Seeds of Success (SOS)

Seeds of Success (SOS) is a conservation and restoration program focused on collecting, conserving, and banking seeds of native plants from the United States. The program was introduced in 2001 by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in partnership with the Millennium Seed Bank. It was created to address the need for genetically appropriate, locally adapted native plant materials for use in stabilizing and restoring natural areas across the United States. Since its founding, SOS has collected seeds from more than six thousand accessions, building a substantial repository of native plant genetic material. The seeds gathered through SOS serve multiple purposes. They are used in habitat restoration efforts, research on seed viability, and the development of seed handling and germination protocols. A portion of the collections is also stored in seed banks for long-term conservation, ensuring that native plant diversity remains available for future restoration and research needs. The program operates through a network of partners and collaborating organizations, including Botanic Gardens Conservation International (U.S. section), Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Center for Plant Conservation, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Millennium Seed Bank, New England Wild Flower Society, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Plant Conservation Alliance, and the United States Botanic Garden. As a program rather than a conventional commercial brand, SOS functions as a public conservation initiative under the BLM. Its "products" are native seed collections and the ecological restoration outcomes they enable. The program emphasizes the importance of using regionally adapted seed sources to maintain ecosystem integrity and resilience. Through its partnerships and seed banking activities, Seeds of Success supports federal land management goals, scientific research, and broader biodiversity conservation across the United States.

Seeds of Success (SOS) was introduced in 2001 by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in collaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank. The program was established to collect and conserve seeds of native plants from the United States, addressing a growing need for genetically appropriate plant materials for restoration and rehabilitation of natural areas. Following its launch, other organizations joined the initiative, expanding its reach and capacity. Since 2001, SOS has collected seeds from more than six thousand accessions. These collections have been used for habitat restoration attempts, research into seed viability, and studies of seed handling protocols. Seeds are also stored in seed banks for long-term use, contributing to global conservation efforts. The program operates through a network of partners and collaborating organizations, including Botanic Gardens Conservation International (U.S. section), Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Center for Plant Conservation, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Millennium Seed Bank, New England Wild Flower Society, North Carolina Botanical Garden, Plant Conservation Alliance, and the United States Botanic Garden. The program's history reflects a broader movement in the United States toward using native plant materials in ecological restoration on public lands. By coordinating seed collection across multiple agencies and institutions, SOS has helped standardize practices for seed collection, curation, and banking. Its work supports federal land management objectives, scientific research, and biodiversity conservation. The program continues to operate as a key source of native seed for restoration projects across the United States.

• 2001

  Seeds of Success introduced by the Bureau of Land Management in collaboration with the Millennium Seed Bank.

• Program has collected seeds from more than six thousand accessions since 2001.

A public-private conservation partnership program providing native seeds for ecological restoration and long-term conservation.

• Native seed collections

  Seeds collected from native plants across the United States for restoration and research.

• Seed banking

  Long-term storage of seeds in seed banks for conservation.

1. 1Seeds of Success (SOS) - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Seeds of Success - Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org