The 36th Annual Spring Plant Sale

Sunday, May 16  ●  10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

More and more families are “going green,” planting vegetable gardens at home. Along with a bountiful harvest of seasonal produce, home gardeners are reaping other benefits, as well. “Growing our own vegetables, fruits, and herbs not only stretches the food budget but it makes gardening more gratifying,” says landscape architect Shirley Kerins.  “It reconnects us with nature. And it helps support the trend towards a more sustainable lifestyle by bringing the idea of locally-grown produce right into our own backyards.”  

Kerins is the manager of the Annual Spring Plant Sale at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens—a popular event now in its 36th year. This year’s sale takes place on Sunday, May 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Members of The Huntington can shop early at a preview sale on Saturday, May 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)   Admission to the sale is free.

Shoppers will find all the great offerings this sale is famous for, and there will be dozens of new plants to choose from, as well.  One of the hallmarks of the Huntington sale is the broad selection of unusual varieties that are hard to find at local nurseries.  Look for heirloom tomato seedlings such as Black Krim, Purple Cherokee, and Green Zebra; sweet cherry tomatoes in assorted colors; antique varieties of tomatillo for homemade salsa; flavorful burgundy string beans; soybeans; China choy; Italian fennel; and much more.

“Remember the flavor of a sun-warmed ripe tomato?” asks Kerins. “Or picking your own strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries?  Nothing compares to the freshness of home-grown. In Southern California’s mild climate you can grow edible plants almost year round.”

No home garden would be complete without herbs—some of which, like thyme, make beautiful landscape plantings in addition to being useful in the kitchen. Lemon grass or lemon verbena leaves are delicious for making cold beverages or hot teas, as is the hard to find Hibiscus sabdarifa or Roselle. Herbs grown for their medicinal benefits or for use in perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics will also be available.

There will be plenty of ornamental plants, too, says Kerins, including many uncommon varieties of roses, camellias, orchids, cacti, succulents, bromeliads, palms, and more.  Some of the unusual choices include Lotus maculatus or “Parrot’s Beak,” a sprawling groundcover with gray/green foliage and sprays of yellow and orange flowers tipped with red;  Salvia vanhouttei, a hardy perennial with distinctive burgundy flower spikes that will bloom all summer long; and  Falkia repens, a new groundcover that bears masses of fragrant white blooms. All these, plus hundreds of other great finds, will be offered at this year’s sale.

Shoppers can also pick up gardening tips and expert advice from the volunteers and staff members who will be on hand at the sale.

In order to present the widest possible variety, quantities of each plant are limited so popular items may sell out quickly. Kerins’ perennial advice: “Arrive early for the best selection, and bring a wagon or cart to carry your purchases.”