Despite being The Prairie State the Illinois and neighboring states’ prairies have been heavily converted due to human use, and many of those that remain are degraded. Research in the relatively new discipline of restoration ecology provides insights that practitioners use to restore diversity, function and resilience to these landscapes influenced by anthropogenic change. A critical function of many restoration projects is the promotion of a diverse plant community, which frequently requires the introduction of plant material such as seeds and plugs. The availability of appropriate material, in terms of species, origins and quantity, is a limiting factor. Climate change further complicates the matter as land managers try to locate seed to best match future conditions in an effort to increase the resilience of managed sites. Land managers are aware of the complexity of the issue, but the current literature is extensive and often inaccessible. A general review and synthesis of the current state of the science would bring needed guidance to practitioners and inform seed suppliers and researchers about gaps in native plant materials supply and research.

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