Native plant sale at Crosby Arboretum this Saturday
Published 7:00 am Friday, February 6, 2015
NATIVE PLANTS: The Crosby Arboretum will host its annual Arbor Day plant sale on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pictured in front from left is a little gem magnolia, oakleaf hydrangea, blueberry bush, juvenile longleaf pine and spruce pine. Pictured back from left is a swamp chestnut, Florida anise, southern red maple, mulberry, shumard oak and native persimmon.
Photo by Cassandra Favre
The winter months will soon be gone as it makes way for spring.
Crosby Arboretum senior curator Jill Mirkovich said that now is the ideal time to begin planting native plants.
This Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Arboretum will host its annual Arbor Day plant sale.
Crosby Arboretum director Patricia Drackett said this annual event allows people the opportunity to purchase native plants that are not commonly found in commercial retailers.
“Here at the Arboretum, guests can also view the plants in their natural habitat and ideal soils,” Drackett said.
Mirkovich said that the majority of plants are dormant and now that the season for heavy frost has passed, this time of year would be the perfect time for planting.
“You don’t want to plant a plant on the coldest or the hottest day,” Mirkovich said. “We will be selling mostly natives and those that are adaptable to semi-saturated areas.”
Arboretum staff and master gardeners will be available Saturday to answer questions.
Plants will be sold in either three or five-gallon buckets, Mirkovich said. The prices will vary according to the species, but the price range for a three-gallon plant is $15 to $18 while a five-gallon plant sells for $24 to $32.
There is one specialty item available, a large tulip poplar, Mirkovich said. It comes in a 15-gallon bucket and costs $80.
Plants available for purchase on Saturday include azalea piedmont, azalea swamp, beautyberry, blueberry, ‘‘Rosa’s blush’’ blueberry, buttonbush, southern crabapple, prairie fire crabapple, rough leaf dogwood, winged elm, Florida anise, fringe tree, oak leaf hydrangea, leucothoe, ash magnolia, big-leaf magnolia, DD Blanchard magnolia, little gem magnolia, may haw, mulberry, live oak, shumard oak, swamp chestnut oak, white oak, parsleyhaw, pawpaw, longleaf pine, spruce pine, red buckeye, possumhaw, Walter’s viburnum, rusty blackhaw viburnum and Virginia sweetspire.
The Crosby Arboretum is located at 370 Ridge Road and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, contact the office at 601-799-
