Tenth Annual Native Plant Festival starting next week

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The 10th Annual Native Plant Festival is set to begin next week.

The event will feature educational opportunities as a collaboration between the New Hanover County Arboretum and Cooperative Extension, and the Native Plant Alliance on September 17th through the 21st.

This year’s festival starts with the highly anticipated Speaker Series, taking place from 6:30-8 p.m. each evening at the New Hanover County Arboretum, featuring three voices in native plant gardening:

• Wednesday, September 17: Patrick Bradshaw, New Hanover County resident, shares his journey transforming a conventional yard into a thriving native plant oasis.
• Thursday, September 18: Emilee Morrison, Onslow County Extension Horticulture Agent, demonstrates how to design a container garden using native plants.
• Friday, September 19: Basil Camu, keynote speaker and co-founder of Leaf & Limb, shares insights from his book From Wasteland to Wonder, and discusses purposeful work with trees, flowers, and soil.

On Saturday, September 20, local nurseries and garden centers throughout the community will be taking part in Native Plant Shopping Day. Individuals interested in expanding their native plant collection are encouraged to visit participating vendors to learn more and receive guidance from local experts.

Rounding out this year’s festivities is an exciting new addition to the Native Plant Festival. On Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., individuals can register for a self-guided garden tour that will take participants to 11 garden spaces throughout New Hanover County, exploring both residential and public gardens utilizing native plants, helping provide inspiration for those looking to add to their personal space.

To learn more about the Native Plant Festival and register for events, visit Go.NSCU.edu/NativePlantFestival2025.