Best garden centers in NOVA?

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in planting some native plants this spring and fall. What are your favorite garden centers that carry native plants, have clearly and correctly marked natives/cultivars/hybrids, and knowledgable friendly staff?

I'm in Fairfax, so the closer the better.

[Anonymous]

Merrifield, we go to the one in Fair Oaks near the Costco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merrifield, we go to the one in Fair Oaks near the Costco.

Not for natives. Plants are often mislabeled, and they usually mark cultivars as natives (which may or may not be okay; depends on what characteristics of the native has been changed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm interested in planting some native plants this spring and fall. What are your favorite garden centers that carry native plants, have clearly and correctly marked natives/cultivars/hybrids, and knowledgable friendly staff?

I'm in Fairfax, so the closer the better.

You're best off with a natives only nursery (being mindful that not everything there will be native to FFX County, or even Virginia, but will be native to the US). Earth Sangha is your local best bet. A little further afield, Hill House and Seven Bends, I have dealt with and are wonderful. There will be lots of native plant sales coming up in the next month or two.

Fairfax ReLeaf just opened their portal for (FREE) plant orders. You may want to look see if they have anything you would want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interested in planting some native plants this spring and fall. What are your favorite garden centers that carry native plants, have clearly and correctly marked natives/cultivars/hybrids, and knowledgable friendly staff?

I'm in Fairfax, so the closer the better.

You're best off with a natives only nursery (being mindful that not everything there will be native to FFX County, or even Virginia, but will be native to the US). Earth Sangha is your local best bet. A little further afield, Hill House and Seven Bends, I have dealt with and are wonderful. There will be lots of native plant sales coming up in the next month or two.

Fairfax ReLeaf just opened their portal for (FREE) plant orders. You may want to look see if they have anything you would want.

Interesting about Fairfax ReLeaf. I am interested in buttonbush, which they have, but I'm worried I'm too much of a novice gardener to get a seedling to thrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interested in planting some native plants this spring and fall. What are your favorite garden centers that carry native plants, have clearly and correctly marked natives/cultivars/hybrids, and knowledgable friendly staff?

I'm in Fairfax, so the closer the better.

You're best off with a natives only nursery (being mindful that not everything there will be native to FFX County, or even Virginia, but will be native to the US). Earth Sangha is your local best bet. A little further afield, Hill House and Seven Bends, I have dealt with and are wonderful. There will be lots of native plant sales coming up in the next month or two.

Fairfax ReLeaf just opened their portal for (FREE) plant orders. You may want to look see if they have anything you would want.

Interesting about Fairfax ReLeaf. I am interested in buttonbush, which they have, but I'm worried I'm too much of a novice gardener to get a seedling to thrive.

It's probably the least fussy plant you will encounter. I got 5 from them last year (among other things). They were twigs. They were all 3' tall by the end of the season. Nothing else I got from them did so well. 3 were in a spot where I could water them, and I did through last year's drought. 2 were in a spot that stays wet naturally, although it didn't last year, and they all did well. I did absolutely nothing for them, other than sticking them in the ground in terrible clay soil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merrifield, we go to the one in Fair Oaks near the Costco.

Not for natives. Plants are often mislabeled, and they usually mark cultivars as natives (which may or may not be okay; depends on what characteristics of the native has been changed).

Not in my experience at the Merrifield nursery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interested in planting some native plants this spring and fall. What are your favorite garden centers that carry native plants, have clearly and correctly marked natives/cultivars/hybrids, and knowledgable friendly staff?

I'm in Fairfax, so the closer the better.

You're best off with a natives only nursery (being mindful that not everything there will be native to FFX County, or even Virginia, but will be native to the US). Earth Sangha is your local best bet. A little further afield, Hill House and Seven Bends, I have dealt with and are wonderful. There will be lots of native plant sales coming up in the next month or two.

Fairfax ReLeaf just opened their portal for (FREE) plant orders. You may want to look see if they have anything you would want.

Interesting about Fairfax ReLeaf. I am interested in buttonbush, which they have, but I'm worried I'm too much of a novice gardener to get a seedling to thrive.

It's probably the least fussy plant you will encounter. I got 5 from them last year (among other things). They were twigs. They were all 3' tall by the end of the season. Nothing else I got from them did so well. 3 were in a spot where I could water them, and I did through last year's drought. 2 were in a spot that stays wet naturally, although it didn't last year, and they all did well. I did absolutely nothing for them, other than sticking them in the ground in terrible clay soil.

Maybe I'll try it - thanks!

[Anonymous]

The Merrifield in Merrifield (There are multiple locations)

[Anonymous]

I love Merrifield. Meadows Farms has a great selection and they have better prices than Merrifield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Merrifield in Merrifield (There are multiple locations)

Merrifield GC has three locations, and has multiple ways of overcharging. It’s still my fave to get updated and inspired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Merrifield in Merrifield (There are multiple locations)

Merrifield GC has three locations, and has multiple ways of overcharging. It’s still my fave to get updated and inspired.

I cruise the sale table, but rarely buy anything full price.

[Anonymous]

Earth Sangha in Springfield has a wide selection of straight natives and friendly, helpful staff. Nature By Design sells at various NoVa farmers markets and takes delivery orders. But I’m not sure there’s a way to browse their offerings since they moved from Delray. Nice plants, have always been very happy with them. Have purchased a few native cultivars from Merrifield in Merrifield but haven’t been out there recently to see if they have a good selection of straight natives. For now, I’m sticking with Earth Sangha, Nature By Design, and local native plant sales.

[Anonymous]

Randee at Nature By Design is very helpful by phone and email.

[Anonymous]

Reston farm market and garden center.