Press Release: 10/23/2026
Barnstable County Awarded $51,363.50 to Help Local Growers Bring More Cape Cod Native Plants to Market
Originally published: 10/22/2026
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and APCC partner on research and education to expand native plant options for gardens and landscapes.
October 22, 2026 (Barnstable, MA) – Barnstable County has received a $51,363 state-administered grant to help local growers produce more native plants for Cape Cod gardens and landscapes. Led by the County’s Cape Cod Cooperative Extension in partnership with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), the three-year project will address a common challenge: many plants native to the Cape are difficult to find at local nurseries and garden centers.
The funding comes through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. The project will provide research, training, and practical guidance to help growers bring more locally adapted native plants to market.
Local Need and Impact
Cape Cod’s sandy soils, pitch pine trees, and scrub oak are part of a distinctive natural landscape known as the Atlantic coastal pine barrens. Many plants native to this landscape also have potential for home gardens and public spaces, where they can provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds, and other beneficial wildlife.
Many of these species also have potential for residential gardens, commercial landscapes, and public spaces. Yet some remain difficult to find commercially, in part because growers lack reliable information about how to produce them successfully.
The new project will help close that gap by studying how native plants germinate, grow in nursery settings, and perform once established in landscapes. The findings will help local growers expand their offerings while giving residents more opportunities to choose plants that support Cape Cod’s natural environment.
“This project will give growers, nurseries, and landscape professionals practical guidance to bring more Cape Cod native plants to market, while helping gardeners learn how to use them successfully,” said Russell Norton, Horticulturist and Extension Educator with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension.
What the Grant Will Deliver
The project, titled “Advancing Native Ornamentals in the Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens,” will run from December 2026 through September 2029. It will support:
- Native plant growing trials: Study several native species to learn how to start them from seed, raise them in nurseries, and grow them successfully in landscapes.
- Workshops for local growers: Share findings with farmers, nursery staff, plant retailers, and landscape professionals.
- Resources for gardeners: Create materials explaining the benefits of native plants and how to use them in gardens and public spaces.
- Public access to findings: Share research results and growing guidance through Extension’s website and partner outreach.
Researchers will focus on plants that are underused, difficult to grow, or not widely available for sale. Trials will examine growing conditions such as soil, water, and sunlight.
Building a Local Supply of Native Plants
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension will lead the research and develop guidance for growers and gardeners. APCC will support the effort through grower workshops and its work to strengthen the region’s native plant supply.
APCC is also developing a regional seed collection program designed to provide growers with responsibly collected native seeds while protecting wild plant populations. This work builds on its Cape Cod Native Plant Growers Cooperative, which connects growers working to increase the availability of locally produced native plants.
Buy Fresh Buy Local Cape Cod, an Extension program that connects residents with local farms and agricultural producers, will help promote workshops, research findings, and opportunities for growers to participate.
“We are excited about the opportunity to expand our vision of empowering local growers of native plants in partnership with the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. Growing plants that belong here from seed will help support the Cape’s biodiversity and keep dollars local,” said Kristin Andres, APCC director for education.
Next Steps
Initial work will include selecting plant species, preparing research supplies, and developing educational materials. Workshop opportunities and research findings will be shared as the project progresses.
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CAPE COD COOPERATIVE EXTENSION: Cape Cod Cooperative Extension is the education department for Barnstable County. Educational programs focus on agriculture, marine resources, horticulture, aquaculture, natural resources, water quality, recycling, household hazardous waste, nutrition, food safety, youth development, and environmental education issues facing the county. Extension programs are conducted in Barnstable County in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts and The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution–Sea Grant program. Learn more at www.capecod.gov/extension.