It’s Finally Fall: A Great Time of Year to Install New Natives!

Visit these Upcoming Sales for Great Options and Advice

​Text and photos by Kasha Helget

Do you think you’d have to wait till next spring to install beautiful native plants in your garden? Not true! There are a number of places getting ready to offer the perfect plants to benefit local wildlife and spruce up your yard, this fall.

Autumn is the best time to install new perennials, trees, and shrubs. Warmer soils and cooler air temperatures are ideal to reduce transplant shock and provide enough time for the plants to become established before winter. (And woody plants may even be installed during the winter when they’re dormant, so they can start strong in the spring.)

Whether they are perennials or woodies, by spring the new natives will be able to provide benefits to the local critters that depend on them AND add wonderful beauty to your garden.

Why native plants are important

Native species are plants that have occurred naturally in a particular place. They were not introduced from other places and their features were not changed by people. They’re important because they have co-evolved with animals and other organisms over hundreds of years, and they depend on each other for survival. Often, natives are the most—or only—healthful source of nectar, pollen, seeds, and leaves for these resident butterflies, insects, birds, and other animals. And in turn, animals help native plants by carrying pollen and seeds elsewhere to continue the plants’ survival. But there are many other benefits of native plants. 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 determine the right natives for your yard or pots

It’s important to install plants in conditions that they need to do well. So, if plants prefer spaces that are wet, dry, shady, sunny, or have particular soil needs, that’s where they should go. How do you know what plants are right for your spaces? One of the best resources is Plant NoVA Natives with easy-to-follow tips, dozens of photos and descriptions of plant conditions, and additional links to learn what should work well for your situation(s). All of the plants listed on the PNN site are true or “straight” native species, not cultivars (AKA “nativars”) that were modified by people. While some cultivars may work for local wildlife, native species, especially those that are locally sourced, are always the best and most healthful choices for local wildlife.

A great site to learn more about natives vs. cultivars is: the National Wildlife Federation piece, “Native, or Not So Much?” which provides examples of what does and does not work for native wildlife.

Where to buy native plants

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 be the most healthful for local wildlife. But if you have a favorite garden shop with a weak selection of native species, tell management to please stock more. Don’t be afraid to ask for true, “straight species” natives—not cultivars or nativars. If staffers don’t know whether they have any natives or aren’t sure of the difference between a straight species native and a cultivar, it may be best to buy the natives from folks who know and carry the true native species.

Below are places to purchase native plants this fall. It’ll be a great time to bring home a few—or several—native plants to brighten your yard, patio, balcony, or deck. Even a handful of natives can make a wonderful difference for local wildlife.

If you plant it, they will come.

Order now until Saturday, September 19 Arlington Native Plant Sale Preorder deadline September 19. Click here for available plants and ordering information. Pickup on Saturday, September 26,10am-1pm at Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 24th St. N Arlington, VA 22207. Click here for other details.

Pre-order now until Tuesday, September 15 Central Rappahannock Fall Native Plant Sale Fundraiser To pre-order, email: contact@nnkplants.com for pre-order list and ordering information Sale date: Saturday, October 17 10am–1pm Central Rappahannock Fall Native Plant Sale Fundraiser 1739 Richmond Hwy Stafford, VA 22554 https://www.centralrappvnps.org/event-details/fall-plant-sale-w-northern-neck-plant-co.

Wednesday, September 2 10am–1pm Potowmack Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria VA The VNPS native plant sale takes place behind the Horticulture Center. https://vnps.org/potowmack/plant-sale/.

Saturday, September 5 9am–12pm Prince William Master Gardeners Teaching Garden at St Benedict Monastery Plant Sale 9535 Linton Hall Rd Bristow, Va. 20136 https://mgpw.org/plant-sales/.

Saturday, September 12   9am–2pm Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Native Plant Sale Morven Park 17195 Southern Planter Ln, Leesburg, VA 20176 https://loudounwildlife.org/event/fall-native-plant-sale-at-morven-park/

Saturday, September 12 8am–2pm Mount Vernon Fall Plant and Garden Sale (Both heirloom plants and native plants being sold were grown at Mount Vernon.) Conservation Complex and Volunteer Center Parking Lot 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA 22121 https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/calendar/events/fall-plant-and-garden-sale

Saturday, September 19 8am–12pm Town of Vienna Conservation and Sustainability Commission Native Plant Sale Vienna Community Center 120 Cherry St. Vienna VA 22180

Saturday, September 26 9am–2pm Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale The Church of St. Clement, 1701 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302. https://northernalexandrianativeplantsale.weebly.com/

Sunday, September 27, 2026 9:00am–2pm Earth Sangha Fall Open House & Native Plant Sale 6100 Cloud Dr. Springfield, VA 22150

Wednesday, October 7 10am–1pm Potowmack Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society Green Spring Gardens 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria VA The VNPS native plant sale takes place behind the Horticulture Center https://vnps.org/potowmack/plant-sale/

Pre-order now until September 15 Central Rappahannock Fall Native Plant Sale Fundraiser To pre-order, email: contact@nnkplants.com for pre-order list and ordering information Sale date: Saturday, October 17 10am–1pm Central Rappahannock Fall Native Plant Sale Fundraiser 1739 Richmond Hwy Stafford, VA 22554 https://www.centralrappvnps.org/event-details/fall-plant-sale-w-northern-neck-plant-co.