How Native Seeds Strengthen California Fire Restoration

Inspired by NBC’s Coverage Featuring Hedgerow Farms

California continues to face wildfire seasons that grow more destructive each year. Land managers, agencies, and restoration contractors need reliable and ecologically sound solutions that help burned landscapes recover quickly and support long-term resilience. Native seed plays a critical role in that process.

Recently, NBC News featured Hedgerow Farms, one of NativeSeed Group’s vertically integrated companies, to highlight the fire-resistant properties of native plants and their importance in California’s fire-prone ecosystems. The segment clearly demonstrates what restoration professionals already know: native plants are some of the most effective tools for rebuilding fire-impacted landscapes.

Below is a recap of the insights shared in the NBC coverage and how Native Seed Group can support your post-fire restoration projects across California.

Watch the NBC Feature

Hedgerow Farms was featured in an NBC News story discussing why native plants matter for fire resilience and landscape recovery.
The video also explains how native plants ignite more slowly than many non-native species and how they help stabilize burned terrain.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ME4FnE4WHM

Why Native Plants Are Essential for Post-Fire Recovery

Native plants are naturally adapted to fire

California’s native vegetation evolved in fire-influenced ecosystems. Many species contain higher internal moisture, thicker stems, and adaptive traits that make them slower to ignite and less likely to contribute to fast-moving fire behavior. This gives restoration teams a more stable foundation to rebuild from.

Native plants support natural regeneration

Many native plants recover after a fire through deep roots, persistent seedbanks, or fire-cued germination. Their ability to regenerate helps stabilize soil, control erosion, and restore ecological function more quickly than unfamiliar or non-adapted species.

Native seed prevents invasive takeover

Burn scars are highly vulnerable to invasive grasses. These grasses grow fast, dry out early, and dramatically increase the likelihood of future fires. Using native seed immediately after a fire helps ensure that local, fire-adapted plant communities re-establish before invasives can dominate the site.

How NativeSeed Group Supports Fire-Restoration Work

NativeSeed Group brings together multiple regional seed companies with decades of experience in California habitat restoration, including Hedgerow Farms, Granite Seed, and Pacific Coast Seed. This combined expertise allows us to provide high-quality, regionally adapted seed that supports successful fire recovery.

Region-specific California native seed

We supply species and mixes tailored to California’s diverse eco-regions, with genetics selected to perform well in local climate and soil conditions.

Fire-recovery seed mixes

Our blends are designed for soil stabilization, erosion control, competition against invasive species, and long-term ecological restoration.

Project support and guidance

We work directly with agencies, municipalities, private landowners, and restoration contractors to select species, plan implementation, and provide support throughout the restoration process.

Quality from field to facility

All seed is cleaned, tested, and processed to meet the standards required for professional-scale restoration work.

Best Practices for Seeding After Wildfire

Timing and careful preparation are key to success. Below are several recommendations for post-fire seeding:

- Seed as early as possible before invasive annual grasses take hold.

- Prepare the site to ensure good seed-to-soil contact and proper erosion control.

- Choose species that match the reference ecosystem and local eco-region.

- Use appropriate mixes of grasses, forbs, and shrubs to support long-term recovery.

- Monitor the site after seeding and adjust as needed for invasive pressure or environmental factors.

Building More Fire-Resilient Landscapes

The story featured by NBC underscored an important message: fire-adapted ecosystems recover best when restored with the native plants that evolved there. Native Seed Group is uniquely positioned to support these efforts by providing seed that is genetically matched, ecologically appropriate, and backed by decades of expertise.

If you are managing a fire-recovery project in California, we can help you source native seed, design the right mix, and support your restoration goals.

Contact us today to get started on your next project.