Where to find Shrubs and Hydrangeas at a more reasonable price

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In many locations around the DMV you can get discounted/subsidized native shrubs from local watershed organizations. These are likely to be smaller than commercial sizes and some may be bare root, but within 2 years they will be the same size as the retail garden center versions. There are also a lot of local native plant sales in the fall that typically sell plants for around 50% off garden center prices.

Some of the best locally native shrubs you might find offered are:
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
- Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Smooth hydrangea (Hydrange arborescens)
- Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Just a note about mountain laurel - it will be incredibly unlikely you will get it to flourish without a ton of soil prep and even then, it’s unlikely. Mountain Laurel is awesome - but not well suited to domestication.

I have also heard that Mountain Laurel is difficult to grow. I got two American Beautyberry seedlings from the Northern VA water and soil conservation organization this spring and they are growing very quickly. I think it was 4 seedlings for $20. The American Beautyberry is beautiful. My sweetspire seedlings are also growing fast. I’m unimpressed with the native sweetshrub but it could be that I have it in the wrong soil. Only blooms for a week.

[Anonymous]

I got a 3 gal mountain hydrangea for $20 at Merrifield’s tent sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a 3 gal mountain hydrangea for $20 at Merrifield’s tent sale.

Which Merrifield location?

[Anonymous]

Propagation is easy. Cut off boxwood sprigs, put some rooting hormone on them and stick them in the soil. Make sure the squirrels don't carry them away. Granted this takes a while but I grew over 100 boxwoods this way. Hydrangeas are even easier to do - just put a brick or stone on a branch that hits the ground, it will develop roots, cut it off, and then replant stem. Many bushes can be divided which is even faster.

American Plant often has end of season sales.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In many locations around the DMV you can get discounted/subsidized native shrubs from local watershed organizations. These are likely to be smaller than commercial sizes and some may be bare root, but within 2 years they will be the same size as the retail garden center versions. There are also a lot of local native plant sales in the fall that typically sell plants for around 50% off garden center prices.

Some of the best locally native shrubs you might find offered are:
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
- Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Smooth hydrangea (Hydrange arborescens)
- Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Just a note about mountain laurel - it will be incredibly unlikely you will get it to flourish without a ton of soil prep and even then, it’s unlikely. Mountain Laurel is awesome - but not well suited to domestication.

We were so excited for our dwarf mountain laurel, but they died a very quick death. They never really took root, looked very sad, and they plucked right out of the ground without any effort when we replaced them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a nursery within 2 hours driving distance from the DMV that has cheaper prices on hydrangeas and shrubs. We are doing landscape project for our backyard and prices at the nurseries around the DMW are high. I realize everything is more expensive now but hoping to find a nursery driving distance that may be cheaper.

There are a few but most will not sell retail. They commercial grow the plants. With an account you will pay a quarter of the price of the nurseries up here and that is with a commercial discount.

You can try Ingleside nurseries but you have to know the botanical name and size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like Bluestone Perennials for shrubs.

I love bluestone perennials for flowers and bulbs but I was disappointed how small the shrubs were when they arrived

[Anonymous]

Costco in early spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In many locations around the DMV you can get discounted/subsidized native shrubs from local watershed organizations. These are likely to be smaller than commercial sizes and some may be bare root, but within 2 years they will be the same size as the retail garden center versions. There are also a lot of local native plant sales in the fall that typically sell plants for around 50% off garden center prices.

Some of the best locally native shrubs you might find offered are:
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
- Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Smooth hydrangea (Hydrange arborescens)
- Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Just a note about mountain laurel - it will be incredibly unlikely you will get it to flourish without a ton of soil prep and even then, it’s unlikely. Mountain Laurel is awesome - but not well suited to domestication.

We were so excited for our dwarf mountain laurel, but they died a very quick death. They never really took root, looked very sad, and they plucked right out of the ground without any effort when we replaced them.

Hm, mine is thriving. Guess I got lucky, but I didn't do anything special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like Bluestone Perennials for shrubs.

I love bluestone perennials for flowers and bulbs but I was disappointed how small the shrubs were when they arrived

You get what you pay for. If it is cheap, expect it to be small. If it's really cheap, you may get a cutting that has barely set root yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like Bluestone Perennials for shrubs.

I love bluestone perennials for flowers and bulbs but I was disappointed how small the shrubs were when they arrived

You get what you pay for. If it is cheap, expect it to be small. If it's really cheap, you may get a cutting that has barely set root yet.

Bluestone sells small but very healthy plants that grow and establish quickly. You just have to water well if it doesn’t rain. I’ve been buying from them for over 25 years. Their plants all follow the sleep, creep, leap 3-year pattern.