Plant Sale Highlights
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, between Noon and 4 p.m., the Friends of the Arboretum will have a unique opportunity to purchase a variety of plants for their landscapes. This day is not open to the general public. There will be a membership table at the Arboretum if you want to become a member of the Friends to take advantage of this unique benefit.
On Thursday, April 11 through Saturday, April 13, the Plant Sale is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Sunday, April 14, the Plant Sale is open from Noon to 4 p.m.
This year's annual spring plant sale features the following special offerings.
SHARPENING OF TOOLS: Do you need any of your outdoor tools sharpened? Bring your garden and landscape tools when you come to the plant sale. There will be a mobile garden tool sharpening booth set up in the parking lot adjacent to the vegetable garden area. A Sharpening Service will offer this service at the standard retail rates. Have your tools sharpened while you shop for your plants. You can pick them up when your shopping is done.
SEED SWAP: Want to save a little cash and have fun starting your own plants? Start with the basics – seeds, sunshine, water, and soil. You can get seeds at the Seed Swap table during the Arboretum’s annual plant sale. Local garden centers, horticultural centers, and businesses will donate seeds that will be yours for the asking, or better yet, yours in exchange for seeds you collect elsewhere. We will have seeds for flowers, shrubs, trees, vegetables and herbs. Master Gardeners will offer advice and handouts on when and how to plant the seeds for the best results. There will also be free seed catalogs available and lists of vendors who offer native and non-native plant seeds by mail order. Please label seeds you bring to swap with the common and botanical name of the plant from which you collected the seeds, the date of collection, and any tips on growing those plants. Put the seeds in an envelope or glass jar that is sealed shut, and make sure that the seeds are dry before packaging. Our goal is to spread the joy of starting plants with your seeds. We look forward to visiting with you at the Seed Swap table behind the Hutaff building.
NATIVE PLANTS: Native Plant sales will be sold in their own location on the Grand Lawn during the Plant Sale Event. It is important to remember that we will not be able to make up for the loss of native plant habitat due to development in New Hanover County unless each homeowner makes an effort to add native plants in their own landscape. All the big and small efforts will add up over time to protect and help birds and other wildlife and improve our local environment. Plants native to southeastern NC will be sold during the Plant Sale. This includes annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs, and vegetables.