Morris Arboretum’s Plant Sale offers a wide array of choice plants, including many unusual and hard-to-find items, so leave room in your wagon, and your garden, for a few extra selections.

At the perennials booth this year, several native plants will be featured that will help gardeners to help the pollinators. Many of these important insects are in decline and one of the easiest things to do to support them is grow the plants that insects need. Consider dense blazing star—Liatris spicata, an elegant staple in the butterfly garden and golden Alexanders—Zizia aurea, a host plant for the black swallowtail caterpillar.

Annuals take a new twist this year with the addition of tropical foliage. Look for patterned bromeliads, exotically striped cordylines, and anthuriums with their heart-shaped leaves and long-lasting blooms. Look for ‘Stainless Steel’ —Pseuderanthemum known as the “the little black dress of horticulture.” Don’t forget the culinary herbs: basil, chives, mint, oregano, and thyme, which are all excellent pollinator plants.

The event will be held at the Horticulture Center at Bloomfield Farm, across the street from the Arboretum’s public garden on Mother’s Day weekend, May 12 & 13. Friday is members-only day; join now and save 10% on plants. Saturday the sale is open to the public.

For more info, visit the Morris Arboretum website.