Go Native at Roanoke Island Aquarium Plant Sale
The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is hosting its annual Native Plant Sale next weekend, featuring a total of 75 different species and over 1,500 plants.
The annual Native Plant Sale at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island is set for Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012.
The 17th annual Native Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island offers a wide range of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns and flowering perennials. The sale is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, in the Aquarium’s greenhouse, just past the main entrance on Airport Road.
More than 1,500 plants, representing 75 species, are available, many in small, affordable “starter” sizes. Shoppers can select from drought-tolerant plants for sandy dune-side gardens to favorites suitable for backyard wetlands. Many of these natives are unusual and hard to come by.
Native plants featured have been selected to attract and support wildlife. Local favorites returning this year include beautyberry, blanketflower, wild indigo, purple coneflower, seashore mallow, red star hibiscus, purple muhly grass, fringe tree and inkberry. Other popular specimens include eastern columbine, climbing Carolina aster, coral honeysuckle, coastal joe-pye weed, cardinal flower, high-bush blueberry, summer phlox, pawpaw, blackhaw viburnum, southern crab apple, strawberry bush and wild bergamot.
“Fall is ideal for planting,” said Aquarium Horticulturist Kathy Mitchell.” It gives your new plants a great head start by allowing them to develop strong roots before next summer. Don’t forget that native plants are often the toughest survivors in any environment and are always the best choice for creating wildlife habitat.”
Sale proceeds benefit environmental programs and events at the Aquarium. For more information, call 252-473-3494, ext. 264.
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