SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott Conservancy is taking preorders for its native plant sale, where residents can purchase plants that naturally thrive in the local ecosystem.
Orders can be placed through Monday, June 7, and plants will be available for pickup on Sunday, June 13 at the Swampscott Farmers Market.
“Native plants are plants that have evolved in our region over hundreds of thousands of years. They’ve evolved with the various insects and wildlife to provide biodiversity in a very specific ecosystem,” said Suzanne Hale, a member of the Conservancy who is organizing the sale. “We are hoping to encourage residents to include native plants so that we can provide a better ecosystem in our town.”
Hale said that the sale will include native trees, like American plum and redbud; shrubs, like bayberry; and plenty of perennial plants, like Virginia rose. There will also be lots of plants that attract wildlife. Button bush, which grows in wetland environments, is beloved by butterflies, Hale said, adding that milkweed is a favorite of monarch butterflies and bee balm for hummingbirds. They will also offer cardinal flowers, which Hale said can only be pollinated by a tiny number of organisms.
“The only thing that can pollinate (the cardinal flower) is a hummingbird and one kind of moth, so it has evolved very specifically for one specific creature,” she said.
A full plant list is available on the Swampscott Conservancy Facebook page.
To order plants, email [email protected] with “Native Plant Order” in the subject line. The Conservancy can accept payment by check, credit card or PayPal.
Plants can be picked up at the farmers market or by arrangement with the Conservancy.
