garden or landscape is a win for us. If you have any questions about plants, bugs, or gardening, we would love to help you, so please reach out!