Shaker Trace Nursery

Seeds of more than 200 species of native plants are harvested and processed for restoration projects throughout the park district. Volunteers help to plant and maintain beds, harvest, and process native seeds, which are stored in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment until they’re needed for habitat restoration projects.

Great Parks harvests an average of 300 pounds of native seed and germinates and grows between 8,000–14,000 new plants for the nursery beds each year. To make sure we utilize the most appropriate genotype for restoration; the seeds originate from natural areas within a 100-mile radius of Hamilton County. In this sense, Great Parks is the steward of priceless genetic strains that are not commercially available. These native plants – including milkweed, swamp thistle, purple giant hyssop, whorled rosinweed and Ohio spiderwort – are genetically acclimated to this climate and soil type so they are ideal for restoring local habitats.

The work at Shaker Trace Nursery would not be possible without the continued support from our amazing volunteers. This dedicated group has donated thousands of hours of labor to operate the greenhouse, plant seedlings, weed nursery beds, and collect and process seeds. 

We could use your help! Learn more about becoming a Great Parks volunteer.

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Shaker Trace Nursery was created in the spring of 1992 to aid in the restoration of prairie and wetland habitats on several hundred acres of farmland in Miami Whitewater Forest. The project began when several park volunteers assisted Great Parks in hand-collecting seeds of native plants from sites within 100 miles of Hamilton County. During the winter and early spring of 1992, seeds of 68 species were grown in donated greenhouse space throughout Hamilton County. Later that spring, a total of 43,000 seedlings were hand-planted in nursery beds. Each year, beds are improved and new beds are added to accommodate additional native plant species. With the addition of select woodland natives, nursery staff and volunteers now work with more than 200 species of native plants.