Curious Cotyledons: Identifying Native Plant Seedlings

Presented by Dr. Randi Eckel

Here’s a challenge! Although many of us are great at identifying mature wildflowers and other native plants, seedling identification can be difficult at best, and resources for seedling ID are few and far between. During this workshop, we will look at the seedlings of many native plants, both those with and without unique characteristics. Randi will also share resources available for native plant seedling identification and provide guidelines for identification in the field.

About Randi: Dr. Randi Eckel has been working with native plants for over 40 years, and she founded the mail-order native plant nursery Toadshade Wildflower Farm in 1996 to further public awareness and availability of native plants. A life-long naturalist, lover of nature, entomologist, and confirmed plant and ecology nerd, Randi specializes in the interactions between plants and other living things. She is known for her lively and engaging lectures and workshops on growing and propagating native plants, and offers interesting, nuanced information on the complex issues facing native plants and native plant communities. She is the past president (and is currently serving as a vice president) of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey.