The annual Stoneleigh Native Plant Sale, held online on April 11 and 12, will feature more than 300 varieties of native plants—including more than 100 new offerings. From classic favorites to unique and hard-to-find selections, each native species will bring beauty and biodiversity to gardens, backyards, and patio pots.

Shoppers can preview plants online beginning April 6. Online shopping begins on April 11 for members of nonprofit Natural Lands, which owns and manages Stoneleigh, and April 12 for non-members. At check out, shoppers will select a pick-up time for April 25 or April 26 at Stoneleigh: a natural garden in Villanova. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted for payment. During plant order pick-up, shoppers can browse a selection of additional plants, connect with fellow plant lovers, seek gardening advice from our experts, or simply enjoy a spring day at Stoneleigh.

Many plants sell out quickly, and Natural Lands members get to shop a day early. Join by April 10 to get the first opportunity to buy popular plants at natlands.org/join.

Stoneleigh—one of more than 40 properties cared for by nonprofit Natural Lands—opened its garden gates to the public in May of 2018. The garden provides joy and well-being for tens-of-thousands of guests every year through inspiring displays of native plants in a magnificent former estate in Villanova.

“Our mission is to celebrate the beauty and importance of the natural world and inspire the cultivation of native plants for the benefit of all,” said Ethan Kauffman, director of Stoneleigh. “So many of the plants we feature at our annual sale are growing at Stoneleigh as a way to inspire guests to incorporate natives into their own gardens.”

Native plants are plants that occur naturally in a specific region and have evolved there for thousands of years. Natural Lands encourages home gardeners to choose native plants over their exotic counterparts for the following reasons:

• They are beautiful in both a natural and formal setting;
• They provide seeds, fruit, and caterpillars to feed birds and other wildlife;
• They support native pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and hummingbirds;
• They are well-adapted to our local climate and conditions; 
• They represent the unique floral identity of our region.

In addition to the annual Stoneleigh Native Plant Sale, the public can learn more about native plant species growing at Stoneleigh at natlands.org/nativeplants. The website includes a free-to-access database of plants to know and grow with photos and descriptions.

Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. As the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, Natural Lands—which is member supported—has preserved more than 137,000 acres, including 40-plus nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres. About five million people live within five miles of land under the organization’s protection. Land for life, nature for all. natlands.org.