May 29, 2008

LINCOLN, Neb. — The plants offered at the June 7 plant sale by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum are plants for Nebraska – most of them with identifiable regional seed source; smaller size trees and shrubs and that may well catch up with larger, balled and burlapped trees; and wildflowers and other plants not widely available in the nursery trade.

Bob Henrickson, the arboretum's assistant director for horticulture programs, said the 2008 GreatPlants are among the best of the sale's offerings: prairie smoke, the early-blooming prairie native that sold out quickly at Spring Affair; American hophornbeam, a graceful medium-size tree with hops-like fruit in summer; eastern wahoo, with persistent rosy pink fruit into early winter; and blue grama, a short native grass with eyelash-like blooms.

Although the trees and shrubs offered by the arboretum are small compared to most trees offered by nurseries, Henrickson said, "There's some exciting new native plants at this year's sale. The rarely offered culver's root is very easy to grow, long-lived with attractive foliage, an upright habit and white flower spikes in early summer. Jacob's ladder is a beautiful, dependable plant that can grow in shade or sun, sporting blue bells in early spring. Queen of the meadow, Filipendula ulmaria, should be in every garden, with misty clusters of creamy-white, fragrant flowers in early summer held above handsome dark green foliage."

Plant buyers can follow the signs from the north entrance to UNL's East Campus on 38th and Huntington/Leighton. A complete plant list is on the web at Nebraska Statewide Arboretum or call the arboretum office at (402) 472-2971.

5/29/08-KL/DM

Contacts:

Karma Larsen
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
Communications Associate
(402) 472-2971

Dan Moser
IANR News & Photography Coordinator
(402) 472-3007

Department:
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum