Put down those plant catalogs and resist those big box store purchases. The best deals on unusual plants are coming.
Every year, around Mothers’ Day weekend, garden clubs and botanic gardens hold their plant sale fundraisers. They are usually held over 3-4 days so, if you’re energetic, you might make it to a few of them. Some are charming, some are huge but all are staffed by volunteers who are friendly and knowledgeable. If you’re a beginner gardener, you will learn so much from experienced gardeners who are happy to share their knowledge.
It’s your chance to get personally introduced to hundreds of species of plants that are specially selected for New Jersey gardens. Many of the plants offered will have been grown in a New Jersey garden for years before being divided for sale. You may find heritage varieties as well as natives and certainly gorgeous show-stoppers.
These sales often run only for three days or less, so stock is priced to sell quickly. Veterans of these events will know to come early for the best selections and the rare species. They also come equipped with a wagon, as shopping carts are not provided. Come with a positive attitude and, no matter how intense it may get, you will enjoy the best time of the gardening season. Another reason to feel good? You will also be supporting local non-profit and community organizations.
Of the scores of organizations across the state, here are the ones who were ready to share their plans. This post will be updated as new information becomes available.
What’s special?: Baked goods and volunteer-grown vegetable seedlings.
The Avalon Garden Club adds charm and taste by hosting an Annual Plant & Bake Sale. This in-person, outdoor event will offer approximately 30 species of plants, both annuals and perennials, as well as homegrown vegetable plants. The best thing about homegrown vegetable seedlings is the varieties available. There are thousands of varieties of seed available, but garden centers sell very few varieties. At this plant sale, you will find interesting and unusual varieties that are not available elsewhere. Tomato plants are especially in demand and sell quickly.
Customers who have supported the club return year after year for healthy, hardy plants that they can rely on to grow well locally. Perennials and annuals are both ordered from local suppliers, as well as grown by club volunteers.
Volunteers will be present to talk with you, one-on-one, to help you pick the right plants for your spaces. Without retail overheads, the plants are sold by the Club are reduced price, compared to area garden centers.
The Annual Spring Plant & Bake Sale attracts visitors who do not come to just buy plants and baked goods. They come for a social gathering, to see familiar faces or friends, and to enjoy all that is wonderful and colorful on a spring day in May.
“The Avalon Garden Club’s mission is exclusively for charitable, scientific, educational and literary purposes, including, without limitation, the sharing and growth in knowledge of nature, conservation and promoting the continuance of the beautification of the Borough of Avalon, Cape May County, New Jersey, all for our community.” – The Avalon Garden Club.
Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
April 29 – Members Only Early Bird Shopping – 4:00 – 7:00 PM
April 30 – Public Plant Sale – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
May 1 – Public Plant Sale – 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
Over 500 different plant varieties will be available for sale. Here’s the list.
Thursday, May 5, 8am – 8pm
Friday, May 6, 8am – 8pm
Saturday, May 7, 8am – 4pm
Maplewood Community Pool parking lot, 187 Boyden Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
2022 marks the Maplewood Garden Club’s 85th Annual Plant Sale.
What’s special?: With 85 years of learning and perfecting their procedures and plant selections, this is the volunteer-only plant sale that offers the widest selection of extraordinary plants.
There really is something for everyone, from the rare-plant hunter to the first-time vegetable gardener. There will be thousands of perennials, woodland and native plants, herbs, vegetables, heirloom tomatoes, berry bushes, shrubs, colorful annuals and hanging baskets, member-grown plants and houseplants available. Be warned, you will leave with much more than you intended, so empty out your car.
The Club has long term relationships with some of the best growers in the country and their members also propagate and pot up a large variety of perennials in their club nursery garden cold frames and municipal greenhouses. Specialty annuals and tender perennials are propagated by members, adding hard to find, as well as interesting varieties that most gardeners did not know existed. Friendly and knowledgeable club members are on hand to provide plant information and suggestions.
Many of the 170 club members participate in this large-scale, much-anticipated annual community social, learning and shopping event.
55 Stockton Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Members & Garden Party ticket holders receive priority pick up and early access to the on-site plant sale on April 30.
From Executive Director, Jill Barry, “… this is our largest fundraiser of the year, it’s a party with a purpose; supporting our exhibitions and programs as well as caring for and reinforcing this treasured national landmark.”
What’s special?: This is Morven’s 21st Anniversary Plant Sale & Garden Party.
Curated by Morven’s horticulturists, with the help of a team of seasoned volunteers, their selection promises unusual and distinct varieties that thrive in New Jersey’s Zone 6. Deer resistant plants, annuals, perennials, veggies, heirloom and prolific container plants are specifically sourced from trusted growers.
New Jersey State Botanical Garden
April 29 Members only (4:30 – 7 PM)
April 30 and May 1 (9:30 – 4 PM) for the public.
New Jersey State Botanical Garden, Ringwood State Park, Morris Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456.
The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands appears on both the state and national registers of historic places. However, they do not receive federal, state or local government funding. So, when you shop their plant sale, you help keep this part of our history, as well as our future, alive.
What’s special?: In 2021 they added a children’s vegetable gardening section. This is in addition to their ever-growing selection of native plants for New Jersey gardeners. Many of the plants on sale are grown by volunteers. Only about a third of the plants are purchased from professional growers.
A small team of just 5 staff and 25 volunteers make this four-day annual event possible. They will have worked hundreds of hours to offer you over 1,500 plants of 150 or more species. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, you will find many plants for all kinds of growing conditions: houseplants, annuals, and perennials for various soils, for sun and shade, for dry and moist sites. Experienced and knowledgeable volunteers will be available to help you select plants, for even the most difficult areas of your garden, and to provide information on how to plant and care for them.
On Friday, May 6 (2:00 pm to 7:00 pm) RRA members will get an exclusive opportunity to shop as well as enjoy the Arboretum grounds.
On Saturday, May 7 (10:00 am to 3:00 pm), all are welcome.
On Sunday, May 8 (10:00 am to 3:00 pm), all are welcome for Mother’s Day.
May 6, 2:00 to 7:00pm (for RRA Members only)
May 7 & 8, 10:00am to 3:00pm (open to the public)
165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901.
In addition to these in-person shopping days, customers may also pre-order these curated perennial garden collections:
- Deer Resistant Plants for a Sunny Location
- Deer Resistant Plants for a Shady Location
- Deer Resistant Plants to Attract Pollinators
- Native Plants for a Sunny Location
- Native Plants for a Shady Location
- Plants for a Sunny & Moist Location
- Plants for a Sunny and Dry Location
Pre-orders (via their website). Pre-order pickup will take place during the live Plant Sale on May 6, 7, and 8.
What’s special?: Living wreaths and kokedama, as well as Garden Club of America’s Freeman Medal Winners.
Over 1,500 plants of about 180 species will have been ordered from local sources or grown by staff, interns and volunteers. Many of the succulents, annuals and perennials (natives and tropicals) offered will be seedlings or divisions from the gardens.
Consider visiting the gardens ahead time to build your wish list. They have the most spectacular collection of tree peonies, which will likely be in full bloom in May. Reeves-Reed is relatively small, as botanic gardens go, but so cleverly curated. You will find areas filled with plants for full sun, other areas for shade, a pond, rose garden, woodland and space to simply breathe and relax. Proceeds from the plant sale will directly benefit the upkeep and improvement of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. Beyond just being a fundraiser, the sale is an opportunity for the Reeves-Reed Arboretum to engage with and enrich the community, and a chance for shoppers to learn about interesting new plants.
May 14, 8:00am – Noon
Boonton Township Municipal Building, upper lot. 155 Powerville Road, Boonton Township, NJ 07005.
Pack your car the night before and set your alarm, to get first pick here. Typical of a one-day event, everything is priced to move.
According to member, Cheryl Redding, “Our Members sell their home-grown native plants, perennials, wildflowers, ferns, shrubs and trees. Buyers tell us they return each year because of the success they’ve had with all of their past purchases and the opportunity to buy more native and/or deer resistant plants, many of which are not sold elsewhere.” A full list of native plants available is on their website.
Around 60 volunteers make this sale possible and all the perennials are propagated and donated by them. Over 100 species will be offered and a total of around 1,500 plants. In 2019, more than 30 native species were available, including coneflower, blue dogbane, bee balm, jack-in-the-pulpit, trillium, fringed bleeding heart and pussy willow.
What’s special?: One-of-a-kind planters and Mothers’ Day gifts will also be available, in addition to hanging baskets and annuals.
Members will be on hand throughout the sale to answer gardening questions and help make selections appropriate to your growing conditions.
Proceeds support conservation and educational efforts, including maintenance of the Emily K. Hammond Wildflower Trail, Oscar Kincaid House of History Gardens, Miller-Kingsland Gardens and Denville Museum Garden.
Rutgers Gardens Spring Flower Fair
Friday, May 6 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 8 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
130 Log Cabin Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525
The Spring Flower Fair offers classic varieties as well as unusual plants. Under new management and post COVID, this may be a smaller sale than loyal supporters had been accustomed to. In the past, it offered hundreds of vegetable varieties, including over 50 types of tomatoes. One would find everything from trees, perennials, annuals to tropical plants and succulents.
Entry tickets are free, but you need to go online to reserve your day to shop.
Members-only preview event: Thursday, April 28th, 5-7pm
Public Sale Dates:
Friday, April 29th and Saturday,
April 30th 9am-4pm, Sunday, May 1st. 10am – 4pm
What’s special?: According to Garden Manager, Laura Roberts, “I believe ours is the largest and offers the widest variety in the area.”
This in-person plant sale may well be the largest in the area, with over 300 species of perennials, shrubs, annuals and edibles. These 3,000 or so plants will be available to you, by the work of 7 staff and around 100 volunteers.
Curated by Van Vleck’s garden manager, the selection and quality of the plants promises to be excellent. This year, a specially designated native plant section has been developed in cooperation the NJ Native Plant Society.