Chadwick Arboretum sale boasts thousands of plants, trees, more
Since 1987, gardeners in Greater Columbus have flocked to the Ohio State University campus in early May to purchase their favorite perennials, annuals, vegetables and herbs at central Ohio’s largest two-day plant sale.
After a two-year hiatus because of COVID, the arboretum will once again welcome gardeners back to campus on May 13 and 14 for its 35th Annual Spring Plant Sale and Auction.
Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens is a not-for-profit organization that operates 60 acres of urban gardens and green reserve on the OSU campus with more than 2,000 ornamental plants including trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, wildflowers, ferns, aquatic plants and ornamental grasses. Funds raised through the plant sale provides support for student horticultural organizations, research, educational programming and operations of the 60acre arboretum.
Plants galore
At the sale, gardeners will find 11,000 new, unusual and proven reliable edible and ornamental plants, as well as a variety of garden planters and a toolsharpening service. All plants offered at the sale have been chosen to be of the highest quality with the most successful growth potential for specific growing conditions of Greater Columbus.
The sale will include a diverse selection of perennials and annuals, vegetables, herbs and colorful hanging baskets. Several native plants will be featured at the sale and both empty and planted hypertufa planters will be available for purchase along with decorative painted pots and birdhouses painted by Chadwick’s Horticulture Therapy program. An auction of donated trees, shrubs and gardening supplies will also be held each day of the sale.
Preview party for members
Members of Chadwick Arboretum will get the first opportunity to purchase discounted plants at the sale at the Friends of Chadwick Preview Party from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The gala will include a silent auction and a reception with gourmet food and entertainment. Memberships can be purchased at the door on the evening of the event.
Learn from experts at the sale
If you are uncertain about which plants are best for your landscape or garden, plenty of experts will be on hand to help you choose the most appropriate plants based on your personal gardening goals and objectives.
Plant Ambassadors will be stationed throughout the sale grounds to answer questions you may have about specific
plants, and OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers will also be at the sale to help you select the perfect plants to take home. The volunteers will also offer
advice to help you have season-long success with the plants you choose.
Free educational resources on many different gardening topics from growing giant pumpkins to choosing plants that support pollinators will be available at the "Ask A Master Gardener" booth at the sale.
The plant sale will be open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, at the northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive across from The Schottenstein Center. Free parking is available in OSU Gray Lots 1 and 2.
Food trucks and restroom facilities will be available at the sale and only checks and credit cards will be accepted for purchase.
Annual membership to Chadwick Arboretum is $40 and includes educational events throughout the year, discounts at 10 central Ohio garden centers, and free or discounted entrance at American Horticultural Society Public Gardens throughout the US. Memberships can be purchased at the plant sale or by visiting chadwickarboretum.osu.edu.
Mike Hogan is an associate professor at Ohio State University and an educator at the OSU Extension.hogan.1@osu.edu