Reviewed by: Patience Itson
3 reasons you need to shop this month-long native plant sale at Ruffner Mountain this April
Reading time: 4 minutes
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It’s time to spruce up your spring garden at the Ruffner Mountain + Turkey Creek Native Plant Sale.
Every Saturday in April, you’ll discover more than 100 native plants, including trees, shrubs and unique herbs.
You can also help threatened plants like the Rudbeckia auriculata (Giant-Eared Black-Eyed Susan).
Read on for everything you need to know.
Ruffner Mountain + Turkey Creek Native Plant Sale—details
- What: Ruffner Mountain + Turkey Creek Native Plant Sale
- When: Saturdays in April | 10AM-2PM
- Where: Ruffner Mountain Greenhouse, 1214 81st Street S. Birmingham, AL 35206
Bonus: Ruffner, Turkey Creek and Red Mountain Park members will receive 10% off their purchases.
More reasons to attend
When you shop the sale, you won’t just be adding beauty to your garden. You’ll be amplifying the ecological benefits these plants offer by:
- Birds: Native flowers that produce seed heads, like sunflowers, or berries are important sources of food supply for adult birds.
- Most baby birds only eat insects: Adult birds go bug-hunting to feed their chicks. They need plenty of bugs to bring back to the nest.
- Insect beauties: Native plants support the thriving of butterflies, dragonflies and native bees. For instance, the Black Swallowtail relies on Zizia aurea (golden alexanders) as its host plant for survival.
Plus—all proceeds go to support Ruffner Mountain, Turkey Creek and Red Mountain Park.
1. Help threatened + endangered species in Alabama
DYK gardening with native plants—just like those you see at Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek—can help expand local plant communities?
It’s also a great way to help the preservation and propagation of rare, endemic or endangered plant species, such as:
- Rudbeckia auriculata (giant eared black eyed susan)
- Better known as “Eared Coneflower”, this North American perennial is known for its vibrant yellow or orange-yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centers.
- This threatened species grows in Turkey Creek.
- Silphium perplexum
- Endemic to Bibb County, this stunning rosin weed plant resembles a large sunflower, boasting magnificent yellow blooms that attract butterflies, bees + pollinators.
Pawpaws(Asimina triloba), Alabama’s native tree fruit, will also be available for purchase.
These special trees are named after papayas and feature a unique flavor reminiscent of a blend of mango, banana + melon.
More available plants for sale include:
- Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
- Cherokee Sedge (Carex cherokeensis)
- Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Buying native plants directly fuels the essential care of Ruffner Mountain, Turkey Creek and Red Mountain Park.
Check out Ruffner’s inventory list for Spring 2024.
2. Shopping tips
We spoke with Jamie Nobles, Conservation Director of Ruffner Mountain, to get a few pro shopping tips before heading to the April sales.
Here’s what he told us:
- Availability of certain plant species may vary depending on the date, and quantities might be limited. Rest assured, every sale will offer a wide selection of plants, so there’s no need to rush. There will be plenty of plants for everyone each week!
- Create a plant shopping list to help you plan + focus on what you’d like to see when you arrive to shop. It’s a great way to make the most of your visit!
- Bonus: This year, Ruffner Mountain will be offering a special deal on Black-eyed Susans. The greenhouse has an abundance this season, so you can get them at a discounted price.
- You can also download Ruffner Mountain + Turkey Creek’s 2024 Spring Plant Sale shopping list to learn about differences between plants like (Rudbeckia hirta) Black-eyed Susans, Orange coneflower + more.
3. Native plant experts will help you shop
With your shopping list in hand, you’ll have a good idea of the types of plants to look for at the sale.
But, there will also be enthusiastic staff and volunteers on site ready to assist you with anything you need. Experienced in plant propagation and sales, they will help you find plants that fit your goals and budget.
Green up your garden at Ruffner Mountain + Turkey Creek Native Plant Sale every Saturday in April.
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