2014 Spring Plant Sale!

It's that time of year again! Duke Gardens will be hosting its annual Spring Plant Sale this weekend, featuring fabulous flowers, trees and shrubs. Friends of Duke Gardens may shop at the preview sale Friday, April 4, from 4 to 6 p.m., and everyone may attend the public sale, which will be held Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. Admission and parking are free.

This year's sale will feature some fragrant favorites. Sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus) is known both for its delightful scent and its red, star-like flowers. A native, woodland shrub, this plant prefers to grow on wetter garden sites.

Calycanthus floridus

Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers') are another example of native shrubs. These plants sport showy flowers that are great to have in any garden. Not only does it have large white flowers that fade to a lovely pink, it grows well in a shady landscape and attracts native pollinators.

Hydrangea quercifolia

This year's sale will also feature a new hybrid from the National Arboretum, Viburnum 'Nantucket'. This is the 20th viburnan cultivar developed by the Arboretum, and it blooms in an abundance of white flower clusters in late spring.

Viburnum 'Nantucket'

Though new plants are always fun, the sale will also include some classics. My personal favorites are the different Japanese maple cultivars. Though they are beautiful all year round, their leaves turn spectacular colors in the fall, and they would be a vibrant addition to any garden.

 Japanese maple. Photo by Paul Jones

The plants shown above are just some of the many you'll encounter here, along with expert advice from our horticulturists, Durham Master Gardeners and many specialty vendors. 

This year we have a great list of vendors, including:

Cure Nursery 
Niche Gardens
Shagreen Nursery
Fernrock Farm
S&J Greens
The Crystal Jungle
Green Hill Farm
Toad Song Farm

We hope you will come and check it out for yourself! More information about the plant sale can be found here on our website.

Blogger and photographer Erika Zambello is a graduate student studying Ecosystem Science and Conservation at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.