Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is hosting a series of plant sales in May and June.

Sale dates are:

• Spring Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7

• Afternoon Plant Sales, noon to 5 p.m. May 12, 20 and 27

• Afternoon Plant Sales, noon to 5 p.m. June 10 and 17

The sales are at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum growing facility at 2150 N. 38th St.

Regionally native plants are some of the best to tolerate landscape challenges like poor soil, diseases, pests and variable moisture, said Bob Henrickson, horticulture program coordinator.

“That means gardeners are also planting for pollinators, which can increase garden production in your own yard while benefitting the larger environment,” Henrickson said.

One of the things the Arboretum offers and recommends is collections of plants — not just one coneflower, but a variety of them with varying characteristics and blooming at different times. The arboretum has some great collections of asters, goldenrods, gayfeather, joe-pye plant, as well as trees like bur, oak and buckeye.

For useful and varied workhorse plants, Henrickson recommends sedges. These plants filter pollutants, don’t have to be mowed or even cut back in spring, stabilize pond edges, keep weeds out and some are semi-evergreen in winter.

“They have extremely varied ornamental characteristics and there’s one for almost every tough site from wet to dry, shade to sun and every combination in between,” Henrickson said.

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is dedicated to improving and enhancing Nebraska community landscapes, promoting native plants and inspiring adults and children to get involved in gardening.

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