About Us
Prairie Originals was started in 1990 in St. Andrews, just north of Winnipeg, by Shirley Froehlich. She did a lot of landscaping there with native plants, however she eventually ran out of space.

So in 2005 they moved to 27 Bunns Road, a 5-acre property on the east side of the river between Lockport and Selkirk, Manitoba. The new property was an old hayfield, so part of it was converted to a retail and container growing area and to stock beds for collecting seed. There is also a shade house, where our woodland stock plants for shade reside. We have established several display gardens and demonstration prairies over the last few years.

In 2015 Shirley retired and Kelly Leask took over management of Prairie Originals. In 2020 Kelly became the new owner. We will continue to operate at 27 Bunns Rd. for the start of the 2024 season, but plans are in the works to move to a new location where we will have more space for growing plants, producing seeds and creating opportunities for people to connect with prairie plants. Stay tuned for updates as plans progress!

If you are not sure which plants grow well together, how many plants you need or which plants will suit your site we would be happy to help.

Plant Benches

Plant Benches Closeup

You are welcome to come and tour the stock beds, display gardens and demonstration prairies from May to September during regular business hours.

Our Plants

Prairie Originals grows about 150 species of native plants in our plant nursery. Our plants are almost all grown from seed with the vast majority of seed collected from our own stock beds. A few varieties are propagated by division. Our seed was originally collected from local areas around Manitoba. Shirley learned how to propagate native plants by reading and a lot of trial and error. We continue to work to expand the selection of plants we offer. Some of the plants we are currently focusing on are bloodroot, prairie turnip, silverleaf psoralea, hoary puccoon, trillium and seneca snakeroot.

Our flowers and grasses are generally available in two sizes: 5-packs of plugs and 4½” pots. Some species of flowers are grown in 4-packs of XL plugs instead of our standard 5-packs. Vines are in 4½” pots and shrubs are in 4½” pots, 1 gallon pots and 2 gallon pots. We are happy to accept returned empty containers from our nursery, especially plug packs and trays, so that we can reuse them. Large orders of plants for landscaping companies are welcome.

5-Pack of Plugs Single Plugs

We have native Manitoba Prairie plants suitable for all types of properties, whether small city gardens or larger rural properties. They are also excellent candidates for school grounds, cottages and commercial properties. We have species for dry, medium or wet sites and for sun or shade. Our top quality, nursery grown plants have excellent survival rates when transplanted at your site.

Other Sources of Plants

Selected varieties are also available in 4.5" deep pots at:

  • Sage Garden Herbs - 3410 St. Mary's Rd.
  • The Preferred Perch - 4-1604 St. Mary's Rd.
  • Green Spot – 1329 Rosser Ave. E., Brandon
  • Debbie's Greenhouse - 14 Mark's Lane, Kenora

 

Our People


Kelly Leask –Owner

Kelly joined Prairie Originals in 2013 and quickly became a knowledgeable member of our staff. She discovered a passion for gardening with native plants and conserving the fascinating and delightful plant species that come from the prairies, as well as the incredible array of fauna that they support. In 2020 Kelly purchased Prairie Originals and she is looking forward to the hard work and big dreams that the future holds. 

Kelly frequently visits garden clubs and community organizations to give presentations on a variety of topics including landscaping with native plants, seed starting, seed saving, gardening for pollinators, butterfly gardens, gardening for birds, and gardening with native grasses. In 2017 Kelly was recognized as one of CBC Manitoba's Future 40 for her conservation efforts as a native plant grower and gardening educator. She enjoys gardening, bird-watching, photography, handicrafts, soccer, cross-country skiing and curling. Her favourite plants are all Milkweeds, Blue Eyed Grass, Gaillardia, Giant Hyssop and Sorghastrum...among others!

Ruth Thiessen - Assistant Manager

Ruth likes to work and play outdoors and has an interest in conservation, a respect for native plants and an appreciation of the richness of our natural environment. She has been at Prairie Originals since 2015. During the winter months she creates and sells ceramic art, primarily using red stoneware clay. She handbuilds mugs and other functional wares, decorating them with images of prairie flowers. Some of Ruth's favourite plants are wild ginger and sweetgrass. 

Shirley Froehlich – Founder

Shirley started Prairie Originals in 1990 and spent 25 years propagating, growing and promoting native plants for use in landscaping. In 2015 Shirley stepped into the background to allow someone with fresh ideas to steer Prairie Originals into the future. Shirley will be exploring Manitoba for more native species to propagate and establishing more native plants on her property.

Prairie Originals - Native Prairie Plants and Seeds
27 Bunns Rd., Box 25, Grp. 310, RR 3, Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada R1A 2A8
Phone 204-785-9799   Email