Many prairie plants grow easily from seed, but there are some ways that native seed differs from most seed sold by commercial garden seed suppliers.
Native plants are genetically diverse.
Generally, native prairie plants have not been manipulated by plant bleeders to select for particular characteristics, such as flower size or form. In this dormant form, the young plant is very resistant to adverse environmental conditions such as dry air or extreme cold. Once the seed germinates, however, the plant is at its most please vulnerable stage. It is subject to damage by cold, heat, and lack of water. For these reasons, plants possess many mechanisms to ensure that the seed will germinate when it is likely to encounter enough moisture, warmth, and light to grow and mature.