3/14/23 Update: This project is now completed! See results here.
A project to encourage the sale of more native plants by local garden centers is underway. Members of the Roanoke Master Gardeners, Roanoke Master Naturalists, Blue Ridge Wildflower Society, and other individuals will be visiting garden centers in the Roanoke Valley to compile a list of what native plants are offered. The information will be made available to the public to encourage them to ask for native plants at these garden centers. We hope the survey will promote the value of native plants and encourage garden centers to prompt their suppliers to grow more native plants, as well as a wider variety of native plants.
Because invasive plants compromise the ability of native plants to survive and thrive, we will also survey for what plants are being sold that are on the Virginia Invasive Plant list. We do not intend to publish this information; rather, we hope to provide garden centers with a list of native alternatives to consider selling in lieu of known invasive plants.
We also hope, at some point in the future, to offer garden centers native plant information and educational opportunities for their customers. Our goal is to increase awareness of – and demand for – the native plants on which our local insects, birds, and wildlife depend.
To join the effort or for more information, contact Sharon Burnham at 540-343-0080 or seabird66@cox.net.
