Last week we had several days of relatively cool weather for southeast Michigan. Including one night when temperatures reached the high 40’s Fahrenheit.
Which had me thinking of fall and what native plants I might want to add to my garden.
A good time to check upcoming plants swaps and sales and mark my calendar.
I wasn’t able to find many native plant swaps in our area. And I was disappointed our local library isn’t hosting a plant swap this fall.
If you’re interested in adding native plants to your garden this fall, I’ve compiled a list of upcoming native plant sales and one swap.
Native Plant Swaps and Sales
If you’re not familiar with plant swaps, it’s an event where you share plants you no longer want or have too many of.
Plant swaps are free activities, often hosted by libraries, extension services, communities, parks, or garden clubs.
Swaps are where I got my Coreopsis lanceolata (tickseed), Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) and Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich fern) over 25 years ago.
Each year I share extras of all three plants at plant swaps. I love meeting other gardeners to talk about their plants and discover new plants to add to my garden.
Note: all times for the swaps and sales are Eastern Daylight Time.
The only fall 2024 plant swap I found (as of August 28, 2024) is
-
Yardeners Fall Plant Exchange
- Where: St. Clair Shores Public Library parking lot in St. Clair Shores, Michigan
- When: September 21, 2024 from 9:00AM to 11:00AM
- Details: Bring labeled plants. Helpful if you can provide details about the plant on the label.
- I couldn’t find any website for Yardeners, only a Facebook page.
Native Plant Sales
-
- Where: Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan
- When: September 7, 2024 from 10:30AM to 2:30PM
- Details: Presale orders must be submitted by 11:59PM on Thursday, August 29, 2024. More plants available for purchase in person at the sale.
- Pricing: $5.00 for 2.5 inch pots of grass or wildflower
- Garden kits with preselected 32 plants per tray in 2.5 inch pots with design plan: $99 each. Choice of kits: Butterfly Garden, Grass Garden, Pollinator Garden, Rain Garden
-
Michiganense Natives and Grosse Pointe Park Beautification Commission Native Plant Sale
- Where: Grosse Pointe Park City Hall (side lawn east of city hall) in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
- When: September 8, 2024 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM
- Details: As of August 28, 2024, Grosse Pointe Park’s official website calendar doesn’t list the native plant sale
-
Blue Heron Headquarters Conservancy Native Plant Sale
- Where: Neiman’s Family Market parking lot in Clarkston, Michigan
- When: September 14, 2024 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM
- Details: Over 60 species of flowers, ferns, shrubs, and trees.
-
Rochester Pollinators Native Plant Sale
- Where: Rochester Farmers Market in Rochester, Michigan
- When: September 14 and 21, 2024 (Scheduled appointments for pickup between 8:00AM and 1:00PM)
- Details: The fall 2024 sale is preorder only. Plants, trees, grasses, shrubs, trees, and plant kits will be available for pickup at the downtown Rochester Farmers Market. All orders must be picked up. Code for 10% discount: FA24PREORDER
-
Michiganense Native Plants and Berkley Environmental Advisory Committee Native Plant Sale
- Where: Berkley Community Center in Berkeley, Michigan
- When: September 15, 2024 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM
- Details: As of August 28, 2024, there is no native plant sale info on the City of Berkley’s website calendar. Found short mention in the June 2024 Berkley Environmental Advisory Committee agenda minutes.
-
Macomb County Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale
- Where: Octagon House in Washington, Michigan
- When: September 15, 2024 from noon to 3:00PM
- Details: Pre-order sales end September 7, 2024 and can be placed online or with mail-in form. A selection of native plants will also be available to purchase on September 15th.
-
Washtenaw County Conservation Fall Tree and Native Plant Sale
- Where: Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- When: September 20, 2024 from 1:00PM to 6:00PM
- Details: Online pre-orders end September 8, 2024. Paper form orders end September 2, 2024. Limited extra plants will be sold from 5:00PM to 6:00PM on day of sale.
-
Keep Growing Detroit and Friends of the Rouge Third Annual Fall Native Plant Sale
- Where: Keep Growing Detroit Farm near Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan
- When: October 5, 2024 from 11:00AM to 2:00PM
- Details: A variety of native plants including perennials, shrubs, and trees. Preorder plants from Designs by Nature LLC by September 20, 2024. (All preorders must be picked up on October 5, 2024).
Vendors at the sale include Designs by Nature LLC, Michiganense Natives, Detroit Wildflower Nursery, New Leaf Natives, Feral Flora, Windy Rock Farm, and Keep Growing Detroit.
Summary
Fall is one of the best times to plant native flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses, since the soil is still warm.
If you plan to attend any of the native plant sales or swap this fall in southeast Michigan, let me know. I’d love to find out what plants you found!
And if you learn about other native plant swaps and sales in southeast Michigan, share details and info in the comments.
