Plant Sale News – 4/2/25

We’re just 30 days away from the best plant sale in Morris County! Proceeds from the Friends’ Plant Sale support the efforts of the Morris County Park Commission to beautify and maintain the wonderful gardens, trees and trails at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Next week we’ll deliver the Master List of plants, but here are a few choice selection to consider:

  • Calycanthus floridus ‘ Michael Lindsey’, Carolina Allspice or Sweetshrub, a native, woody ornamental with reddish brown, fragrant flowers that bloom for a long period in April and May. The plant has dark green, lustrous foliage with clear yellow to gold fall color. It is wet site tolerant, does well in sun or partial shade, deer resistant, attracts pollinators and may rebloom sporadically throughout the summer. Sweetshrub will grow to a height of 8 feet with a spread of 5 feet.
  • Matteuccia struthioptersOstrich Fern a native of Eastern American woodlands. It gets its name because the open plumes look like Ostrich feathers. Ostrich Fern prefers cool, moist conditions and will spread in any wet, shady area of the garden. Ostrich Fern is deer and rabbit resistant and will grow to a height of 36-60″ and a spread of 36-48″ wide.
  • Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’Golden Fleece Goldenrod. A small growing Goldenrod, with arching yellow flower spikes in late summer. It is deer resistant, attracts butterflies and bees, great for full sun and will grow to a height of 15″ by 24″ wide.