Plants from largest sale ever will help attract birds, bees and butterflies
HOUSTON, (April 5, 2019) – The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center will host its annual Spring Native Plant Sale Apr. 19 and Apr. 20 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., the largest one to date. This year, the Arboretum is partnering with Houston Audubon and the Houston Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD) to offer even more native plants than in past years. Visitors can find almost 100 beautiful species of plants native to the region, many of which will attract birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
As usual, the Plant Sale will include native grasses, flowers (including milkweed), shrubs and trees – perfect for your yard or garden. All flowers, trees, and shrubs were either grown by a participating organization or sourced from local growers. Prices are as follows: $4.50 – 4 inches; $9 – 1 gallon; $12 – Milkweed and $30 – 3 to 5 gallons. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Arboretum, Houston Audubon and HPARD.
Additionally, guests are invited to wrap up day one of the Plant Sale by enjoying an adult beverage at the Plants & Pints Happy Hour. From 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Apr. 19, sip on Saint Arnold brews as you plan your spring garden and pick out your plants. If you are an Arboretum member, or become one that day, the first beer is free.
Some of the plants offered this year include Green Milkweed, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Blue Mistflower, Frogfruit, Loblolly Pine, Spotted Beebalm, Little Bluestem, and American Beautyberry. A full list of plants will be available online the week before the sale (houstonarboretum.org/events/spring-plant-sale-2019/).
The Plant Sale will be located just inside the Arboretum’s 610 Entrance gate on the south side of the entrance road. (The Arboretum has two entrances – Loop 610 and Woodway Drive.) Shoppers are asked to park along the 610 Parking Loop and then walk over to the sale. There will be a small pull-in area to load plant purchases. A map can be found at houstonarboretum.org/events/spring-plant-sale-2019/.
On Apr. 20, the public is also invited to check out the free, family-friendly Earth Day festival at the Arboretum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festivities include guided nature hikes, face painting, recycled material crafts and scavenger hunts. In the spirit of Earth Day, visitors are encouraged to carpool, use a ride-share program (like Uber or Lyft), or ride their bikes to the event. There will be limited on-site parking available.
For more information about the Spring Native Plant Sale and Earth Day festival, visit houstonarboretum.org or call 713-681-8433.
The Houston Arboretum’s Spring Native Plant Sale offers many choices of plants and flowers that can attract bees, butterflies and birds to your garden. Christine Mansfield photo.
About
The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals. The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (HANC), one of the first nature education facilities for children in the state of Texas, provides services to nearly 200,000 visitors annually. The Arboretum also provides nature education for more than 10,000 children annually. For more information about the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and levels of membership, visit houstonarboretum.org.