American Plant Garden Center: Native Plant Section Gets an Upgrade!

Bethesda-Chevy Chase retail nursery has more native plants.

I try to visit retail locations where we can buy native plants in the central Chesapeake watershed at least once a year to keep Nuts for Natives up to date. Not exactly a hardship - lol! I don't always make it to every one but, for sure, if I am running early for something, I always check to see if there is something nearby. That's how I found myself at the Bethesda- Chevy Chase location of American Plant last week right before a deluge of rain.

I've been to this location so many times, including several times this year, so knew pretty much what to expect. Wrong! I was delightfully surprised to see how their native plant section has grown. And more than that, every single plant in the section was a native or a cultivar of a native, and identified as such.  Awesome work American Plant.

I have said so many times how critical it is to shop at our beloved native plant nurseries if we want to grow the supply of native plants, support wildlife in the Chesapeake and have fun while doing all that. That has never been truer.

But just think. What if all of our larger garden centers were also able to reach their customers with native plants? That's an orders of magnitude larger customer base for native plants.

To be sure, many of our independently owned garden centers sell native plants. Often though, it is not easy to find them. They can be mixed in with all of the ornamental plants and you have to be a sleuth. Or, it has been busy and we customers have rearranged the plants and the native plant section turns into a hodgepodge. Or their buyers can't find the plants.

Not at American Plant this year. I learned that Rica, who gives all the credit to her team, has really been upping the game there. Well, beautifully done team! I also learned customers can place a special order if there is a specific plant you want that is not available or you want a larger quantity of plants. Rica reminded me availability is more plentiful in spring and fall.

Culver's Root in the Butterfly Alley Demonstration Garden

As for Rica's favorite native plant? She is a longtime fan of Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum). I like this perennial too - the graceful wands of white flowers are captivating. In my average soils, they grow but do not thrive. Moist soils are ideal.

This seems as good a time as any to mention that Nuts for Natives has no financial connection to any native plant nursery, designer, or landscaper.

I so appreciate all of your suggestions about places to buy native plants and have a healthy list of places to visit as a result. Do you know of other garden centers doing a fantastic job? By all means, please let us all know in the comments!

If you find yourself near American Plant's Bethesda- Chevy Chase location, you might want to pop in - hopefully without that gully washer!

Happy Gardening.