With longer daylight hours, warming soils, and the return of birds, bees, and butterflies, it’s time to think about gardening, and preferably, installing native plants in your pots and/or yards. Our local animals depend on them, AND they provide beauty to our landscapes. So, please consider a few—or several native plants to brighten your yard, patio, or deck. The native wildlife will appreciate it!
Why Choose Native Plants?
Native species are specific to a particular place and naturally occurring, not introduced or manipulated to change their features, like cultivars. These native species have co-evolved with animals and other organisms and are often the most—or only—healthful source of nectar, pollen, seeds, and leaves for these local butterflies, insects, birds, and other animals. Other benefits of native plants are that they:
- do not require fertilizers and few if any pesticides,
- need less water than lawns, and help prevent erosion,
- help reduce air pollution,
- provide shelter for wildlife,
- promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural spaces, and
- are beautiful and can increase landscape values!
How to Choose the Right Natives for Your Yard or Pots?
It’s important to install the right plants for your conditions (wet, dry, shade, sun, slope, soil type, etc.). How do you know what’s right for you? One of the best sources is Plant NoVA Natives with easy-to-follow tips, dozens of photos, and additional links to learn what will work best for your situation. All of the plants listed on the site are true native species, not cultivars (AKA “nativars”). As noted above, native species, especially those that are locally sourced, are always the best choices for wildlife.
To learn more about natives vs. cultivars check out the Piedmont Master Gardeners’ excellent discussion: “Native Species or Cultivars of Native Plants–Does it Matter?” See also the ARMN blog piece, “When Gardening for Wildlife, Pick Local Natives Over Cultivars Every Time”.
Where Can You Buy Natives?
Most commercial nurseries do not carry many, if any, native species; if they do have “natives,” these are often cultivars with features that may not support local wildlife. If you have a favorite place that has a weak selection of native species, tell them to please stock more. But there is a wonderful solution in the coming weeks: visit the increasing number of native plant sales in the area (many of which provide food, entertainment, and fun for kids, too). Below is information on several sales in Northern Virginia. Happy shopping and planting!
Spring 2024 Native Plant Sales
| Now till April 26 Arlington County Native Plant Sale Pre-order from the plant sale list until April 26 at 5pm. Plants must be picked up at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA, 22204 on May 4, from 10am–3pm. https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Programs/Explore-Nature-and-History-in-Arlington/Native-Plants/Native-Plant-Sale. Thursday, March 14 Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Online Native Plant Seedling Sale Seedling packages will be made available on the NVSWCD seedling sale website on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm and will remain available until sold out. If you miss the 10am seedlings, check back later in the day at 2pm or 6pm after the inventory has been replenished. The seedling sale pickup dates are Friday, April 19, from 9am-4pm and Saturday, April 20, from 9am-12pm at the Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet Club, 3516 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Falls Church, VA 22044. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/soil-water-conservation/native-seedling-sale. Saturday, March 23 8am–1pm National Arboretum Native Plant Sale 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington DC 20002 Held in conjunction with the National Arboretum’s Lahr Native Plant Symposium https://www.fona.org/events_programs/ Wednesday, April 3, and first Wednesdays of month till October 10am–1pm VNPS Potowmack Chapter Monthly Native Plant Sale VNPS Potowmack Chapter plant sales are held on the first Wednesday of the month, April through October, at the propagation beds across the driveway behind the Horticulture Center at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. https://vnps.org/potowmack/plant-sale/ Saturday, April 6 10am–3pm Christ Church Spring Cleaning Garden & Native Plant Sale Christ Church, 7600 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station, VA 22039 https://vnps.org/potowmack/events/21956/. Native plant vendors include: Hill House Farm & Nursery, Green Steeze, Ahimsa Native Plants, and Bee American, Plant Native LLC Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 9am–3pm American Horticultural Society Spring Garden Market See: Garden Market site for fees and other details. Some native plant vendors include: Blooming Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, Hill House Farm & Nursery, and Nature by Design. AHS at River Farm, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria VA 22308 Saturday, April 13 9am–3pm Loudoun Native Plant Sale Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Ln., Leesburg, VA 20175 https://loudounwildlife.org/event/spring-native-plant-sale/. Saturday, April 20 10am–3pm Glencarlyn Library Community Garden Spring Celebration and Plant Sale 300 South Kensington Street, Arlington, VA 22204 Native plant vendors include: Hill House Farm & Nursery, and Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. Saturday, April 20 Walker Nature Center Spring Festival Pre-order begins around beginning of March due by April 5 @ 5:00 pm All orders must be picked up at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 on Saturday, April 20 from 9:30am–1:00pm. Online form for pre-orders. Contact: naturecenter@reston.org with questions. Saturday, April 27 9am–2pm Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale The Church of St. Clement, 1701 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302 www.northernalexandrianativeplantsale.org/ Saturday, April 27 9am–2pm Friends of Runnymede Park Artspace, 750 Center St., Herndon, VA 20170 Native plant vendors include: Watermark Woods and Seven Bends Nursery. Local artists will also have their work for sale. https://friendsofrunnymedepark.org/events Saturday, May 4 8am–12pm Town of Vienna Conservation and Sustainability Commission Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. S.E., Vienna, VA 22180 Plants by: Hill House Farm & Nursery.https://www.viennava.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/3236/275?curm=5&cury=2024 Saturday, May 4 9 am–noon Master Gardeners of Prince William Spring Sale St. Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, VA 20136 Cash or check only; includes both native and non-native plants. https://mgpw.org/plant-sales/ Friday, May 10, Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12 Friday 5:30–7:00pm: opening members sale; Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am–4:00pm Spring State Arboretum Garden Fair 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA 22620 Includes both native and non-native plants; phone: 540-955-3755 for details. https://festivalnet.com/15892/Boyce-Virginia/Home-and-Garden-Shows/Garden-Fair Saturday, May 11 Ayr Hill Garden Club – Annual Plant Sale Pre-Sale orders until April 28, 2024, with pickup on May 11, 2024 between 8am–1pm In-Person Sale: May 11th 8am–1pm On side lawn of Freeman Store and Museum, 131 Church St NE, Vienna, VA 22180. Rain or Shine. Saturday, May 18 9am–3pm Green Spring Garden Market 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria VA 22312 General garden sale plus native plant vendors, including the VNPS-Potowmack sale behind the visitor’s center. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sites/parks/files/Assets/documents/nature-history/greenspring/green-spring-gardens-garden-day-flyer.pdf Saturday, May 18 11am–2pm Clifton Institute 6712 Blantyre Rd., Warrenton, Va 20187 Local ecotypes only Contact: http://cliftoninstitute.org for more information. Saturday, June 1 8am–3pm Gardenfest at Belle Grove Plantation 336 Belle Grove Rd, Middletown, VA 22645 Vendors include: Seven Bends Nursery and Hill House Farm & Nursery. https://www.bellegrove.org/calendar/garden_fest |
And don’t forget our local native plants nurseries!
Nature by Design, Earth Sangha in Springfield, and Watermark Woods in Hamilton, Virginia are open throughout the growing season to supply your needs.
Autumn 2024 Native Plant Sales scheduled (so far)
| Wednesday, September 4, and October 2 10am–1pm VNPS Potowmack Chapter Monthly Native Plant Sale VNPS Potowmack Chapter plant sales are held on the first Wednesday of the month, April through October, at the propagation beds across the driveway behind the Horticulture Center at Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA 22312. https://vnps.org/potowmack/plant-sale/ Saturday, Sept 7 9 am–noon Master Gardeners of Prince William Spring Sale St. Benedict Monastery 9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, VA 20136 Cash or check only; includes both native and non-native plants. https://mgpw.org/plant-sales/ Saturday, September 7 9am–3pm Loudoun Native Plant Sale Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Ln, Leesburg, VA 20175 Vendors include: Watermark Woods, Hill House Farm & Nursery, Nature by Design, and Seven Bends Nursery. https://loudounwildlife.org/event/fall-native-plant-sale/ Saturday, September 28 9am–2pm Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale The Church of St. Clement, 1701 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302 www.northernalexandrianativeplantsale.org/ |
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