Consistent, High-Quality Nursery Stock.
Midwest's largest producer of native trees, shrubs and perennials. Developer of the RPM (Root Production Method)(R) growing system, producing plants with improved root systems, higher transplant survivability, accelerated growth and early fruit and nut production.
Forrest Keeling Nursery is the world-renowned originator of the RPM (root production method) RPM technology. Our patented RPM tree technology yields unsurpassed survivability and plant growth, which makes Forrest Keeling plants the benchmark for wetland restorations and large-scale installations in any application. In fact, superior growth rates make RPM trees the standards for problem-solving plantings including carbon sequestration, vegetative environmental buffers and reforestation.
Forrest Keeling Plants
Better seed sources, better plants
Forrest Keeling specializes in the production of native plant materials of unique quality as well as a full line of popular landscape-sized evergreens, trees, shrubs, ground covers and specimen trees. We take pride in our use of quality seed sources. The original geographic source of seed, also called, provenance, dictates characteristics such as dormancy periods, fruiting, flowering and leafing out, and hardiness. Each Forrest Keeling plant is tagged with tracking information that identifies its provenance. Knowing the plant's provenance helps insure selecting the best plant for your site. Some plants are included in special programs and display that program logo on their plant record. These include the Missouri Botanical Garden-Kemper CenterPlants of Merit and Grow Native! programs. The RPM logo with "Wetland Plant, MSD Approved" is displayed on Midwestern plants included in the St. Louis Metropolitan Stormwater Manual and Maryland Stormwater Management Guide. These plants are recommended plants for Midwest wetland projects, appropriate for wetland mitigation, streambank stabilization and related projects. Sort our available plants in ourPlant Search. by a variety of qualities including, Special Programs, Attributes, Exposure, or Soil Moisture Preference. Your sorted list can then be saved and printed.
Garden Center
A Great Destination for Gardeners!
Rain gardens, butterfly gardens, no-mow wildflower meadows. Many homeowners are looking to low-maintenance native plants and cultivars to improve their home landscapes.
Come see why Forrest Keeling's Garden Center is one of the Midwest's most unique garden centers. We offer a broad selection of native perennials, trees and shrubs as well as improved selections and cultivars. Come out and see us, it's worth it. We have:
- The Largest Selection of Midwest Natives
- Fruit Trees
- Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries
- Bulk and Packaged Garden Seed
- More than 500 species in stock
Applications
Tough-tested plants to meet any challenge!
There are almost as many applications for Forrest Keeling nursery stock as the number of species we grow. Wholesale nurseries and retail garden centers use our material for liners and direct sales. Countless successful conservation projects have made Forrest Keeling's RPM® tough-tested stock known as the standard for the most challenging sites.
Contact us for guidance in selecting species for applications including:
- Wetland restoration/mitigation
- Stream restoration/mitigation
- Agroforestry
- Reforestation
- Wildlife habitat creation & restoration
- Urban forestry
- Afforestation
- Biomass and biofuels production
- Biological corridors
- Water filtration
- Nutrient management
- Noise abatement
- Carbon sequestration
- Wetland banks
- Erosion control
- Watershed management
- Constructed wetlands
- Urban landscaping
- Odor control and abatement
- Mine reclamation
- Bio- and Phyto-remediation
- Reestablishing natives and rare species
- Custom growing for genetic preservation
- Nitrogen capture
- Germplasm Bank
- Coastal and shoreline restoration
- Windbreaks and snow fence
Resources and News
We're learning and growing every day
Learn more about Forrest Keeling's superior plants and their use from our handouts, as well as industry research and articles. Use these resources to guide you in proper plant selection and improved techniques for your projects.
We update this list regularly to bring you the most current information and welcome your submissions.