Atlanta Audubon/Blue Heron Nature Preserve Open House Plant Sale
Saturday, April 27, 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM
Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342
This sale will highlight nectar-producing plants that provide resources for hummingbirds, like our ambassador bird Sibley, and other migratory birds, in addition to native shrubs that provide cover and nesting sites. Many of these birds visit Georgia in the summer to breed and require high quality nutrition from native plants to ensure breeding success. Once again, we’ll be pre-selling plants with limited quantities available. Please see below for plant descriptions for the Open House sale.
The biggest threat to birds here in Georgia is habitat loss. Fortunately, any homeowner can provide birds with high quality resources simply through some thoughtful landscaping. The welfare of birds is inexorably linked to the quality of food and shelter found in their habitats. As urbanization increases and natural habitats disappear, native plants can go a long way to restoring the habitats birds need. If your property provides high quality habitat, please consider having it certified as an Atlanta Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary—it’s for the birds!
Pre-sale for the Open House Sale is now open! Those who pre-ordered plants may pick up the plants on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
For more information on the plant sales, please contact Lillie Kline, Habitat Conservation Program Coordinator, or call 678.973.2437.
Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342
This sale will highlight nectar-producing plants that provide resources for hummingbirds, like our ambassador bird Sibley, and other migratory birds, in addition to native shrubs that provide cover and nesting sites. Many of these birds visit Georgia in the summer to breed and require high quality nutrition from native plants to ensure breeding success. Once again, we’ll be pre-selling plants with limited quantities available. Please see below for plant descriptions for the Open House sale.
The biggest threat to birds here in Georgia is habitat loss. Fortunately, any homeowner can provide birds with high quality resources simply through some thoughtful landscaping. The welfare of birds is inexorably linked to the quality of food and shelter found in their habitats. As urbanization increases and natural habitats disappear, native plants can go a long way to restoring the habitats birds need. If your property provides high quality habitat, please consider having it certified as an Atlanta Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary—it’s for the birds!
Pre-sale for the Open House Sale is now open! Those who pre-ordered plants may pick up the plants on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
For more information on the plant sales, please contact Lillie Kline, Habitat Conservation Program Coordinator, or call 678.973.2437.
Plants Available for Open House Plant Sale
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Red Buckeye(Aesculus pavia)
Multiple upright stems form a large deciduous shrub or small tree with glossy, dark green compound leaves. Puts forth multiple stalks of brilliant red tubular flowers in late spring. The flowers are followed by small smooth seeds commonly known as "buckeyes." The flowers provide nectar for bees and hummingbirds. Height: 8-30' Sun: Full sun to shade Water: Wet Birds: Hummingbirds |
Photo by Dan Vickers
Red columbineONLY 2 LEFT!
(Aquilegia canadensis) Perennial with nodding flowers that are bright red with a yellow throat and five distinctive backward facing spurs. Forms colonies through abundant self seeding. Hummingbirds are attracted to these flowers and feed on them frequently. Height: 2-5' Sun: Part shade Water: Average Birds: Hummingbirds |
Photo by Roy Cohutta
Butterfly weedONLY 3 LEFT!
(Asclepias tuberosa) This nectar-rich perennial typically grows in clumps and features clusters of bright orange flowers. Its blooms are attractive to pollinators, and like all milkweeds, it serves as a host plant for butterfly species including the monarch. Drought tolerant. Height: 1-3’ Sun: Full sun Water: Dry to medium Birds: Thrushes, Waxwings, Wrens, Wood Warblers, Orioles, Sparrows, Vireos, Chickadees & Titmice, Crows & Jays, Hummingbirds, Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Finches |
Photo by Justin Meissen
New Jersey TeaSOLD OUT
(Ceanothus americanus) A low-growing, compact shrub with broad deciduous leaves. Clusters of small white flowers sprout out of the branch tips in late spring. This nitrogen fixing plant has deep woody roots that make it an ideal candidate for steep or rocky slopes. Dried leaves were used as a tea substitute during the Revolutionary War which is how it got its common name. Height: 3-5' Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Wet Birds: Hummingbirds |
Photo by Glenda Simmons
RedBud(Cercis canadensis)
Often has a short, crooked gray-barked trunk and a wide-spreading, irregular crown of heart-shaped and smooth leaves. The flowers are bright pink while buds, and become light pink as they bloom in their clusters, transforming during the summer into flattened brown seed pods. The seed pods can stay on the tree through fall and sometimes into winter. Height: 20-30’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Birds: Orioles, Hummingbirds, Chickadees & Titmice, Finches, Crows & Jays, Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Waxwings, Sparrows, Thrushes, Nuthatches, Vireos, Wrens, Woodpeckers, Wood Warblers |
Photo by Joshua Mayer
White turtleheadONLY 1 LEFT!
(Chelone glabra) A stiffly erect, clump-forming perennial which typically occurs in moist woods, swampy areas and along streams. Hooded, snapdragon-like, white flowers appear in tight, terminal racemes from late summer into autumn. Flowers resemble turtle heads. Height: 2-3' Sun: Part shade Water: Medium to wet Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Hummingbirds, Orioles, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens |
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Green and GoldSOLD OUT
(Chrysogonum virginianum) A rhizomatous, low-growing perennial which typically forms a foliage mat to 3-4” tall. Star-shaped, daisy-like, bright yellow flowers bloom is profuse in spring, with a light rebloom occurring in fall. Flowering stems rise above the foliage mat to a height of 8-10" tall. Excellent ground cover for woodland gardens or naturalized areas. Height: .75-1' Sun: Part shade Water: Wet Birds: Sparrows, Finches, Chickadees & Titmice |
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Sweet pepperbushSOLD OUT
(Clethra alnifolia) A deciduous shrub native to swampy woodlands, wet marshes, stream banks and seashores. It produces a mid to late summer bloom of fragrant white flowers. Flowers give way to dark brown seed capsules which may persist into winter. Glossy leaves turn yellow to golden brown in fall. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees. Good for shade or woodland gardens. Compact size makes this an ideal flowering shrub for smaller gardens. Height: 3-8' Sun: Full Sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Crows & Jays, Mockingbirds & Thrashers, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Warblers, Woodpeckers, Wrens |
Photo by Dottie Head
joe pye weed(Eutrochium purpureum)
A perennial that features dark green leaves and tiny, vanilla-scented, pinkish-purple flowers. Blooms mid-summer to early fall and produces attractive seed heads that persist well into winter. Height: 5-7’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Vireos, Thrushes, Waxwings, Chickadees & Titmice, Orioles, Wrens, Wood Warblers |
Photo by Andrew Cannizzaro
swamp mallowSOLD OUT
(Hibiscus moscheutos) This shrubby perennial has large, heart-shaped leaves. The creamy-white flowers have a conspicuous band of red or burgundy at their bases from which a tubular column of yellow stamens extends. This striking species is often found along edges of marshes. Height: 3-8’ Sun: Full sun Water: Medium to wet Birds: Hummingbirds |
Photo by Kristine Paulus
Cardinal flowerONLY 1 LEFT!
(Lobelia cardinalis) A short-lived perennial that produces showy, red flowers at the end of terminal spikes, mid-summer to fall. Happily re-seeds in damp places. Height: 2-4’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Birds: Waxwings, Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Wood Warblers, Orioles, Wrens, Thrushes, Hummingbirds, Vireos |
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
bee balmSOLD OUT
(Monarda didyma) A spreading, clump-forming perennial that produces dense, rounded clusters of bright red, tubular flowers in early summer. Height: 2-4’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Hummingbirds, Chickadees & Titmice, Orioles, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens |
Photo courtesy of Beech Hollow Farm
southern pink penstemon(Penstemon australis)
Perennial with flowers that are small, tubular and pinkish on the outside with whitish throats. Flowers are followed by small ovate seed pods. The basal leaves may persist into the winter months, often turning a reddish color. Height: 1-2’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Birds: Hummingbirds |
Photo by Michael Wolf
creeping phloxONLY 5 LEFT!
(Phlox stolonifera) A spreading, mat-forming phlox. Loose clusters of fragrant, tubular, lavender flowers appear on upright, leafy, flowering stems which rise above the foliage mat to 8" tall in spring. Height: 0.5-1’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Hummingbirds, Thrushes, Orioles, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens |
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
florida azaleaSOLD OUT
(Rhododendron austrinum) An upright, spreading shrub with dark green, deciduous leaves and showy clusters of flowers. The flowers are trumpet shaped, and have yellow to orange petals. The blooms have a sweet fragrance. The flowers are followed by a brown seed capsule. This plant hybridizes readily with other azaleas and is drought tolerant. Height: 8-15' Sun: Part shade Water: Medium to wet Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Orioles, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens |
Photo courtesy of Beech Hollow Farm
piedmont azaleaONLY 1 LEFT!
(Rhododendron canescens) Spreading deciduous shrub with dark green leaves and showy clusters of flowers. The pink flowers are trumpet shaped with elongated stamens. The blooms appear in spring and have a sweet fragrance. Flowers are followed by a brown seed capsule. Rhododendron species thrive in moist, acidic soil. Height: 5-15’ Sun: Part shade Water: Wet Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Orioles, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens 
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
foamflower(Tiarella cordifolia)
Low-growing, dark green, basal leaves with a purple hue in the center that put up a slender stalk lined with tiny flowers. The flowers are small and star-shaped with delicate frilly white petals. Papery seed capsules follow the flowers. This plant spreads by rhizomes to form colonies and makes an excellent ground cover in moist shady areas. Height: 0.75-1' Sun: Part shade to full shade Water: Medium Birds: Wood Warblers, Wrens, Sparrows |
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
hammock sweet azaleaONLY 3 LEFT!
(Rhododendron serrulatum) Deciduous shrub that offers fragrant white tubular flowers in late summer. This azalea prefers moist, well-drained, acid soils, but is adaptable in the garden to occasional dry periods. In autumn, the leaves can develop excellent red fall color. Works well in the back of the garden border. Height: 5’ Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Birds: Cardinals & Grosbeaks, Chickadees & Titmice, Orioles, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Wrens |
Photo by Dan Vickers
indian pinkSOLD OUT
(Spigelia marilandica) A showy, clump-forming herbaceous perennial that grows best in partial to full shade. Its red and yellow flowers bloom in June and are highly attractive to hummingbirds Height: 1-2’ Sun: Part shade to full shade Water: Medium Birds: Hummingbirds |
