The Fullerton Arboretum’s Potting Shed hosts a huge California native and fall plant sale in the middle of October each year. “Fall is the best time to plant natives and other related plants”, according to Evie Tyra, Nursery Manager. “We always have numerous indigenous varieties that will be available for sale, and they have been carefully propagated and grown in our state-of-the-art Fullerton Arboretum nursery by volunteers and staff. Many uncommon varieties are available for sale and several can be found growing on the Fullerton Arboretum grounds.” The 2009 sale is scheduled for October 10 & 11.

Some of the featured specialty varieties in the past have included Dendromecon rigida, a native to the Sierra Nevada and coastal ranges of California and Baja California; Bush Poppy, which is a woody shrub that typically grows in post-burn chaparral, and Dendromecon harfordi, a species that is found on Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Catalina Islands off the coast of southern California. In addition, Cercis occidentalis, or the Western Redbud, Romneya coulteri ‘White Cloud’, a spectacular perennial plant called the Matilija Poppy, with flowers up to 9 inches wide and Romneya trichocalyx will be featured. Many other distinctive varieties of California natives and non-native plants are generally available for sale.

The sales hours both days for this event are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A special “Members Only Preview” sale is usually held on Friday before the sale, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Prospective new members can sign-up at a special registration desk during these hours; admission is free. Check this page again later for updates on the 2009 sale.