It’s the time of year for native plant fans to visit local native plant nurseries, pop-up seasonal sales, and plant swaps. I’ve written about the idea of prioritizing our local native plant nurseries as our primary source for plants, and thinking about the seasonal sales, plant swaps, rescues, and winter sowing projects as supplemental ways to add more biodiversity to the landscape. If we are serious about spreading the word about the value of native plants, we need to include making native plants more common and available all year by actively supporting the local native plant retail nurseries leading the way.
My fantasy is a future when restorative and habitat landscaping is the norm and weekend warrior gardeners will be loading up their cars with native plants from local native plant nurseries instead of non-native, ornamentals grown far away with chemical fertilizers and pesticides then trucked to big box stores and traditional nurseries.
If you live in metro Atlanta the following lists includes local native plant nurseries and seasonal native plant pop-up sales. (If you don't live in Atlanta, seek out native plant retail nurseries and seasonal sales in your area)
Metro Atlanta Native Plant Nurseries
The following are the nurseries closest to the metro Atlanta area. The Georgia Native Plant Society has a list of native plant sources throughout Georgia that sell native plants. Many also sell non-native plants, so research each source and ask where the plants are grown and if they use pesticides before visiting.
Beech Hollow Wildflower Farms has an expanded retail indoor area with a Reading Room and Reference Room in Scottdale (near Your Dekalb Farmers Market). There are also classes at this location. The hours are Thursday-Sunday from 10:00am through 4:00pm. The address is 393 North Clarendon Ave, Scottsdale. Like all local native plant nurseries, you’ll find thoughtful and helpful folks to help you find the right plant for the right place. I’m thrilled that we now have a closer and more consistent native plant resource intown near where I live. Their original location is also worth a drive. It’s at 575 Elberton Road, Lexington (706.623.2020)
Cottage Garden Natives is a small, family-run nursery that grows plants native to the Georgia piedmont region and throughout the southeastern United States. Visit the nursery through appointments made online or by text at 770.282.4859. Online orders can be pickup up or delivered for a fee within 40 miles of the nursery.
Little Creek Farm Nursery is a specialty nursery located in a northwestern exurb of metro Atlanta with a large selection of plants native to the Southeast. They also sell non-native plants so check to make sure you're buying the natives. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am through 5:00am. Contact by calling 770-456-0123 or e-mail info@littlecreekfarmnursery.com for more information. The address is 774 Seals Road in Dallas, GA.
Nearly Native Plant Nursery is a fun, independent nursery to visit south of Atlanta. They are open Wednesday-Saturday from 9:00am through 6:00pm and closed Sunday-Tuesday. The address is 776 McBride Road, Fayetteville. Call 770-460-6284 for questions. As the name states, they have both native and non-native plants. The staff is friendly and informed, and the gardens are a treat to visit. They also do mail order.
North Georgia Native Plant Nursery (previously known as Night Song Native Plant Nursery) is north of Atlanta and offers only native plants. They are open on Fridays from 10:00am through 5:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am through 3:00pm. Call or text at 678-899-3253 or e-mail northganatives@gmail.com for an appointment Monday through Thursday. The address is 1095 Epperson Road, Canton. The folks at this nursery are super helpful and knowledgeable.
Spring 2023 Atlanta Native Plant Seasonal Sales
The following list of Atlanta native plant sales is arranged in rough chronological order. Click highlighted links to go directly to the sources for more information. My list from last year offers additional tips for buying native plants at local sales.
Georgia Audubon and Oconee Rivers Audubon Society are partnering with Beech Hollow Wildlife Farms to offer a selection of bird-friendly, native plants at their Spring Online Native Plant Sale from Tuesday April 4, through Sunday, April 30. All plants need to be ordered online. Pick-up is in Atlanta on Sunday, May 7 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Beech Hollow, 389 N. Clarendon Ave, Scottdale (near Your Dekalb Farmers Market). Plants cannot be held later than pickup dates. If you need help with your order or have additional questions call 678.973.2437.
Chattahoochee Nature Center is open Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 from 8:00am to 5:00pm. They are located at 9135 Willeo Rd. Roswell. Follow the signs to the greenhouse where horticulturists and local experts will be onsite to help with native plant selection. There will also be vegetables and herbs for sale.
Trees Atlanta plant sale will be on Saturday, April 8 from 8:00am to 1:00pm at the Carter Center located at 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta. The Trees Atlanta plant sale is next door to the weekly Freedom Farmers Market at the Carters Center that opens at 8:30. There are volunteers and staff on hand to answer questions about plants during the sale. Some of the more interesting native plants listed on their plant list sale include Partridge Berry/ Mitchella repens, Whiteleaf Mountain Mint/Pycnanthemum albescens, Royal Catchfly/Silene regia, and Yellowroot/Xanthorhiza simplicissima.
Fernbank Science Center is hosting a mostly native plant sale on Saturday, April 15 from 8:00am to 1:00pm at 156 Heaton Park Dr. Atlanta. This sale is cashless so only credit cards will be accepted. There is typically wide variety of native trees, shrubs and flowering perennials selected to thrive in the Metro Atlanta environment. The Fernbank Science Center horticulture staff and DeKalb Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to provide planting advice and suggestions.
GSU Perimeter College The GSU Perimeter College Spring native plant sale is from 10:00am to 2:00pm on April 21, 22, 28,29 and May 5, 6, 12, 13 (Fridays and Saturdays) at 3251 Road, Decatur. They now accept credit cards, checks, and cash. Many of the plants are grown on-site and well-priced for the size. In the past, there has been an interesting selection of native grasses and sedges. Check out the GSU Botanical Garden while you're at the sale.
The Georgia Native Plant Society North Metro Chapter and the City of Alpharetta’s Community Agriculture Program are hosting a native and edible plant sale on Saturday, April 29 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Old Rucker Farm, 900 Old Rucker Road, Alpharetta. Vendors including Cottage Garden Natives and North Georgia Native Plant Nursery will also be selling native plants at this sale.
While it is not a plant sale or nursery, Intown GNPS is hosting a Native Plant Swap on Sunday, April 30 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in the meadow at Zonolite Park. I'm not involved in this year's swap, but initiated and led the one last fall to help get more native plants in Atlanta yards and connect people interested in native plants.
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