Douglas County native plant sale offers 10,000 locally grown plants

More than 10,000 locally grown native plants will be on sale at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, giving Douglas County gardeners a chance to replace thirsty turf with species built for Kansas weather and soil. The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners will open the annual sale at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 30, in the open pavilion at 2120 Harper St. The sale will run until 3 p.m. or until the plants are gone.

Kevin Nelson said the plants are true Kansas natives rather than cultivars, and the sale emphasizes stock grown locally without harmful neonicotinoids. That matters in a county where homeowners are looking for yards that hold up through heat, support pollinators and do not need the steady watering many ornamental imports demand.

The local education push started before the sale. Sharon Ashworth, the county horticulture and natural resources agent, led a free native-plants talk Thursday, May 28, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Dreher Building on the fairgrounds. The program was aimed at showing why native plants belong in Douglas County landscapes, not just how to buy them.

For anyone starting with a patch of lawn, native plants are the most practical first step. Kansas State University horticulture materials say native plants can restore biodiversity in home gardens and serve as food sources for wildlife. Xerces Society guidance adds that native plants form the foundation of habitats that support pollinators and other wildlife, and many flourish in poor soils with minimal irrigation. In Douglas County, that means a smaller water bill, less time spent babying new plantings and more habitat for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.

The sale also doubles as a fundraiser. Proceeds support the master gardeners and garden-related micro-grants across Douglas County, extending the impact beyond one weekend at the fairgrounds. The volunteers describe themselves as people who love to garden, learn and share what they learn, and K-State Research and Extension says Extension Master Gardeners provide research-based gardening education and volunteer support that helps local agents meet community horticulture needs.

The event has also grown quickly. The 2025 sale more than doubled its inventory from the year before and listed 120 varieties of plants. That scale, along with the group’s local focus, has turned the fairgrounds sale into both a market and a lesson in how Douglas County can trade part of a traditional lawn for a landscape that uses less water, supports pollinators and lasts longer in local conditions.