Nursery stock, bedding plants, cut flowers & seeds
“Nursery stock” under Indiana law means hardy perennial/biennial trees, shrubs, vines, evergreens, and similar – it excludes corms, tubers, field vegetables, and flower seeds, which generally don't need a nursery license.
Growing your own nursery stock for sale needs a Nursery Grower License (IC 14-24-5-2); buying stock to resell needs a Nursery Dealer's License (IC 14-24-7-1) – both through the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology.
Commercial packaged seed sales need an Indiana Seed Permit under the Indiana Seed Law; label with lot, germination, and origin information.
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Cut flowers, annuals, vegetable starts | Generally exempt from nursery licensing | IC 14-8-2-184 (nursery stock definition) |
| Hardy trees/shrubs/vines/evergreens (grown) | Nursery Grower License | DNR Entomology & Plant Pathology – IC 14-24-5-2 |
| Nursery stock purchased for resale | Nursery Dealer's License | IC 14-24-7-1 |
| Packaged seed for sale | Indiana Seed Permit | Office of Indiana State Chemist – IC 15-15-1 |
Generally no – Indiana's nursery stock definition excludes field vegetables, corms, tubers, and flower seeds, which covers most annuals and cut flowers.
A Nursery Grower License, since you're propagating hardy nursery stock with the intent to increase its size or value.
You need a Nursery Dealer's License rather than a Grower License.
Small-scale seed sales generally need an Indiana Seed Permit; very small non-commercial seed-library/swap packets have a narrow separate exemption – confirm size limits with OISC.