Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

Martha Keehner Engelke, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

Interested in adding native plants to your garden? Want to see them growing before you buy them? Come to the Durham County Extension Master Gardener℠ Plant Festival On March 28, 2026 and the Plant Sale on April 11, 2026. While you are there, take a walk around the Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden.

The “New” Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden (DCEDG)

In October 2025, we described 4 exciting projects that would be tackled in late winter/early Spring, 2026. They were: The addition of a directional sign post; the redesign of the left foundation bed; the use of meadow mats on a steeply sloped bank at the back of the building and the addition of a native perennial garden at the front of the building. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers led by the invincible Joan Barber all of the projects have been completed. We are excited to welcome you to enjoy these revisions with us.

A directional signpost at the Extension Demonstration Garden featuring various colorful arrows indicating distances to nearby locations and a humorous height measurement above sea level.

A group of people planting flowers and plants in a community garden in front of a brick building. Several individuals are working together, using gardening tools and planting pots in a sunny outdoor setting.

Left to Right: Lisa Nadler stands next to the new directional sign. EMGs add new plants to the perennial native garden. Meadow mats are added to the steeply sloped back bank (Image credit: Cy Gurney, Lisa Nadler; Allie Mullin)

Identify your next plant in the DCEDG

Because the goal of the Extension Master Gardener program is to provide the best science based gardening information for the home gardener, there is a symbiotic relationship between the plants we grow and the plants we sell at the Plant Sale. Because native plants are more likely to be successful in our gardens and contribute to the health of the local ecosystem, it makes sense that native plants would be our focus. When the DCEDG was revised a careful plan was developed by EMGs Laurel Babcock and Heather Bixler. The chart below includes the plants that were chosen for the native perennial bed. The plants listed in bold will be available at the Durham County Master Gardener Plant Sale on April 11, 2026. At the Plant Festival on March 28, 2026, EMGs will be available answer your questions about these plants and any other plants.

A hand-drawn diagram featuring two symmetrical shapes filled with various colored organic shapes and labeled with letters. The left shape contains several circular and irregular forms in shades of pink, green, purple, and yellow, while the right shape displays similar organic elements, also marked with diverse colors and labels.

The plants in the perennial garden bed are: A. Small’s penstemon (Penstemon smallii); B. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa); C. Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis); D. Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’); E.Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea); F. Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata); G. Blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium nashii); H. Sweet goldenrod (Soldago odora only 2 available!); I. Stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis); J. Georgia aster (Symphyortrichum georgiana); K. Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei ‘Vernon’, ‘Bless your Heart’, ‘For Heaven’s Sake’); L. Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon temarius); M. (Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Three plants to see, love and take home

Butterfly weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)

Butterfly weed can be grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It is drought-tolerant and moderately salt-tolerant. It is a food source for larvae of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as well as the Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle). Butterfly weed is a great choice for a meadow garden, native garden or pollinator garden. It has showy yellow-orange flower clusters on top of upright stems.

A cluster of vibrant orange flowers with green leaves in a natural setting.

A monarch butterfly perched on vibrant orange flowers, surrounded by green foliage.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuborosa) was chosen as the NC Wildflower of the Year in 1985. It has clear sap which can be irritating so it is best to wear gloves when handling the plant as the clear sap may cause contact dermatitis. (Image credit: Mary Keim CC BY-NC-SA 2.0; Martin LaBar CC BY-NC 2.0).

Stoke’s Aster (Stokesia laevis)

This native plant will grow in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soil with good drainage. It will tolerate occasionally wet soil and is resistant to drought, deer, and rabbits. It will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and up to 18 inches wide. and can be used as a border plant, in a pollinator garden or a cottage garden. The flowers appear in early summer and the leaves (dark green rosettes) persist through the winter.

A cluster of vibrant purple asters surrounded by green foliage in a garden setting.

Close-up of a vibrant purple flower with pointed petals and a white center, surrounded by green foliage.

Stoke’s Aster (Stokesia laevis) is an herbaceous perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae) it was named to commemorate Jonathan Stokes (1755–1831), an English physician and botanist. Stunning flowers and attractive green rosette leaves add to the beauty of a garden. (Image credit: Andrea Laine CC BY-NC 4.0 Cathy DeWitt CC BY-NC–ND 4.0; K. Andre CC BY 2.0)

Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata)

This herbaceous perennial is in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It can be found in prairies, sandy areas, rocky woodlands and coastal plains. It enjoys full sun to part shade. Spotted bee balm will form clumps and spreads by rhizomes but not too aggressively. It blooms from summer to fall and can be used in a cut flower arrangement. Use spotted beebalm in butterfly, rain, or cottage gardens. This species is the host plant for the larvae of both the gray marvel (Anterastria teratorphora) and the snout (Pyrausta generosa) moths.

Close-up of a pink and green flower with elongated petals, surrounded by green foliage.

An orange butterfly with black spots perched on delicate white flowers amidst green foliage.

Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata) is susceptible to powdery mildew and rust, especially if your garden is crowded. Prune stems to increase airflow and give them ample water to minimize susceptibility. (Image credit: Susan Strine CC BY 2.0; Scott Zona CC BY-NC 4.0).

These are only a few of the plants that will be available at the plant sale and only a portion of the new plants that are in the Demonstration Garden. You can visit our website for a complete list of plants that will be sold. Last week we published a list of all the exhibits that will be featured at the Plant Festival. We are looking forward to seeing you and sharing gardening stories.

Additional Reading and Resources

For more information on the plants in our plant sale as well as plants other plants, visit the NC State Extension Plant Tool Box: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/

Here are some other posts that describe the evolution of the Durham County Extension Demonstration Garden:

Exciting Projects in the Demo Garden: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-6Dc

Purposeful Art in the Demo Garden: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-4Ai

Education and Entertainment in a Winter Garden: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-3O3

Learn from the Cisterns: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5ZL

Becoming a Bird Friendly Habitat: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-3Ig

Short Link:https://wp.me/p2nIr1-7fH

by Marcia Kirinus, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring plants that will be on sale at our plant sale on April 11, 2020.

Are you the kind of gardener who snacks while you work? A cherry tomato here, a snap pea there, maybe a cucumber picked warm from the sun. Many gardeners can’t resist tasting the harvest while pulling weeds or watering beds. If that sounds familiar, take a look at what we’re growing for this year’s plant sale! https://www.backyardtreasuresplantsale.org/

Close-up view of young seedlings with green leaves emerging from dark soil in individual planting trays.

A person holding a small potted tomato plant with orange and green tomatoes, standing in front of a light-colored shirt.

These little baby tomato plants will grow up to be only about 9 inches tall. They may be small, but they are mighty producers of bright orange cherry tomatoes. This little snack machine grows happily in a 6-inch pot, and once it starts producing you can even bring it indoors and set it on a sunny windowsill. Consider it both decoration and dinner. (Image credit: Marcia Kirinus; Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds with permission).

They Aren’t Baby Vegetables—Just Cute Compact Ones

Miniature vegetables are varieties bred to stay small, either in plant size, fruit size, or both. The vegetables reach their full mature size, but that mature size is naturally smaller than standard varieties – perfect for gardeners who enjoy sampling the harvest as they work. Baby vegetables, on the other hand, are simply regular vegetables harvested early, before they reach full maturity.

Plant breeders have developed many compact varieties of familiar vegetables that produce full flavor on smaller plants. Several of these miniature or patio varieties will be available at the upcoming Durham County Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer Plant Sale on April 11, 2026. The Extension Master Gardener plant sale is also a great opportunity to explore new varieties and talk with volunteers about what grows well in our area. Many of the plants offered at the sale are varieties we have tested or grown ourselves, and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about planting, care, and harvest.

Some Fun Mini Vegetables to Try

At the Master Gardener Plant Sale we will offer several miniature varieties that are especially good for garden snacking:

Sweet Confetti Pepper – a small, sweet snack pepper.
Green Fingers Cucumber – a slender, crisp cucumber perfect for fresh eating.
Fairy Tale Eggplant – a beautiful purple-and-white striped eggplant with tender fruit that cooks quickly.

Close-up of young green plants with large leaves in a black plastic pot, showcasing healthy growth and rich soil.

A close-up view of a healthy eggplant plant with multiple vibrant purple eggplants hanging from its branches, surrounded by green leaves in a garden setting.

Left: A young Fairy Tale eggplant seedling growing for the upcoming Plant Sale. (Image Credit: Beverly Tisci); Right: The mature plant produces striking purple-and-white striped fruits on compact plants that grow well in containers. (Image credit: Manny Cook)

Why Small Vegetables Are Having a Moment

Not every garden has room for sprawling squash vines or towering tomato plants. Fortunately, plant breeders have developed smaller versions of some of our favorite vegetables that fit neatly into containers, raised beds, and even tucked in corners of the garden.

In Durham and throughout the Triangle, miniature vegetables can be especially useful for gardeners working with small urban lots, raised beds, or container gardens. Many of these compact varieties thrive in pots on patios or decks where they receive plenty of sun. They also make it easy to tuck a productive plant into small spaces between flowers or larger vegetables.

The Advantages

These compact vegetables offer several advantages:

Earlier Harvests – Many dwarf varieties mature faster.
Easier Maintenance – Less staking, pruning, and sprawling vines.
Great for Beginners – Manageable plants with quick rewards.
Perfect for Patio or Balcony Gardens – Many varieties thrive in containers.

The Trade-Offs

Of course, smaller plants can come with a few trade-offs:

Smaller Overall Yields – A miniature tomato plant won’t produce like a full-sized indeterminate variety.
Smaller Fruits – Sometimes the fruit itself is smaller as well as the plant.
Occasional Reduced Vigor – Breeding for compact size can sometimes reduce plant vigor.
More Plants May Be Needed – Several small plants may equal the harvest of one large plant.

Small Plants, Big Garden Fun

Miniature vegetables may be small in stature, but they can deliver plenty of flavor and fun in the garden. For gardeners with limited space – or those who simply enjoy tasting the harvest while they work – these compact varieties offer a delightful way to grow fresh food close at hand. A pot of Orange Hat tomatoes on the patio, a snack-sized cucumber growing up a small trellis, or a sweet pepper tucked into a container can turn even the smallest garden into green space and spontaneous garden snacks.

If you’d like to try growing a few miniature vegetables this season, several of these varieties will be available at the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer Plant Sale on April 11, 2026. Stop by to see them in person and learn more about growing vegetables.

Additional Reading and Resources:

For more information on the Durham County Master Gardener Plant Festival and Plant Sale go to: https://www.backyardtreasuresplantsale.org/

Production of Miniature Vegetables in Florida: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/IR/00/00/27/37/00001/HS32700.pdf

Dwarf and Mini Vegetables and Fruit for Containers recommended by the Farmers Almanac. https://www.almanac.com/dwarf-and-mini-vegetables-and-fruit-containers

The LSU Extension Office offers a variety of ways that small spaces can be used to produce vegetables. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/articles/page1717696392923

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-7d0