Native Plants
We host native plant sales throughout the growing season. Please be aware that Gruler Gardens is open to visitors by appointment only, other than on scheduled sale dates or for flower sales at our self-serve flower stand. We are not open to the public during regular business hours for daily retail sales.
2022 Native Plant Sale Dates
Saturday, June 25 from 9 :00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Gruler Gardens
Saturday, July 30 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Gruler Gardens
Saturday, August 27 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Gruler Gardens
Wednesday, September 28 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Festival Place Shelter
Native plant sale with the Petoskey Area Garden Club at the Festival Place Shelter (near the Petoskey waterfront marina)
Plants are also available for purchase via email throughout the growing season (beginning in late May/early June) with pickup as arranged. Send inquiries to grulergardens@grulergardens.com.
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Is your garden club or nonprofit group interested in hosting a native plant sale? Let's talk about how we can work together to get more native plants into the gardens and landscapes of northern Michigan. Contact us today!
"gardeners have become important players in the management of our nation’s wildlife. It is now within the power of individual gardeners to do something that we all dream of doing: to make a difference.”
- Douglas W. Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope
How can we make a difference? Start with native plants!
And what, exactly, is a native plant? Well, definitions vary. In general, plants that are native to an area have been growing there for very long periods of time. In North America, some define a native plant as one pre-dating European settlement. But a definition based on time alone is not complete. In their book The Living Landscape, Douglas Tallamy and Richard Darke expand further, defining a native plant as one "that has evolved in a given place over a period of time sufficient to develop complex and essential relationships with the physical environment and other organisms in a given ecological community." Tallamy emphasizes relationship and function above time alone in defining native plants and explaining their importance. These plants contribute to the ecosystems they inhabit, and that is their value. Many native plants provide the nutritious food that wild creatures need to survive and thrive. In some cases, insects depend entirely on specific species of native plants for their very existence. We humans, in turn, depend upon insects for our own survival.
Native plants are also practical choices for gardeners and landscapers. Because these plants have adapted to our local soil and climate conditions, native plants tend to require less water once established and may need little or no fertilizer. Many are also effective in rain gardens that help to reduce runoff and protect our water systems.
Gardening with native plants goes beyond choosing a particular plant or flower for its beauty alone; it is gardening to support life in your garden and beyond. That said, native plants are beautiful, and many gardeners find it exciting to discover this whole new palette of plants not commonly found in nurseries or garden centers.
Now you can purchase plants native to Michigan right here in Petoskey! Following is a partial list of the species we expect to have available for 2022. Please keep in mind that our inventory is always changing, and some plants may not be available at all times during the season. We may sell out of certain plants and add others. While we try to keep out list up to date, there may be changes that are not reflected on this list. Feel free to email us at grulergardens@grulergardens.com to inquire about availability. We also accept orders via email for scheduled pickup.
Click on each name below to see a photo and plant description.
2022 NATIVE SPECIES LIST:
Aster, Big-Leaf NEW
Bergamot (Monarda/Bee Balm)
Vervain, Hoary NEW
Virginia Creeper (Engelman Ivy)
Tips for Choosing Native Plants
Picking out flowers or familiar garden perennials is often a pretty straightforward deal. They look pretty. You’ve seen them in gardens. Maybe you’ve even grown them before, so you have a good sense of what to expect. So you buy them and you’re on your way.
Native plants may require a bit more thought, but it’s well worth the effort and you’ll have fun in the process. How do you know which ones to buy? Just looking at the young plants in pots won’t help much. It’s like looking at a sea of leaves! That’s why each plant listed here links to a page with a photo and more information. This way you can browse at your computer before making your selections. And do a search or two to see what other sources have to say. If you’re working on project such as a rain garden, search for recommended native plants for that use.
If you’re not sure where to start, we suggest that you begin with plants that look interesting and seem like a good fit for your garden and try just one of two of each. You won’t know it until you grow it!
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider each plant:
What kind of soil and how much sun or shade does this plant require? Does my garden have the right conditions for the plants I like?
How tall does it get? How wide? Do I have enough space in my garden?
How is it shaped? (ex: tall stems vs mounded, low growing, climbing, etc.)
Will it spread? Is it aggressive?
When does it bloom? What do the flowers look like?
Will deer and rabbits eat it?
Is it a host plant? (a plant that butterfly or moth insects eat). If so, what butterflies or moths will it attract?
Is it a nectar plant? (a plant that adult butterflies and bees use for feeding)
Orders may be placed via email. Send us a list of the plants you would like, along with quantities for each. We'll get back to you to confirm availability (inventory is always changing) and arrange a convenient pickup time. You will have the opportunity to inspect your plants before you pay. We accept cash, checks, and credit/debit cards. Please not that all sales are final; we cannot offer refunds or exchanges. Click here for a printable list of the plants we currently offer.
Guarantee
We guarantee that all plants are labeled correctly, and that the plants you buy are healthy and in good condition when they leave the nursery. No other guarantee is expressed or implied. If you encounter a problem once you get your plants home, please contact us immediately.