Open Sale
Saturday, March 23, 2019 9am-2pm
On the Campus of Whatcom Community College
Map to Plant Sale

 

New for 2019!

Pre-ordering is over.  Plants can be purchased at our open sale on Saturday March 23rd.

Pre-Order deadline
Orders must be received by
Monday March 11, 2019
The online store will be closed at 4:30pm.

Pre-order pick ups Friday, March 22nd 9am-3pm
On the Campus of Whatcom Community College

Or

Or Saturday, March 23rd 9am-2pm
On the Campus of Whatcom Community College

 

40+ Tree and Shrub Species Available

Table of Contents

Sign up for WCD Newsletter Here  Volunteer Information Here

• Purpose of the Annual Plant Sale
• Venue
• Directions
• Online Store
• Two Ways to Purchase
• Rain Gardens
• Simple Price List
• Plant Descriptions
• Terms

• Other Resources

 

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNER AND HOST WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Brian Keeley;  Jason Lindsay and the WCC Grounds Crew; Rob Beishline and Roe Studio instructors and students.

and Thank you Fourth Corner Nurseries for donating native plants for kids.

LAST YEARS EXPO VENDORS AND EXHIBITORS

Vendors:
Cloud Mountain Farm, Freeborn Metal Art, Morgan Creek Nursery, Namaste Gardens, Plantas nativa, Shady Pond Tree Farm, and Tuxedo Gardens.

Exhibitors:
Common Threads Farm, Mt. Baker Beekeepers, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, ReSources for Sustainable Communities, Washington Native Plant Society - Koma Kulshan Chapter, Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board - featuring Lucy Loosestrife, and the WSU Master Gardeners, Master Composters, and Community Gardens. 

Interested in having your group as an exhibitor?  Give us a call at 360-526-2381                                                                                                                                                              

NATIVE PLANTS ARE INSPIRING

Here is what you are telling us about your native plants.  The results are inspiring:

• 925 wildlife & pollinator habitats installed
• 372 hedgerows or windbreaks installed
• 222 buffers installed on small farms to improve water quality
• 1,093 general landscaping with native plants
• 265 forest stand improvement/enhancement
• 284 erosion control projects installed
• 152 riparian buffers installed
• 243 wetlands restored
• 25  rain gardens installed (new to survey in 2016)

 

 

PURPOSE OF THE ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE:

The purpose of the WCD’s annual plant sale is to promote the stewardship and conservation of our natural resources. The plants sold at this sale are “conservation grade”, which means they are graded on their ability to survive, not on their ornamental value. Seedling plants are not large (generally between 10” and 36” tall), so your order will fit in the trunk or back seat of your car. We will have bags and packing materials available at the sale, or feel free to bring your own.

Planting native trees and shrubs can provide many positive benefits to your property and the natural environment such as improved water quality, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, reduction of wind and soil erosion, cleaner air, reduction of energy costs, and beautification of your property!  This sale is a great opportunity to purchase low cost native plants and to get them in the ground before the growing season begins.  Experienced conservationists will be available to answer your native plant questions.

The event is a self-supporting program of the Whatcom Conservation District with support by loyal volunteers and local businesses.

 

Plant Sale Venue!

The sale will be held on the Campus of Whatcom Community College (WCC).

 

Driving Directions

Map (PDF) --- Google Maps

Whatcom Community College Campus, 237 W. Kellogg Rd. From I-5 take exit 256, head north on Guide Meridian, turn left (west) onto Kellogg Rd and go straight through the roundabout. Then turn right just before the tennis courts and soccer fields at Kelly Hall main parking lot. Plant sale is at the Roe Pottery Studio on campus. Lots of parking is available adjacent to the sale in Kelly Hall main parking lot. An alternate entrance to the parking lot is found by following W. Kellogg as it bends around to the north and becomes Stuart Rd.

 

 

Phone: 360-526 2381     Email: plantsale@whatcomcd.org

 

 

TWO WAYS TO PURCHASE PLANTS

Pre-orders: Require a $100 minimum purchase. Orders must be completed no later than Monday March 11, 2019. Pre-orders are bundled for you and can be picked-up on Friday March 22nd, 9am-3pm.

If you’d like to pre-order but can’t meet the $100 minimum, try ordering with neighbors, friends, and family, and then split up the order.

Order at our online store here.

Open Sale: If you can not meet the minimum order and only need a few plants, come to the open sale.  Plants will be sold individually, on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday March 23rd, 2019 from 9am-2pm.  We do not raise prices for individual plants, so you will get the same price as if you were buying a bundle.

NOTE:
Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee availability of plants on the list below. We order our plants six months before the sale and uncontrollable situations, such as crop failure, could prevent us from having all species listed in stock.  Information can also be requested from the WCD office at 360-526-2381 or e-mail plantsale@whatcomcd.org.

 

 

Rain Gardens

Find out more about Rain Gardens Here

 

WSU Extension Trees of Washington - Download your free copy with this link

 

Bloom Time Chart

 

 

Plant Descriptions

Click the common name of the plants to get more information and images.

• Out of Stock for Pre-Sale:
• Soil Moisture Tolerance Range:  = Wet, = Moist, = Dry, = Well drained
• Light Tolerance Range: = Full sun, = Partial sun/shade, = Shade
• Benefits Pollinators:

Note: Plants are native to Whatcom county unless otherwise noted.

Simple Price List PDF

Evergreen Trees

• Alaska Yellow Cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) 70-100ft
  • Usually found above 2,000 feet elevation. Its blue-green foliage, pendulous branches and nonsymmetrical shape make it a popular choice for landscaping. Avoided by deer. More Info.
• Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) >200ft  
  • Deeply fissured, reddish brown bark at maturity. Fast growing.  Does best in dry, sunny sites.  More Info.
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis) >200ft  
  • Needles lay flat and are dark green above and silvery beneath. Noted for its fragrant scent. More Info.
• Shore Pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta) 25–40ft
  • Usually found locally near saltwater. The deep green needles are twisted – 2 per bundle – and cones are small.  Easy and fast growing. Tend to lean over in high wind areas.  More Info.
• Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) >100ft
  • Stiff, sharp, blue-green needles. Fast growing tree with light, strong wood used for pianos, ladders, airplanes, etc. More Info.
• Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) 90->200ft
  • One of the most common trees in the Pacific Northwest, a graceful evergreen with a narrow, pyramidal crown; semi-pendulous branches; red-brown, scaly bark; and fine-textured, dark-green needles. More Info.
• Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) >100ft  
  • Widely distributed native. Yellow-green to red-green scale-like leaves and reddish brown bark.  Wood is rot resistant.  This versatile tree has many uses.  More Info.

 

Broadleaf Trees

• Cascara (Frangula purshiana) 30-40ft
  • Small tree or tall shrub, used in stream and wetland restoration projects. Small pale greenish-yellow flowers in spring, ripen to a dark red berry, produces colorful fall foliage. Birds are attracted to fruit. One tree which beaver avoid. More Info.
• Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)75ft
  • Broadleaf evergreen. Coppery brown, peeling bark.  Flowers and fruit are enjoyed by many different birds. Needs appropriate conditions to grow. More Info.
• Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) 75ft  
  • Deciduous. Grows rapidly. Its light-green, compound leaves turn yellow in fall. Good in wet areas, landscaping, and habitat restoration.  More Info.
• Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca) 20-30ft
  • Small tree, usually multi-stemmed.  Fruits are oblong and can be used to make jelly if you get them before the birds do.  More Info.
• Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) 30-50ft
  • Whatcom County native. Deciduous. White flowers in spring and fall and red fruit.  A beautiful tree, but it will not thrive if conditions are not appropriate.  Prefers coarse and well-drained sols.  More Info.
• Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) 50-75ft  
  • Orange-brown or white papery bark.  Attractive landscaping tree.  Young seedlings are a favored food of deer.  More Info.
• Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) 75ft  
  • Whatcom County native.  Deciduous. Mature trees have white bark.  Noted for its heart-shaped leaves that flutter in the breeze.  Forms groves.  More Info.

 

Shrubs

• Black Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) 9-12ft
  • Rapid growth, tall and wide. Yellow, tubular flowers ripen to black fruit, which birds love. Great for riparian restoration or erosion control. More Info.
• Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea) 6-24ft
  • A large shrub or small tree with flat-topped clusters of fragrant, creamy flowers followed by blue berries. Deciduous leaves are pinnately compound and somewhat persistent. More Info.
• Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) 4-7ft
  • Common east of the Cascades.  A multi stemmed, drought tolerant shrub.  Bright yellow flowers give way to edible berries.  It is favored by wildlife and often used in ornamental landscapes.  Foliage turns yellow in the fall. More Info.
• Indian-Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) 15ft
  • One of first plants flowering in spring.  Bark is purplish-brown.  Pendulous white flowers bloom in late winter.  Leaves have strong cucumber smell when crushed.  Fruit enjoyed by birds.  More Info.
• Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) 8–10ft
  • Sweet smelling white flower in late spring.  Hardy and drought tolerant. Easy to grow. More Info.
• Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) 10ft
  • Found in mid to low elevations of WA, showy 3-inch pink flowers. Useful for erosion control, wildlife and barrier plantings. More Info.
• Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) 6-13ft
  • A many stemmed shrub that produces plumed clusters of creamy white flowers in early summer. Generally easy to grow. Provides food and cover for wildlife.  More Info.
• Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) 15ft  
  • A large shrub often found growing along streams, lakes, and bogs. Long, arching branches; clusters of small, white flowers; peeling layers of cinnamon bark.  Its dense, matting root system helps to stabilize streambanks.  More Info.
• Peafruit (Cluster) Rose (Rosa pisocarpa) 6–8ft
  • Western native rose with clusters of pink flowers and small red hips.  Good for erosion control, wildlife, and barrier plantings. More Info.
• Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) 10–15ft
  • Late winter-early spring bloomer. Considered one of Western Washington’s most beautiful flowering shrubs with pale-pink to deep-red flowers. More Info.
• Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) 10–14ft
  • White flower cluster producing white or blue fruit.  Bright red bark in the winter.  Fast growing.  Very adaptable to a variety of sites and easy to grow. More Info.
• Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) 6ft
  • Thicket forming shrub with small, pink bell-shaped flowers. Persistent white fruit provides winter food for wildlife. Provides good soil stabilization. Tolerates salt spray. More Info.
• Subalpine Spirea (Spiraea splendens) 1-3ft
  • Low growing shrub topped with fragrant clusters of bright pink flowers.  Tolerant of shade, it will do much better in a sunny, moist site.  More Info.
• Sweet Gale (Myrica gale) <5ft  
  • Perennial shrub found in wetlands and bogs, nitrogen-fixer.  Male and female flowers are on separate plants.  Aromatic.  Spreads by suckers.  More Info.
• Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) 15–25ft
  • Green bark.  Fall foliage varies from yellow to scarlet-red. Grow as a multi-stemmed shrub or as a small tree. More Info.

 

Specialty Plants/Perennials/Groundcovers

• Davidson’s Penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii) <0.5
  • Very short, creeping, evergreen shrub.  Small, tubular, blue to purple flowers among dark green, glossy leaves. An alpine plant that will do well in a sunny, rocky location.  More Info.
• Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) 3ft  
  • Whatcom County native.  Medium size evergreen fern with two kinds of leaves. Sterile leaves lie close to the ground and spore bearing leaves grow upward.  More Info.

• Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) 6-13ft
  • A many branched, evergreen shrub with leathery oval leaves, shiny above, paler beneath.  Pink, bell-shaped flowers are followed by dark, edible berries.  New growth in the spring is coppery red.  More Info.

• Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) 1ft
  • Ground-hugging evergreen with white flowers and red berries.  Grows well on rocky, exposed sites.  More Info.
• Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum) 2-5ft
  • Low, evergreen shrub typical of acidic, boggy areas. Clusters of white flowers on coppery, reddish branches.  Aromatic, glossy leaves, with rusty hairs beneath.  Caution plant parts are toxic.  More Info.
• Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) 1-2ft
  • Found throughout WA.  Grass-like leaves rise from a bulb. Clusters of pink flowers “nod” atop a thin stem. Plants will do well being divided every third year as bulbs divide.  Reported to be avoided by deer. More Info
• Oregon Iris (Iris tenax) 1-3ft
  • Evergreen perennial with large flowers ranging from white to deep purple with dark purple veins. Occasional watering to drought tolerant once established.  Will form large clumps.  Reported to be avoided by deer. More Info
• Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum) 0.5-2ft
  • A grayish, woolly, leaved plant with golden-yellow flower heads. Bloom from May to July. Drought tolerant. More Info.
• Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum) 5-25ft
  • Washington State flower.  Evergreen shrub with large bell shaped flowers that range from pink to deep rose-purple.  Blooms in late spring. More Info.
• Pink Monkey Flower (Mimulus lewisii) 1-3ft
  • Clumping perennial with bright, pink, tubular flowers common in and along streams. Blooms June through September.  Light afternoon shade will prolong the bloom period. Attractive to hummingbirds. More Info.
• Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) 0.5-1.5ft
  • Found in eastern WA and OR in prairies and pine woodlands. Basal clumps of fern-like leaves with rich, pink bell-shaped flowers. Flowers turn upward and feathery plumes develop, ready to be carried away by the wind. More Info.
• Redwood Sorrel/Oregon Oxalis (Oxalis oregana) 0.5-1ft  
  • Carpet forming groundcover with clover like leaves and white or pink flowers. Does best where the soil is cool and shaded. Spreads quickly and vigorously.  More Info.
• Salal (Gaultheria shallon) 2-6ft  
  • Broadleaf evergreen groundcover.  Flowers are white to pink and the edible, berry-like fruit is nearly black when ripe.  More Info.
• Spiny Wood Fern (Dryopteris expansa) 1.5-2ft  
  • A fairly large fern with lacy leaves on triangular fronds that can reach 3 feet in length.  It occurs in moist forests on margins and in clearings.  It may also be found growing on scree slopes in low to subalpine elevations.  More Info.
• Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) 2-5ft  
  • A large, tufted evergreen fern.  Easy to grow, reported to be deer resistant. More Info.
• Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) 0.5  
  • A small, deciduous strawberry with tiny white flowers that give way to small, sweet berries.  Spreads easily via long, delicate runners. More Info.

 

Miscellaneous

• Wildflower Seed 2-4ft
  • Includes perennials, annuals & biennials in white, yellow, blue, orange, red, purple, & pink.
• Cascadia Mushroom Organic Mushroom Compost (1-cubic foot bags)
  • Made from 100% organic mushroom substrate used to grow mushrooms then allowed to compost down naturally. It contains no animal by-products or additives.  Worms do most of the work and each bag is full of red wiggler worms.  Basic testing shows good numbers for NPK.  It is a bit acidic so it’s great for berries, rhodies, native trees, and many veggie crops.
  • 1 c.f. bag will cover a
    • 2 x 2 area, 3 inches deep
    • 1 x 2 area, 6 inches deep
    • 1 x 1 area, 12 inches deep
• 48” Bamboo Stakes
  • Bamboo stakes are needed for securing “Blue tubes”. We will be offering used blue tubes for FREE at the plant sale (depending on availability). Tubes protect seedlings from rodents, mowers & herbicide drift. Also useful for protecting tomatoes & other veggie starts
• 18" Norplex Tree Protectors (Blue Tubes)
  • Depending upon availability, "blue tubes" are FREE at the Plant Sale site.
  • Tubes protect seedlings from rodents, mowers & herbicide drift. Also useful for protecting tomatoes & other vegetable starts.

 

---

Terms:

P = (Plug): Seedling grown in a plastic tube for 1 year. A plant grown as a plug will develop a more fibrous root system than one grown in the field.
BR = Bare root: seedling with soil removed from roots.
1-0: 1 year old BR plant grown 1 year in a seedling bed.
2–0: 2 year old BR plant grown in a seed bed.
2-1: 3 year old BR plant grown 2 years in a seed bed and 1 year in a transplant bed.
P–1: 2 year old BR plant grown 1 year as a plug and 1 year in a transplant bed.
P–2: 3 year old BR plant grown 1 year as plug and 2 years in a transplant bed.
Whip: 36” un-rooted cutting

 

Other Districts Plant Sale Pages

• Snohomish CD
• Skagit CD
• King CD
• Pierce County CD

 

Other helpful Native Plant Sites:

• WSU Plants of the PNW
• Washington Native Plant Society
• The Burke Museum of Hatural History and Culture/University of Washington Herbarium
• Big List of Fact Sheets at Virginia Tech's Department of Forestry
• USDA Plant Database
• Plants of the Wild
• Bosky Dell Natives Nursery
• LadyBird Johnson Wildflower Center
• WACD Plant Materials Center
• Fourth Corner Nurseries
• WSU Extension Native Plants of the NW
• Virtual Library of Botany
• Pacific Northwest Native Wildlife Gardening
• Hansen's Northwest Native Plants Database
• Native Plants of the PNW
• E-Flora BC
• Turner Photographics
• Plants for a Future
• USDA Forest Service-Celebrating Wildflowers
• Native Plants PNW
• WSU Extension Coummunity Horticulture