Friends of Wehr Native Plant Sale Fundraiser
Saturday & Sunday, May 31 & June 1, 2025; 10 am - 3:30 pm
Become a champion for Wehr Nature Center and the environment by purchasing native plants. Any size planting creates a wildlife oasis, connecting beneficial ecosystems that support plants, animals, and humans.
Why Buy Plants from the Friends of Wehr Plant Sale?
- Cultivates healthy, safe, food-rich spaces for valuable pollinators, birds, and animals
- Offers Southeastern WI-specific native plants from a selection larger than many local nurseries
- Keeps nature in balance and use fewer resources through sustainable landscaping
- Increases the productivity of your food garden
- Creates mindful spaces that support personal health and well-being
- Supports Wehr Nature Center and improves center habitats
The pre-order deadline has passed but you can view the pre-order form to see what plants will be sold.
Friends of Wehr members receive 5% off plant sale purchase.
Discount only valid days of sale, May 31-June 1.
Pick up and payment will be at the in-person sale Saturday-Sunday, May 31-June 1, 2025. Everyone who pre-ordered will receive an email reminder approx. one week before the sale.
Plant sale pick up and sale will be at Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave Franklin. Back of building. Sale happens rain or shine.
Thank you for supporting the environment and Friends of Wehr.
See you at the sale on May 31 & June 1.
This is a nature preserve therefore we kindly ask you leave your animals at home.
Native plants are from
Plant Sale FAQS
Why should I pre-order my plants?
It gives you the best chance of getting the plants that you want and allows u to order from our vendor before their stock of plants runs out. Some items such as plug trays are only available by pre-order. You can still shop for additional plants at the in-person sale.
How do I pre-order plants?
- Enter the number of each plant, pollinator pack, or plug tray you want in the box next to the name.
- Return all pages of the order form, even if blank
- Complete the order form and return to Wehr by Wednesday, April 23
- Questions on what terms like "spring ephemeral", "full sun", and others mean? Read our Glossary of Native Plant Gardening Terms
What is the deadline to pre-order plants?
Pre-order forms must be received at Wehr by 4:30 pm on Wednesday, April 23rd. You can email the fillable PDF or a scan of your order form to carol.howard@milwaukeecountywi.gov, drop it off between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm 7-days a week, or mail it to : Carol Howard, Friends of Wehr, 9701 W College Ave Franklin WI 53132
What is a plug and why do I have to buy a set of 16?
Plugs are young plants that come in 2-inch pots. These two-year-old plants have well-developed roots but only a small amount of above-ground growth.
Plugs are an economical way to plant a large area since they are much cheaper than more mature plants. They will take more time to produce flowers than stock in standard pots.
Plugs are shipped in sets of 16 of the same kind of plant.
Will my plants bloom this year?
Maybe, but it depends on their variety and size. Most plants will bloom in their second year after planting, but some will produce bloom in their first year. A few like white trillium may take longer to flower.
Keep your garden colorful by planting some annual flowers among the perennials during their first year. Choosing the right annuals will provide pollinators food while your perennials grow.
What should I do to care for my new plants?
Your new plants will need some special care through their first summer. Roots are disturbed during transplanting, causing some "shock." It is important to keep the plants watered as they recover, especially during heat and drought.
Mulching will help keep moisture around new plants and slows down weed growth. It is important to keep the stems of the plants free of mulch. Your native plants don not need any fertilizer.
Mark the locations of your plantings so you don't accidentally pull them out the next spring thinking they are weeds!
If you have lots of rabbits or deer you may want to protect your new plants with some type of caging.
Do you have any new plants for 2025?
A limited number of pollinator packs will be available at in-person sale.
New Plants for 2025
Giant Purple Hyssop Agastache scrophularifolia
Tall Thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
American Alumroot Heuchera americana
Field Pussy Toes Antennaria neglecta
Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
Slender Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
Oak (White-tinged) Sedge Carex albicans
Returning this year:
Heath Aster Aster ericoides
Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Wild Lupine Lupine perennis
Wild Senna Senna hebecarpa
Bird’s-foot Violet Viola pedata
Two plants that are Eastern US Natives but not classified as WI Natives are being included this year to provide native plants that meet special needs. Wehr encourages planting these plants only in native gardens that are not near natural areas.
Eastern Beebalm Monarda bradburiana
Favorite of pollinators blooming in May and June. Tolerates part shade
Oswego Tea (Scarlet Beebalm) Monarda didyma
Bright red pollinator favorite that also attracts hummingbirds. Clay tolerant and does well in part shade.
When and where do I pick up my plants?
If you pre-ordered plants you will receive an email reminder approx a week before the sale. Payment will be collected when you come pick up your order either May 31 or June 1, 10 am - 3:30 pm. If you pre-ordered, your plants will already be set aside. You can still purchase more plants in-person even if you pre-ordered.
If you did not pre-order, come shop the in-person sale May 31-June 1, 10 am - 3:30 pm, although we recommend coming as soon as you can as we can sell out quickly.
Plant sale pick up and sale will be at Wehr Nature Center 9701 W College Ave Franklin. Back of building. Sale happens rain or shine.
How can I donate native plants to Wehr?
If you are pre-ordering you can mark that on your form.
At the sale, at checkout, you can indicate to the cashier you would like to donate a plant or plants and the amount will be added to your total. Please note you will not be able to select which type of plant to donate but you can indicate how many.
We thank you for your donation.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept card, cash or check.
What size plant pots do you sell?
Size varies by plant. Plants may come in plugs 3inch, 4inch, 5inch, half gallon or gallon.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes, if you are a Friends of Wehr member (annual membership), you receive 5% off your purchase. You can sign up to become a member online or at the sale.
Start a Pollinator Party in Your Yard
Join the effort to support pollinators. Pre-order one of our ready-to-plant kits to get your pollinator garden started.
Only available by pre-ordering before April 23rd!
A Pollinator Party Pack is a group of 16 plugs that will provide an early summer through fall progression of flowering plants that pollinators, especially bees, love, and need.
These plants are all perennial plugs, which means they are small and will not bloom the first year. They can be added to an already existing garden or used to create a new space.
Pollinator Party Packs - All plants prefer full sun to mostly sun.
Plants packs may include a variety of the following:
- 3 late spring plants such as Prairie Smoke, Wild Geranium, Canada Anemone, and Wild Columbine
- 9 summer plants of various colors and blooming times such as Blazing Stars, Monarda, Milkweeds, Penstemon, Spiderwort, Coneflowers, and Lobelias
- 4 fall blooming plants such as Asters and Goldenrods
Some of our Favorite Native Plants
Donate a Plant to Help Nature at Wehr
We need native plants to restore natural areas where we have removed invasive species. You can help by adding a donated plant(s) to your pre-order form or making a donation at the in-person sale on May 31 & June 1. By "donating" a plant to Wehr you will help fund the unique plants needed for each restored area. The bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife at Wehr will thank you (and we will too)!
Still have questions?
Call us at 414 425-8550 or email carol.howard@milwaukeecountywi.gov
