Many shrub species are not available commercially, so gathering seed and growing your own plants may be the only way to get them. Interesting or unusual shrubs from a neighbor's yard or from the wild can be propagated from seed. Shrubs started from seed also may be less expensive than commercially produced seedlings. I presents information on seed collection and treatment for a number of native and non-native shrub species. Several terms and techniques are mentioned in the table or elsewhere that need further explanation.
Germination is the emergence of the embryo or seedling from the seed.
Seeds must be mature and kept under proper conditions for germination to occur. If seeds do not germinate soon after planting, they probably are dormant. Dormancy is an embryo condition that keeps a seed from germinating before it is ready. Internal dormancy occurs because the seed is not chemically ready to germinate. Seed-coat dormancy or external dormancy is caused by a hard seed coat that does not allow water or oxygen to reach the embryo.