Ecological restoration is a worldwide challenge but is constrained by the lack of sufficient and viable native plant material. High-quality native plant material, including seeds, is key to ecosystem restoration and conservation. In 2015, the United States National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration was developed by the Plant Conservation Alliance in partnership with 12 federal agencies and over 300 non-federal cooperators in the United States. Its mission is to ensure the availability of genetically appropriate native seeds for restoration in the United States. With the vision of depositing the right seed in the right place at the right time, the four goals of the strategy are to: identify seed needs and ensure the reliable availability of genetically appropriate seeds; identify research needs and conduct research to provide genetically appropriate seeds; improve technology for native seed production and ecosystem restoration; and develop tools that enable managers to make timely, informed seeding decisions for ecological restoration. Develop strategies for internal and external communication. The strategy made great accomplishments during 2015-2020 by establishing nationwide networks of seed collectors, researchers to develop seeds, farmers to grow native seeds, nurseries and seed storage facilities to supply adequate quantities of appropriate seeds, and restoration ecologists who knew how to place the right seed in the right place at the right time. Understanding the background, goals, and progress of this strategy will help to improve the pace and scale of ecological restoration in China.