At the Arboretum, we are involved in several different seed-collecting programs to preserve genetic diversity and benefit the landscape. We collect local milkweed seed and grow native milkweed plants; we then harvest the seed and share it with the federal and state agencies. The local genotypes are better suited to grow here and obviously benefit the western monarch butterfly. We also participate in a program called Seeds of Success (SOS), a national native seed collection program, led by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in partnership with a variety of federal agencies and non-federal organizations. SOS’s mission is to collect wildland native seed for research, development, germplasm conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Our research department is currently collecting varieties of buckwheat, muhly grass, yellow suncups, and white bursage that occur in Arizona.